Sandblasting is one of the most excellent ways to remove rust, paint, or other debris from metal surfaces. It utilizes elements like silica quartz to clean the surface. Minute beads of these materials are directed at high velocity and pressure to the metallic surface to get a perfect finishing. This process is highly preferred to make the metallic surfaces even for further use.
The most remarkable aspect of sandblasting is that it requires minimal abrasive blasting equipment to give excellent and supreme results. The blasting process is applicable in various fields like welding, smelting, coating, painting, and many more. However, one needs to have top-notch equipment to conduct the process correctly.
Check out the various equipment one would require for abrasive blasting.
Headgear
Sandblasting includes projecting abrasive material against a target at incredibly high speed, as mentioned earlier. A sandblasting helmet is a type of protective headgear that shields one’s face and head from any backfire and is constructed of incredibly strong fibers.
More expansive viewing windows are also provided on blasting hoods so one can see what they do when using potentially hazardous sandblasting apparatus.
Blasting Cabinet
A closed circuit system called a blast cabinet enables users to recycle their preferred abrasive. The abrasive is gathered up into the container for recycling after blasting. Since this material is not destroyed or tainted in any way during the machining operation, recycling it has no drawbacks.
Suitable Abrasive Material
The most significant abrasive blasting equipment is the abrasive material, and selecting the suitable one for a project may be one’s best tool. One shouldn’t use a harsh metallic substance when blasting surfaces like brick because one runs the danger of causing unintended damage.
On the other hand, if one is trying to change the texture in any manner, using a mild substance like nut shells or corn starch on a rigid metal surface might not be effective.
Blasting Gun
This, sometimes known as a bead blaster gun, is the essential piece of equipment for blasting. It is mainly used in movable sandblasting, which is employed to spray the surface with materials such as glass beads, black beauty, steel grit, sand, and aluminum oxide.
Guns used for sandblasting are available in a variety of designs and setups. One of the most effective devices is controlled by a foot pedal to allow for better ergonomy and handling.
Nozzles
The nozzle controls the sandblast jet pattern onto the workpiece. Some nozzles are designed for wide coverage and high productivity applications, some are designed for narrow pattern for precise blasting application.
Nozzles come in different materials such as ceramic, tungsten carbide, boron carbide, silicon carbide, etc. and different opening sizes. The harder the material, the longer lifespan the nozzle will have before replacement. The bigger its opening, the wider the pattern will be.
Also, nozzles come in various designs, such as straight nozzle, venturi nozzle, spiral nozzle, etc. to accomplish different types of work.
Debris Collector
Debris collectors are the most efficient means to acquire and store the abrasive media and tiny particles that go airborne during blasting due to contamination.
The choice of dust collectors depends on the kind of blasting being used. A dust collector must handle severe dust issues since it may capture toxic airborne microparticles before the workers can inhale them.
Additionally, it makes the operator more noticeable. Dust bags, bag-house, and cartridge-type dust collectors are some examples of dust collectors for sandblasting.
Conclusion
Considering the benefits of sandblasting, it has undoubtedly earned the status of being an ideal way to cleanse metallic surfaces. Some essential benefits are time-saving, cost-effective, minimal machinery, low maintenance, and reduced labor costs. With the help of the equipment mentioned above required for the blasting processes, one can safely and effectively conduct the entire process.
