I've done a lot of bead blasting and never destroyed anything. I
rebuilt a Lambert C&O caboose into a MP Magor built
http://home.comcast.net/~jerryglow/more/Magor.html including making
all the end detail and beaded it to clean it up an prep for painting.
The end sill with the handrails and ladder were built as a separate
piece and added to the end platform.

Jerry Glow

--- In STMFC@..., "Schuyler Larrabee"
<schuyler.larrabee@v...> wrote:

Jerry, the surface of the L-shaped piece to which the grab wire is

fastened is approximately .025" x .014-.015, with .012

wire. I'm inclined to think bead blasting would destroy it. There

simply isn't enough area for the joint to have much

strength.

SGL