Why Shotblasting and Substrate Preparation WILL save you time and money in the long run
Dave Butler
Industrial Coatings Manager
This is why we always have an independent paint inspector to warrant our work.
One of the most common ways to prepare a substrate is shotblasting. Normally this is carried out to remove paint, rust or scale, but sometimes it is required to impart a particular surface, or uniform finish, to the object being blasted.
There are various standards to which the surface can be prepared to. If the substrate is previously painted and in good condition then it is likely to require a different system to a substrate that is for instance, previously unpainted and rusting very badly.
Additionally, a substrate that can be prepared by abrasive blast cleaning to a very high degree of cleanliness is likely to warrant a different approach in terms of coating selection to a substrate that can only be wired brushed.
The following standards apply:
Abrasive blast cleaning in accordance with BS7079 Part A:
SA3 White Metal
SA2.5 Near White Metal
SA2 Commercial Blast
Manual preparation in accordance with BS7079 Part C:
ST3 Very Thorough Manual Preparation
ST2 Thorough Manual Preparation
Most specifications will call for SA2.5 when abrasive blast cleaning is required and ST3 when manual preparation is required
The abrasive material used can be calcium silicate (sand), calcium carbonate, granules of iron silicate (chilled iron), silicon carbide, glass grit produced from recycled bottle bank glass, aluminium oxide, garnet and even walnut shells! Abrasive materials are available in many different sizes, from dust to 3.5mm.
Items which can be cleaned by Alltask vary from wood, soft stone, brick and masonry, through to aluminium, iron and steel. It is "simply" a case of determining the correct material and pressure to accomplish the task. For instance, wood or soft stone would be cleaned at very low pressure using the finest grade of sand available, whereas iron or steel can be cleaned at full pressure using 2.5mm chilled iron, if necessary. It is advisable to apply a first coat of primer to freshly blasted metal to prevent the onset of corrosion, and this can be carried out by Alltask using roller or brush.
If you need any more information don't hesitate to contact me
Regards
Dave Butler
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