You've probably heard of sandblasting even if you don't know exactly what is sandblasting. For those who want to know more about this very old and very efficient type of surface treatment, read on.

 

What is sandblasting and what does sandblasting do?

The first sandblasting patent appeared in 1870 in the US. It was invented by a man named Benjamin Chew Tilghman. Since then, there have been a lot of advances in sandblasting technologies and techniques. To help you to better understand sandblasting we put together this article.

 

What Exactly is Sandblasting?

Sandblasting is a surface cleaning method that involves using high pressure air to blast a surface with abrasive particles, such as sand. This is where the name comes from - sand and blasting. It's called sandblasting, but sand isn't the only form of blasting media that can be used. Different finishing effects can be achieved by using different blasting media. For example, sodium bicarbonate is less abrasive, so the surface finish will be finer. Beads or small metal balls can used to for heavier jobs. Even walnut shells are sometimes used.

 

What Exactly Does Sandblasting Do?

Sandblasting will absolutely clean a surface of any contaminants and it will also smooth the surface. Sandblasting can be used to remove paint, rust, grime, or any other surface contaminant. The smoothing feature of sandblasting happens as the particles of sand or other media strike the surface of the material being sandblasted.

 

What is Sandblasting Generally Used For?

We already mentioned that sandblasting can remove paint, rust, and other contaminants from a surface, but there's more to sandblasting than just that. It can also be used to create special textures on a variety of surfaces. Here are some examples of the different ways sandblasting can be used:

 

Restore Old Hardware and Fittings

If you're in the restoration business and you are restoring an old building, it is always best to use the original fittings and hardware. The problem is that they tend to not age very well. Sandblasting is a great way to remove the signs of time and return the fittings and hardware back to a like-new condition.

 

Prepping a Surface for Paint

When painting, it's always best to start from a bare surface, as painting over old paint doesn't look as good and usually doesn't hold up as well. One of the primary uses of sandblasting is removing old painting and grim from surfaces in preparation for fresh paint.

 

Removing Casting Edges

Casting is used to fabricate metal objects, such as car parts. When a car part comes out of the casting mould, it is usually covered with sharp casting fins or casting burrs. Sandblasting is a great way to remove the excess material from a casted part, and it is one of the reasons car engines all have that smooth, sandblasted surface texture.

 

Mould Removal

It can be very difficult to remove mould. But with sandblasting it is no trouble at all. Mould can grow on most any kind of surface, so different types of sandblasting media will be used depended on how delicate or tough the surface is.

 

Removal of Oil Stains

If you've ever owned an old car then you probably have a few oil stains. The car may be gone, but we bet the oil stains are not. That is because old dirty oil will stain a surface like no other. But sandblasting can quickly and easily remove those old oil stains.

 

Cleaning in Small Crevasses

This application of sandblasting is great for small metal parts or tools, especially if the part or tool has a lot of small nooks and crevasses. You know how hard it can be to get those perfectly clean. A sandblaster with a very fine media has no problem getting in there and cleaning in the tiniest of places.

 

Custom Artwork

Sandblasting isn't used only for cleaning and surface prep. It also has a wide variety of uses in the world of art. This is because of the unique and custom textures that sandblasting can create. Different media will create different textures, so artists are often trying new media to get different effects for their sculptures or other art.

 

The sandblasting professionals

We hope that answers the questions of what is sandblasting and what does sandblasting do? If you're in need of sandblasting, get in touch with Revolution Paint & Panel. We do the kind of sandblasting north Brisbane businesses depend on. You can all us on (07) 3266 1387 or 0422 261 148, or you can contact us via email at enq@revolutionpaintpanel.com.au. You can also visit us in our store at 17-23 Business Drive, Narangba, QLD, 4504.