SANDBLASTING
A brief rundown on the different styles of media blasting
Sand blasting, soda blasting, and dustless blasting are three distinct methods of abrasive cleaning or surface preparation, each with unique characteristics and applications:
Sand Blasting:
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Sand blasting, also known as abrasive blasting or grit blasting, uses fine sand particles as the abrasive material. There are many types of media such as crushed glass, silica sand (which we don't use) coal slag, garnet crushed walnut, and corn cob which. While walnut and corn cob are usually used in log home restorations they can also be used in automotive restorations as they are softer and a little less abrasive. Using coal slag and garnet are used on steel and harder substrates. Plastic media, while its not so common is another option for delicate surfaces
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It is highly effective in removing rust, paint, and corrosion from a variety of different surfaces such as wood, steel, and concrete.
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Sand blasting is known to be quite aggressive but with the right experience, media, and machinery, it can become quite delicate and is suitable for heavy-duty applications, such as industrial machinery or large metal structures, but also can be delicate for very fragile substrates with thin metals and wood. With the right media, pressure, and feed rate there's not many projects we can't handle.
Soda Blasting:
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Soda blasting utilizes sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) as the abrasive material, propelled by compressed air.
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It is less abrasive than sand blasting and is often used for more delicate surfaces like, fiberglass, or automotive parts, but it comes with some limitations. Using soda as a media can be more expensive than a typical abrasive it also needs to be wiped clean and neutralized immediately or you will experience coating failure and very poor adhesion.
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Soda blasting is also great for food grade cleaning, historical restoration, and fire restorations.
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Soda blasting is effective at removing paint, grease, and other contaminants without causing damage to the underlying substrate.
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One significant disadvantage of soda blasting is it will impact some vegetation.
Dustless Blasting:
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Dustless blasting is a wet abrasive blasting method that combines water with an abrasive material, such as crushed glass or garnet.
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It offers the benefits of traditional abrasive blasting while reducing dust emissions significantly.
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Dustless blasting is versatile and can be used on a wide range of surfaces, from metal and concrete to wood and masonry.
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The addition of water helps to reduce heat buildup, prevents warping of the substrate, and minimizes airborne dust, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
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When choosing the dustless blasting method on metal, flash rusting will occur so a rust inhibitor needs to be added.
In summary, the key differences between these methods lie in the type of abrasive material used and their applications. Sand blasting is more aggressive and produces dust, soda blasting is gentler and eco-friendly, while dustless blasting combines the advantages of abrasive blasting with reduced dust and heat generation. The choice of method depends on the specific surface and cleaning requirements.
