Sandblasting is a quick way to clean various surfaces such as wood, steel, and concrete. This process involves shooting tiny abrasive materials out of an air compressor at a fast rate.
Sandblasting works by pointing the sandblaster’s nozzle to the area that needs cleaning. Then, the small abrasive particles remove a thin layer from the surface. It strips off dirt, paint, stain, and other hard-to-remove surface contaminants.
Nowadays, mobile sandblasting service is in demand. It is because it comes with advantages not present in other cleaning techniques. However, those who facilitate this cleaning technique sometimes make mistakes during the process. Knowing that sandblasting can be dangerous and mistakes can cause damage will help you be extra careful – with your choices, at the very least. When it comes to such tasks, there should be no room for errors.
Look into the following mistakes that are common in sandblasting and learn why they happen:
Using the wrong type of abrasive material
Among the most common sandblasting mistakes is using abrasive materials unsuitable for the surface people wish to clean. Commercial sandblasting companies know which abrasive material to use for different surfaces. However, people who perform DIY sandblasting sometimes make the wrong choice.
There is a wide selection of abrasive materials or sandblasting media to choose from before proceeding to the main process. Among those are:
- Aluminum oxide
- Coal slag
- White aluminum oxide
- Pumice
- Plastic
- Silica sand
- Glass beads
- Crushed glass grit
- Walnut shells
- Corn cobs
- Baking soda
This list includes synthetic, natural, and mineral types of sandblasting grit. While the process is called sandblasting, using sand from a random supplier as an abrasive medium is not a good practice. Ordinary sand might include small rocks that can scratch or damage the surface you are working on. These rocks are also dangerous when paired with the air pressure from the sandblaster.
Neglecting to follow safety precautions
Even without the small rocks, the sandblasting process can be dangerous. It is the reason why people who are involved in the process are urged to follow safety precautions. It includes wearing safety gear before sandblasting.
Sandblasting utilizes small abrasive particles sprayed into a surface with high pressure at a fast rate. The abrasive media can take off paint and other hard-to-remove stains. However, it could also cause severe damage when the abrasive media contact the skin. So, wear protective clothing that covers any exposed skin before sandblasting.
Using a small blaster
Are you one of those people who loves to DIY? If you do, a small sandblaster might catch your interest. However, it is not always a good idea to use small sandblasters. It is especially true if the surface you are working on is huge.
Stick to a mid-range sandblaster unit. If a sandblaster is too small for the project you are working on, you might have to spend more time to complete the task. Operating small sandblasters need to stop in between sessions more frequently.
Failure to gather blasting materials
A blasting cabinet is used in commercial sandblasting. It is one way to save money and help the environment. The abrasive particles blasted during the process are collected by this self-contained machine. These particles will be reused multiple times.
Doing the same thing after every sandblasting project will also let you earn the same benefits. Aside from saving money and helping the environment, it can also reduce the number of times you have to transport heavy bags to your blasting site.
Hiring the wrong sandblasting contractor
Another common mistake in sandblasting is hiring an inexperienced sandblasting contractor. Besides, DIY-ing without proper sandblasting experience is comparable to this mistake. Both can result in poor quality work, safety risks, and possible property damage.
Do you need someone to perform rebar sandblasting on your next project? It’s best to check on the previous projects done by a sandblasting company first. It will allow you to hire a reliable company that can provide excellent results.
Conclusion
Depending on the surface you are planning to work on, sandblasting can be a tedious task. It intimidates many as the process can also be dangerous. So, if you are inexperienced in sandblasting, it’s best to hire a professional. This will allow you to avoid making mistakes that could damage the project you’re working on and compromise your safety.
When done the right way, sandblasting can provide you with numerous benefits. It could also impact the success of your project.
