FAQs
What is Grit Blasting?
Grit blasting is the process of cleaning and keying a surface for refinishing, restoration or coating applications.
It involves propelling abrasive media using compressed air against a surface. This removes contaminants such as paint, rust, grease and scale.
What is the difference between Sandblasting & Grit Blasting?
The term “sandblasting” was popularised when silica sand was the go-to choice as a medium for blast cleaning work. Nowadays, with what we know about silicosis, the surface preparation industry has moved away from using silica sand as an abrasive choice. It’s still common, however, to hear people refer to grit blasting or abrasive blasting as “sandblasting”.
What is Bead Blasting?
Bead Blasting is a similar process to Grit Blasting, instead using glass beads propelled at a lower pressure.
The glass beads clean the surface, removing weld burns and leaving a satin, uniform finish. Stainless steel is a common material to be finished using the Bead Blasting process.
What are the benefits of Blasting?
The main benefit of blasting is the speed of the process. Depending on the size and intricacy of a component, blasting is far more efficient and thorough than manual sanding.
Other benefits include providing a keyed surface for a superior bond with the next coating, an even finish, without the need for harsh chemicals.
What type of Wet Paint do you apply?
For commercial and industrial parts it’s most common to apply a two-pack acrylic based paint. Depending on the type of environment the part would be in and the client’s budget the choices are mainly between single-pack paint, two-pack paint, polyurethane or acrylic. Acrylic is more UV resistant and will fade less over time than polyurethane but costs more.
What is Powder Coating ?
Powder Coating is an alternative coating to wet paint. Powder is applied electrostatically to the surface of a metal item then baked in a curing oven. This forms a thick and durable coating.
Does my part need to be blasted before being coated?
Generally, most parts do need blasting before being coated to ensure an even application and provide a key to the surface to give a stronger bond with your coating.
Powder Coat Vs Wet Paint
Conventional Wet Paint consists mainly of paint solids suspended in liquid form by solvents. As the applied coating dries the solvents evaporate. Wet paint is commonly used in vehicle body coating or for components that cannot withstand high temperatures.
In Powder Coating, the powder is applied to the surface dry, in a solid form. It is then baked in an oven to cure. During this process the powder turns from solid to liquid and upon cooling solidifies. Powder Coating provides a thicker, harder finish than wet paint.