7 TIPS FOR CHOOSING ABRASIVE BLASTING MEDIA

Abrasive blasting, which is the process of using specialized machinery to project or "shoot" media at high speed through a hard surface, can be ideal for removing old finishes. You can also remove rust or prepare the surface to paint.

Here are 7 tips that can help you choose the best abrasive media for your specific shot blasting applications.

How to choose abrasive abrasive media

Better "soft" than sorry

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If you are not sure if the surface you are cleaning can handle a more abrasive material, it is probably best to start with a softer medium. Nutshells or corncobs can be an excellent choice for softer surfaces such as wood, as they do not cause engraving. They also provide the additional benefit of being biodegradable, which makes them one of the most ecological blasting means.

Make it shine with glass beads

If you are looking for a smooth and shiny finish, glass beads may be your best option. Glass beads are generally made of thin glass of soda lime that exerts minimal stress on the surface material. Glass beads are also recyclable and can be used up to 100 times before replacement, which makes them an extremely cost effective option.

Remove paint with aluminum oxide

Aluminum oxide is harder and sharper than glass beads. It is ideal for use in paint removal and general cleaning applications. It is also frequently used for glass engraving.

Choose plastic for automotive and aerospace applications

The plastic is extremely soft, which makes it an ideal way to remove paint from the surface of fiberglass parts. Fiberglass parts are commonly used in the manufacture of automotive, aerospace and marine products, without engraving or peeling. The use of plastic for blasting also produces very low levels of dust.

Use silicon carbide for quick etching

Silicon carbide provides an extremely aggressive cutting action that is ideal for rapid etching of glass, stone or other hard surfaces. It also works well to remove rust or paint.
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Find super tough and aggressive steel media

Media made of carbon steel are available in the form of shot. The steel shot is round in shape and can be used for polishing and polishing applications. Steel sand offers a more angular shape and a sharper texture. It can be used to remove rust, paint or flakes from steel surfaces.

Avoid sand

The terms "sandblasting" and "abrasive blasting" are sometimes used interchangeably. However, many companies are moving away from the sand as a means of blasting for several reasons. The sand contains silica, which is known to cause serious respiratory diseases for workers involved in the sandblasting process. In addition, the sand contains a high moisture content that can cause premature disappearance of blasting equipment.

FoxIndustries now offers abrasive blasting among its metal finishing processes. We are also available to provide reliable media selection advice.