A Newbie's Guide to Choosing the Right Sandblasting Media for Industrial Painting Projects
If you deal with industrial painting, you may have heard about sandblasting. This process involves the use of specific media shot at incredible speeds to smooth hard surfaces. You can use it to remove rust or a previous finish or to prepare surfaces for new paint coats.
The sandblasting medium you'll use depends on the difficulty level of the removal process as well as how strong the surface can withstand the impact. If you are new to this technique, continue reading to learn how you can choose the correct sandblasting media.
Begin With a Gentle Medium
If you're uncertain about whether the material is strong enough to withstand sandblasting, it'll be wise to begin with the mildest media before working your way up. Excellent examples include walnut shells and corn, which are less abrasive and highly biodegradable. That means they have the least impact on the environment as well. You can also consider pumice because it's the softest in the group and ideal for removing paint from softwood surfaces.
Choose Glass Beads for Attractive Finishes
Glass beads are known to offer soft, bright and attractive finishes compared to other angular media. Besides, you can recycle them. Today, you can find crushed glass grit manufactured from recycled glass as well.
Consider Plastic Beads for Automotive Sandblasting
Generally, plastic sandblasting media is designed from melamine, urea, acrylic and polyester. Consider using this type of media when you want to achieve high striping rates without causing warping or damage to the underlying surface.
Silicon Carbide Is Excellent for Tough Jobs
The strongest and hardest media you can use for any sandblasting project is silicon carbide. It offers shorter blast intervals at a lower cost. Furthermore, silicon carbide is more recyclable than sand or aluminium oxide.
Consider Dry Ice for Sandblasting
A modern sandblasting technique involves the use of dry ice pellets shot at high speed using compressed air. This technique is suitable for cleaning electrical and electromechanical equipment, machinery and sensitive surfaces that can be easily affected by residue from other sandblasting techniques.
Use Steel Grit for Unique Finishes
While steel grit is much softer than aluminium oxide, it leaves behind etched surfaces that are ideal for paint adherence. Besides, peening processes rely on steel shots for a polished and smooth surface, while producing the least dust.
There you have it! This straightforward guide will help you decide on the right sandblasting media, especially if you are still new to the technique.
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