How To Choose The Right Media For Abrasive Blasting?

Abrasive blasting is shooting or projecting media at a very high speed using specialized equipment. It is ideal for removing old finishes that are now worn out. It is also a great to remove rust and prepare the surface for painting. Surfaces that have undergone abrasive blasting tend to look better when the final look is produced.

Walnut shells

You might be in a state of confusion of which medium to use. If you are unsure of which one to use it is best that you go with a softer material such as walnut shells or corn cobs. These can be excellent choices for softer surfaces like wood. It will avoid any scratches that may otherwise arise. These mediums are also known to be the most environmentally friendly mediums because they a biodegradable. Most companies now opt for this medium for abrasive shooting mainly because it is environmentally friendly.

Glass beads

If you are looking for a shiny surface then your best option would be glass beads. These glass beads are made from a substance known as fine soda lime glass. Their main advantage is that they can be reused almost a 100 times. This long life span of the glass beads make them a very cost effective medium to be used. They are also great at effectively stripping without leaving etches on the underlying surface. However, sandblasting Sydney is better smoothing and shaping the underlying surface like a sand paper.

Sand

Sand blasting is the most common medium used for abrasive shooting. Here sand particles are shot on high pressure at the surface to remove it. It is a harsher method. But it leaves the surface smoother than the other mediums. It also has the capability to shape the surface as mentioned above. Its speed and reliability makes it one of the most used techniques in abrasive shooting. However, there will be a lot of dust involved and requires that workers use heavy safety clothing to avoid inhaling the dust.

Plastic

Plastic is used on more gentle surfaces for instance, fiber glass. Here the surfaces should be treated gently and which is why plastic is used. The fiberglass is used in automotives, aerospace and marine products. The use of plastic for abrasive shooting is also ideal because it has no dust particles that are released. Also the painting for fiberglass has to be done on a surface that if free of etches and stripping which makes plastic the ideal medium.

When choosing your medium for the abrasive shooting make sure to choose the right material. As each material is different and can cause various issues if misused.