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!