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Part prep
- Clean all dirt and grease and oil off parts before blasting
- Use tape to cover any part that you don’t want to be blasted
- Use plugs or bolts to cover holes where you don’t want media to enter
Blast cabinet Prep
- Check vacuum filter and cyclone before use and empty and clean if needed
- Load abrasive media needed for the job
- Set correct psi for the abrasive media loaded
Changing out abrasive media
- Place container under cabinet and open bottom door
- Brush off any media left inside on the sides into the container
- Vacuum any media left
- Empty cyclone and vacuum and blow out the filter
- Store abrasive media in an airtight container or throw away if no longer good
- Close bottom door and poor new media into cabinet through side door, 50lb max
- Media must be dry
- Put abrasive media tag on cabinet
Safety
- Wear respirator
- Wear eye protection
- Do not use sandblaster with the door open
- Using abrasive media with silica without a really good respirator will damage lungs
Sandblasting
- Place prepped part into the prepped cabinet and close and latch door
- Flip on the power switch to turn on lights and vacuum
- Use steady side to side movement when blasting
- DO NOT stop and blast in one concentrated area for any long period of time as it can warp thinner panels and remove too much material on some surfaces
- keep your nozzle at a 60-45 degree angle and aimed in the direction you are moving when blasting
- If blasting gun sticks on turn off the air and remove the nut on top of the gun, remove the pin and blow out, and reassemble
- Blow off the part with air before removing it from the cabinet
Abrasive Media
- Media has a life span
- Some are single-use and some can be reused many times
- Using the right media for the part and correct PSI can extend the lifespan of media
- Used media is like used sandpaper and loses effectiveness the more that it is used
- If blasting is starting to take longer it is time to replace media
- Harder and round media last longer
- Round media gives a smoother finish
Application
Remove rust and paint
Media
|
Description
|
Used For
|
Hardness
|
Shape
|
PSI
|
Average Recycle uses
|
Soda
|
Soda abrasive is from baking soda or bicarbonate of soda. It offers non-destructive cleaning and very popularly usedoperators.
|
It is used to remove rust from metals without causing depression or damaging the metal beneath the rough surface.
|
2.5
|
Angler
|
70PSI
|
Single-use
|
Coal Slag / Aluminum Silicate
|
It is a dispensable abrasive which is a by-product of coal-fired electric power generation plants. It has less dust compared to Copper Slag.
|
It is often used in open blasting operations in the oil- and shipyard industry and other metal surface treatments.
|
6-7
|
Angler
|
50 PSI
|
2-3 Times
|
Aluminum Oxide Grit
|
An extremely sharp, long-lasting blasting abrasive that can be recycled many times. It is available in 99.5% pure white grade and commonly standard brown.
|
It is often used in open blasting operations in the oil- and shipyard industry and other metal surface treatments.
|
6-7
|
Angular
|
90PSI
|
50 Times
|
Crushed Glass Grit
|
Crushed Glass Grit is 100% recycled glass beads and are considered to be eco and health- friendly as it eliminates the presence of airborne carcinogens. It is non-toxic and non-hazardous.
|
This is used in profiling and removal of coatings and surface contamination and can be used around water.
|
5-6
|
Angular
|
80PSI
|
15 Times
|
Steel grit
|
Softer than Aluminum Oxide Grit but still have a very high hardness quality. It has a very fast stripping action and shot peening applications.
|
It is commonly used in cleaning, etching and surface preparations.
|
8-9
|
Angler
|
100PSI
|
100 Times
|
Staurolite
|
It is a Silicate of Silica and Iron and is generally used to remove thin coatings, rust, and mill scale. Its sub-angular shape is ideal for applications where a minimal surface profile is required.
|
Perfectly used in stripping off surfaces in storage tank & tower construction, structural & plate steel blasting, and steel fabrication.
|
7.0 Mohs
|
Sub-angular
|
|
|
Application
Polish and paint prep
Media
|
Description
|
Used For
|
Hardness
|
Shape
|
PSI
|
Average Recycle uses
|
Glass Bead
|
Glass Beads are manufactured into preformed ball shapes which is very effective in leaving very smooth surfaces. It produces super smooth and brighter finish compared to angular.
|
Commonly used for automotive restoration, stainless steel fabrication, polishing of castings and light deburring of metal molds and parts.
|
6
|
Round
|
80PSI
|
30 times
|
Steel shot
|
Steel Shot is manufactured into spherical pellet-type abrasive made from carbon steel. It often produces a very smooth surface after use.
|
Steel shot abrasive is often used in cleaning and polishing metal surfaces and parts in automotive, aerospace, construction, foundry, shipbuilding, rail, and more.
|
40-51 HRC
|
Spherical
|
130PSI
|
100 Times
|
Steel Grit
|
Softer than Aluminum Oxide Grit but still have a very high hardness quality. It has a very fast stripping action and shot peening applications.
|
It is commonly used in cleaning, etching and surface preparations.
|
40-65 HR
|
Angular
|
|
|
Corn cob grit
|
Corn Cob Grit is an organic, soft and natural abrasive from hard cob. It is tumbling and absorbent that dries surfaces. Corn cob grit is non-toxic and safe for operators.
|
It is best used on wood surfaces and does not create any damage on the treated surface. It is used in oily and moist surfaces that quickly absorbs it while finishing rough parts.
|
4-4.5
|
Ground, Angular shape
|
|
|
Walnut shell grit
|
It is a very versatile soft abrasive, organic and biodegradable. Same as corn cob, it is non-toxic and impose no hazard on health.
|
It is best used on wood surfaces and does not create any damage on the treated surface. It is used in oily and moist surfaces that quickly absorbs it while finishing rough parts.
|
4.5-5
|
Angler
|
70 PSI
|
4-5 Times
|
Copper Slag / Iron Silicate
|
In contrast to its name, it contains almost no copper. It is refered to as the best abrasive to use when ranked on cutting speed and cost per sq. ft.
|
It comes in extra fine grade abrasive that is used for surface blast-cleaning carpets, plastic and wood.
|
7
|
Angular
|
50 PSI
|
2-3 Times
|
Garnet
|
Garnet is a natural silicate mineral deposit. It has a high stripping rate, very low dust and the lowest consumption rate.
|
Mainly used for wet or dry sandblasting and offers an excellent coating preparation and adhesion properties.
|
6.5 - 7.5
|
Angular to Subangul
|
60PSI
|
4-5 Times
|
Plastic Urea
|
Environmentally friendly and recyclable plastic high strip rate for sensitive parts.
|
used for applications such as auto and aircraft restoration to deliver an efficient strip rate without damage or warping of the substrate.
|
3.5
|
Angular
|
70PSI
|
4-5 Times
|