Sand Blast Cleaning

What Does Sand Blast Cleaning Mean?

Sand blast cleaning is one method of abrasive blast cleaning or abrasive blasting.

Sand blasting is the act of propelling very fine particles of an abrasive material at high velocity toward a surface to clean or etch it.

Sandblasting is often used to prepare a surface prior to painting. It is commonly used to strip paint from machinery and metal, but it has many other uses as well.

Corrosionpedia Explains Sand Blast Cleaning

The sand blast cleaning process removes any loose paint, coating or debris so the surface can be washed and cleaned with ease, resulting in an extremely smooth surface. This process is often used to prepare a metal surface prior to the application of any paint or coating.

A sand blasting setup usually consists of three components:

• Abrasive (sand)
• Air compressor
• Blaster nozzle

Sand was once the most commonly used abrasive material for this technique. However, other materials are now used in its place, such as:

• Steel grit
• Copper slag
• Powdered abrasives
• Walnut shells
• Coconut shells

There are two different processes for sand blasting:

• Air-driven - Best suited for metal surfaces, to avoid water intrusion into the surface or to prevent moisture buildup.
• Water-driven - Cools the surface to which it is applied, further reducing surface deterioration. Most commonly used for brick and concrete surfaces.

Proper safety gear should be used during the sand blasting process. The abrasive particles can irritate the eyes and skin and can cause silicosis if inhaled.