What is sandblasting?
Sandblasting or abrasive blasting is the action of spraying a surface with small abrasive particles that are launched at high speed (adjustable) and interact with the surface in a similar way to sanding, with the objective of sanding the surface, cleaning it and preparing it for coating.
It is used in various sectors, from different types of industries such as construction, automobile, foundries, mining or agriculture to the treatment of metal parts, ceramics, glass, etc. It is also commonly used for the satin finishing of stainless steel structures after forming, to uniform the surface finish and to eliminate the calamine formed by the welding beads.
It can be performed in rooms where the operator has access to the inside of the rooms or in smaller cabins where the part is introduced and the operator manipulates the equipment from the outside. Or in automatic processes for those applications with higher technical requirements: shot peening, controlled roughness, etc…
Why sandblasting?
Sandblasting (also called sandblasting) can be used for a variety of purposes as well as on different materials, such as metal, stone or wood. It is generally used to quickly remove layers of the parts and remove dirt, rust or corrosion but its use also allows to replace the sanding process of the treated objects.
CONIEX sandblasters have the advantage that the particles used to collide with the surface are often reused several times. Depending on the company, it can also be used for various purposes: sanding a piece of metal, creating patterns on glass, converting normal glass into frosted glass, removing paint from a surface, etc. Since no liquids are used, there is virtually no residue on the surface except for dust. This will ensure that the surface is easily cleaned and prepared for the next step.
Sandblasting in pieces with high level of detail.
Sandblasting is not very common in sectors where the finishing of the parts requires a high level of detail. However, sandblasting can be used during the restoration of certain parts or when you want to repaint an object. The old paint is stripped and the surface is prepared for a new coat. For example, when painting an engine, it is very important to have a perfectly clean surface, free of corrosion or rust. When painting a surface it is necessary to completely remove the old paint and start from scratch with the metal part.
In some exceptional cases, CONIEX recommends sandblasting to create matte patterns on a specific surface. Due to the different types of sand that can be used, it is possible to choose between sand that will completely remove the paint or sand that will only slightly dull the paint.
Wrong terminology
Although the most common term is “sandblasting”, this is not technically correct, as there are few situations where actual sand is used during the blasting process. In most cases, other blasting abrasives are used.
Among the abrasives that we commercialize in Coniex, we highlight glass microspheres, white corundum or plastic shot. However, the use of abrasives such as walnut shells and corn cobs is also common. Although most sandblasting applications are performed with a dry media, it is also possible to combine water with an abrasive material to perform “wet blasting”.
Do not hesitate to contact our Technical Team if you need to perform an automated blasting process or a manual sandblasting application. Our specialists will advise you in order to find the solution that best suits your needs.