Abrasive Blasting Hints and Tips

Multiple factors can contribute to how the finished product looks when abrasive blasting is applied. These include:

• how hard the abrasive is
• velocity of the stream
• angle of the gun (which must be between 60-75 degrees to prevent peening)
• distance from the object

Along with the above, the amount of pressure (PSI) in the abrasive stream must be kept in mind; between 15-80 PSI is ideal for abrasive blasting. The pressure hose must be replaced on a regular basis, and the preferred nozzle for application should be made of tungsten carbide. The air jet behind the nozzle will also need to be changed on a regular basis.

Commonly used abrasives are:

• aluminum oxide
• white aluminum oxide
• urea and other plastic abrasives
• corn cob grit
• walnut shell grit
• glass beads
• pumice
• crushed glass grit
• silicon carbide
• steel grit and steel shot

If you need more in-depth abrasive blasting hints and tips, get in touch with us at Traralgon Paints!