Sand Blasting Machines

Sand blasting is the procedure that forcibly propels a jet of abrasive material against surfaces under high pressure. They can smooth rough surfaces, roughen smooth surfaces, level surfaces as also remove surface dirt or unwanted elements. The blast of air or steam carrying sand or other abrasive material at high velocity helps to clean up even stone and metal surfaces.

The equipment used to apply such a blast is called a sandblasting machine. These machines can propel an air blast on metal, masonry, concrete and other surfaces to remove dirt, rust, or paint or any other debris to make a smooth and clean texture. Sandblasting machines force sand or other abrasive particles driven by a jet of compressed air, water or centrifugal force to even abrade surfaces.

In the case of centrifugal force being used the abrasives get whirled in a rapidly rotating device before being directed against the surface. Materials used include powdered quartz, emery, chilled iron globules, and other hard granular substances as also organic substances like walnut and coconut shells for lighter applications. Mainly two types of sandblasting machines are used for the process, these being the suction feed blasters and the pressure feed blaster.

The former uses a venturi siphoning action to draw the blast media into the compressed air stream and then to the nozzle itself. And the pressure feed blaster has the media stored within the pressure pot. Once the pot is sealed the media goes through a valve into the compressed air stream that is placed in the blast nozzle. The nozzle then accelerates the media to impact the surface. Pressure feed blasters are much quicker than suction feed blasters.

Sand blasting machines are used to clean up castings in foundries, to prepare metal surfaces for painting, enameling or galvanizing and for cleaning the stonework of structures like buildings and bridges. These machines are high powered equipment coming in all shapes and sizes. From large-scale machines used for commercial use to small portable units that work well for home improvement projects, there are also portable pressure machines that can actually clean huge tanks of all kinds of descriptions.

Abrasive blasting machines thus smooth, clean and shape hard surfaces by forcing solid particles across that surface at high speeds. While earlier sand was the preferred material that was filtered to uniform size for application, now there is quite a range of media that includes bead blasting, wheel blasting, hydro-blasting, micro-abrasive blasting, automated blasting and dry ice blasting.

Depending on the blast equipment and material used the process is referred to as sand blasting or pressure washing. While sea vessels use huge machines to clean hulls, sandblasting is also effective in removing wall graffiti, stripping paint from vehicles or cleaning mold and dirt from surfaces. Sand blasting machines can clean swimming pools too! With the advent of newer technologies and improvements there are numerous models and categories of sand blasting machines. Companies provide specialist services catering to industrial, commercial and even home use applications.