Sandblasting. Sandblasting and cleaning equipment

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The formation of deposits, deforming and simply undesirable coatings on various products and structures, as a rule, is not compatible with the requirements for their performance properties. The way out is the means of processing, among which are grinding and polishing. But such surface cleaning methods may not be effective in removing scale, rust, and in some cases old paint. Only sandblasting of the surface, based on the principles of abrasive action, can cope with the consequences of deep deformation processes. The tool uses sand, which acts as a cleaning component. However, this principle of operation also imposes strict safety requirements during operation.

Sandblast guns

There are two groups of such equipment. You should start with open models. As a rule, this is a small sandblasting machine, the price of which is on average from 3 to 7 thousand rubles. By design, it resembles a construction pistol, powered by pneumatics. Such devices can be used in cleaning stone, concrete and metal surfaces from oldpaintwork, rust, dirt, etc.

The advantages of the gun include mobility, ease of use and the ability to accurately work with structures of complex shape. Due to the low power of the device, sandblasting does not practically damage the base surface. On the other hand, it is impractical to use pneumatic guns for some types of work in workshops, therefore, in such cases, equipment of a closed type is used.

Sandblasting chambers

This is the second category of abrasive equipment, the function of which also provides sandblasting. Such devices are used for dry processing of metal parts in order to rid their surfaces of old paint, rust, scale and soot. As a working crumb, electrocorundum or river sand is usually used - the fraction on average varies from 0.1 to 0.9 mm. The specific parameters of the abrasive are determined by the tasks that the sandblaster must perform. The price of such models is 15-20 thousand rubles. At the same time, there is also more expensive equipment, which is characterized by large dimensions and, accordingly, high power.

Sandblasting principle

During operation, the machine directs a jet of abrasive particles onto the surface to be treated. In most devices, the force that accelerates the movement of sand is generated by the energy of compressed air. A typical model of such equipment providesthe presence of three basic elements, among which are the jet device itself, the compressor and abrasive particles. It should also be borne in mind that sandblasting can be performed with varying degrees of pressure, that is, the force that acts on the abrasive. The operator adjusts this indicator, achieving the optimal result. The fact is that a high degree of pressure can not only eliminate the coating being cleaned, but also cause damage to the main surface. Therefore, the user is required to have certain skills and abilities in adjusting processing parameters.

Metal Cleaning Levels

Cleaning metal surfaces with sandblasting equipment is considered the most common. To date, special requirements have been developed for the quality of the surface, ready for further operation. It is worth focusing on them if sandblasting of metal structures with abrasives is planned. So, GOST standards distinguish four levels of surface cleaning from corrosion and scale:

• In the process of inspection under six times magnification, rust damage and scale are not detected.
• When visually inspected with the naked eye, scale, particles of sand, traces of corrosion, burn marks and other non-metallic deposits are not noticed.
• Up to 5% of cast area affected by scale and edge stains visible to the naked eye.
• There are no obvious signs of corrosion and flaking scale on the product.

Safety

The basic personal protection kit includes a helmet, gloves and, if necessary, overalls. At the same time, at the workplace where sandblasting is performed, spare glasses for the helmet should also be provided in case the main set is damaged. As for the device itself, it should be grounded, otherwise there will be a risk of electric shock. Today, more and more inexperienced craftsmen are paying attention to remote-controlled models, believing that they are safer and more convenient to use. But this is not entirely true, since the design of such devices is more susceptible to contamination by abrasives and requires careful maintenance.

Also keep a stock of consumables on site. Especially if you are sandblasting metal, you should have rubber hose seals and nozzle rings on hand. If necessary, you can replace these elements without stopping the organized workflow.

Conclusion

The formation of corrosion on the surface of the car body drives many motorists to despair. This means that you will have to contact a special service and lay out a significant amount for repairs. Of course, there are alternative means of cleaning metal surfaces in the form of sandpaper and a grinder, but sandblasting is much more effective and faster. And this applies not only to metal, but also to stone, as well as concrete products andbuilding structures. The main thing is to choose the right model of sandblasting machine. Pneumatic devices have gained the greatest popularity. At a low cost, they guarantee the complete disposal of any surface from unwanted coatings without harming the useful structure of the material.