Is your property in need of quality surface cleaning? If so, try sandblasting. For those who are not familiar with this term, here’s a quick definition for you. Sandblasting is a cleaning method that utilizes air pressure and an abrasive medium to remove a thin layer of a surface.
In this article, you’ll get more insight into sandblasting. You’ll know how this surface preparation method works by the time you finish reading this post. So, let’s get into the topic.
Sandblasting: things you like to know
Sandblasting or abrasive blasting is a method for surface finishing. It utilizes a power machine, usually an air compressor or sandblasting machine, to blast abrasive particles onto a surface at high speed. Now you get the idea of how it got its name.
Meanwhile, the sand particles make the surface cleaner, smoother, and even. They remove a thin film of the surface to clean surfaces and remove stains, paint, bumps, molds, and surface contaminants. Commercial sandblasting uses the properties of different abrasive mediums. Take sand as an example, rough and gritty.
Due to these properties, it can strip off unwanted or excess material on a surface. Sandpaper works the same way but sandblasting uses high-pressure air. Sandpaper is full of individual sand particles with varying grit that you can choose for your project.
Materials ideal for sandblasting
You can sandblast different types of surfaces. Below are among the most common surfaces you can clean or prepare using sandblasting:
- Cast iron- The paint on the railing material of cast iron peels off and chips over time. To avoid this scenario, steel sandblasting is necessary. It ensures the protection of your investment.
- Concrete- You can sandblast concrete to clean or prepare for painting. Some commercial constructors employ sandblasting to remove parking lines and give way to a driveway or parking lot.
- Bricks- Sandblasting bricks can make them look good again.
- Wood- Similar to cast iron, wooden surfaces are often painted. Over time, this paint peels off and must be removed. With a blasting method, paints are quickly removed and the wooden surface can be refinished.
The sandblasting process
Sandblasting is among the most effective surface preparation techniques today. It is used to prep surfaces and remove dirt. Sandblasting is accomplished by performing the following steps:
- The first step is determining the material type you wish to work on to identify the suitable equipment for the job, like a hopper, air nozzle, or sandblasting gun.
- Then, prepare the surrounding area of the place where you’re working. It’s best to cover all or remove those things that don’t require sandblasting.
- Finally, work on the surface areas you need to clean or prepare.
The advantages of sandblasting
The advantages of sandblasting are plenty. The most vital ones?
Sandblasting is used to remove paint from surfaces in addition to simply cleaning them. It is useful when you don’t want to repaint the affected surface.- This surface preparation method is also used in metal profiling to keep the surface gleaming.
- Sandblasting is efficient and fast. Usually, removing old paint from a surface takes a long time but not sandblasting.
- Sandblasting is an effective cleaning method for priming a surface for painting. Blasting removes layers of old paint, decay, rust, and other substances. It also restores surfaces and prepares them for a fresh coat of paint.
- When used for cleaning, sandblasting can do the trick. This method is well-known for its effectiveness. Sandblasting restores the appearance of surfaces by removing residue, rust, and other impurities.
- A little machinery is only required for sandblasting. It only requires a blasting pot, a compressor, an abrasive medium, and a nozzle.
These are only a few of sandblasting’s advantages. You can tell from these advantages that sandblasting is a useful and effective method to remove paint, bumps, and more.
Conclusion
To sum it up, sandblasting is mainly driven by air pressure and is combined with the unique properties of abrasive mediums to provide a clean, smooth surface. It is used as a surface preparation method for various types of surfaces. It includes steel, wood, and concrete surfaces.
As of today, there is a spectrum of sandblasting applications, like warehouse cleaning, railroad car maintenance, and more.
