Views: 101 Author: Joanne Qiao Publish Time: 2018-03-06 Origin: Google
Rusty metal, peeling paint, and corrosion don't stand a chance against abrasive blasting when it's done with skill. Compressed air—often under as much as 100 pounds of pressure—allows an abrasive to scour a surface to remove what you don't want, or to clean and polish a surface.
The term "sandblasting" may be commonly used, but the more accurate word is "abrasive blasting." Although sand may have been used 20 years ago, safer blasting agents-commonly garnet, glass beads, aluminum oxide-largely have replaced silica sand because the dust in silica-based abrasives can cause serious lung damage and other health problems.
Abrasive blasting is good for both small jobs, such as cleaning up weathered patio furniture, and large projects, such as restoring vehicles.
Properly used on steel or cast metals, abrasive blasting will leave a surface free of impurities and ready to paint.
If abrasive blasting is new to you, use this guide to answer some questions and help choose the right blaster for you.
Safety First
The materials removed by abrasive blasting are often very hazardous. No matter what abrasive blasting material you choose, use safety measures to contain, ventilate, and filter the dust caused by blasting to keep from harming you and others.
For your personal safety, use protective equipment such as a respirator, an abrasive blasting hood that covers the head and shoulders and allows sight through a clear shield, leather gloves, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and shoes to protect your skin from abrasives ricocheting off metal.
Remember, it's not recommended to use silica sand in your blasting rig. OSHA has warned against the dangers of using silica-based abrasives for years. When silica-based abrasives are blasted against a work surface, they shatter and result in airborne dust particles. If you inhale these dust particles, they can lodge themselves in lung tissue, and the body has no way to remove them, which can result in the lung disease silicosis.a
Garnet and glass beads are safe to use because they are not silica-based. They have a much longer life span than silica-based sand abrasives because they are recyclable.
