What Is Shot Blasting?139405
Defining shot blasting
Shot blasting refers to the procedure of changing a metallic surface or removal of substances from a metallic surface using a number of devices such as air guns or spinning paddles. The actual 'shot' can be made of numerous materials like sand, grains of silicon carbide or tiny steel balls based on the type of scale, rust, paint or other impurities that require to be removed from the surface of the metal.
What is shot blasting used for?
Shot blasting is used most generally to clean the surface of metals. Depending on the equipment used, this procedure is also used for altering the textures or surface coating of the metal for decorative purposes to enhance its look.
Shot blasting methods:
There are different shot blasting methods used for numerous industrial purposes:
• Abrasive blasting
This technique of metals involves spraying of abrasive materials like water, sand, high pressured air or fine glass particles at very high speeds on the metal to be cleaned or polished. Abrasive blasting requires potent and high-powered equipment and is frequently referred to as pressure washing or sand blasting. For eco-friendly other organic and atmosphere friendly supplies may be used as a blasting medium such as basking soda. Selecting the type of material to be used as a medium depends on the kind of application.
Abrasive blasting gear can differ from a small back pack sized shot blaster to industrial sized which can be the size of a trailer. Most are designed to hold a specific blasting medium though some larger equipments may provide more flexibility as to the medium it can hold. The cabinet of the machine is then connected to a hose with a nozzle on its mouth by which blasting professionals are able to direct the medium on the metallic surface.
• Grit blasting
This is another form of exactly where the medium used for blasting is gritty sand particles. Grit blasting is generally used for smoothing rough metallic surfaces or adding a rough texture to smooth metallic surfaces. There are portable as well as stationery pieces of equipment that may be used for depending on the needed pressure streams. Small grains of sand are stress-propelled from an air gun onto the metal. Grit blasting is generally used to attain a frosted effect on metals or to clean off paint from metallic surfaces.
An additional off-shoot of is bead blasting exactly where small particles of glass are used for blasting rather than sand. This is used to clean swimming pool floors off stains and fungus as nicely as on automobiles to clean paint.
Tips and precautions during shot blasting:
1. Protective equipment like masks and gloves should be worn by blast operators. Metals like Lead and Cadmium can be very toxic and trained personnel only should be allowed to handle the blasting operation.
2. Shot blasting involves a high level of noise so protective equipment like noise mufflers should be used.
