Abrasive blasting is a process that involves projecting or shooting media at a high velocity on a surface using equipment like sandblasting cabinets or booths. It can be a great process that can help in removing old finishes. Moreover, it can help you power away the rust or prepare the surface. Below are some tips to keep in mind while choosing abrasive blasting equipment and its media.
Choose A Soft Media
When you are going for the blasting process, you may wonder if the surface will be able to handle a more abrasive material. Because of this, it is always better to start with soft media that will not cause any etching. Moreover, if you choose elements like corn cobs or walnut shells, you will also get additional benefits as they are biodegradable, making them environmentally friendly.
Use Glass Bids For Shining
Most of the time, you will want a smooth and bright finish on the surface. And in these cases, using glass beads is the best option to move forward. These beads contain fine soda-lime glass that ensures no stress on the material’s surface. Moreover, these are also recyclable; you can use them multiple times before needing replacement. And this is what also makes them an extremely cost-effective solution.
Use Aluminum Oxide To Remove Paint
If you are looking for an option that will allow you to remove paint easily, look no further than aluminum oxide. It is a hard material that is also sharper than glass beads. As a result, you can use it to remove paint and other cleaning applications. In addition, it is a frequently used product that you can use during glass etching.
Use Plastic For Aerospace Or Automotive Applications
The best part about plastic is that it is very soft, and thus it makes for an ideal medium to remove paint from fiberglass materials. It is a common material used in aerospace, marine, and automotive manufacturing. They do not go through the etching or stripping process; thus, blasting them is more accessible. In addition, using plastic ensures that only a low level of dust is produced during the process.
During Fast Etching, Make Use Of Silicon Carbide
Using silicon carbide can be highly beneficial for many reasons. First, it helps in providing an extremely aggressive cutting action that will be great for fast etching materials like stone, glass, or other hard surfaces. Moreover, it is also an ideal material for removing hard rust or paint from such surfaces.
Make Sure To Fine Aggressive Steel Medium
The carbon steel media is available in grit or shot form. And these shots are round in space, and you can use them for polishing work or other peening applications. Moreover, you can use grit to provide angular shapes or sharper textures. You can also remove rust, scale, and pain from any hard steel surface.
Using Sand Should Be A No
People often make use of the terms abrasive blasting and sandblasting interchangeably. But they are different, and today many companies are moving away from using sand as a medium for blasting for several reasons. First, it consists of silica, which can have severe respiratory issues in the workers. Moreover, the moisture content in the sand is also high, which can reduce the abrasive blasting equipment’s lifespan.
Final Thoughts
Abrasive blasting is a great process that can help you by ensuring proper finishing and removing rust, paint, and others. But keeping the above points in your mind during the process can help you extract maximum value. Not only will you be getting an excellent finish, but it will also increase the longevity of your equipment.
