Greenback, Tennessee, United States
LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS & BENIFITS
How the Blasting Process Works
The blasting process uses high-pressure air to propel abrasive media at a surface to clean, strip, or prepare it for further treatment. Here's how it works in detail:
- The Blast Pot:
The process begins with loading the abrasive media into the blast pot, which acts as a pressurized storage container. The blast pot is sealed tightly to maintain pressure during operation. - Pressurization:
Once sealed, compressed air from an air compressor fills the pot, pressurizing the media inside. This built-up pressure allows for a controlled and powerful release of media during the blasting process. - Media Flow Control:
A metering valve controls the flow of abrasive media from the pot. This ensures the right balance between air pressure and media delivery for optimal surface preparation. - Mixing and Propulsion:
The compressed air pushes the media through a blast hose, where it accelerates toward the surface at high speed. - Surface Impact:
As the media hits the surface, it removes coatings, contaminants, rust, or other undesired materials. The type of media and pressure settings are adjusted based on the material and cleaning requirements to achieve the best results without damaging the surface.
At Smoky Mountain Mobile Blasting, we focus on using crushed glass and coal slag, offering effective and cost-conscious solutions for both precision and heavy-duty applications. However, we are open to exploring other media options to achieve the optimal surface preparation for our customers, depending on media availability and pricing considerations.
Types of Media (uses & benifits)
5 Commonly Used Blasting Media for Surface Prep:
1. Crushed Glass (Used by SMMB)
- Best For: Metal surfaces, graffiti removal, automotive parts
- Benefits: Eco-friendly, produces a clean finish, and doesn’t embed particles into the surface, making it perfect for paint and rust removal without leaving residue.
2. Aluminum Oxide
- Best For: Hard surfaces like steel or stainless steel
- Benefits: Extremely durable and aggressive, making it highly effective for heavy-duty surface preparation, such as cleaning rust or prepping for coatings.
3. Coal Slag (Used by SMMB)
- Best For: Heavy rust and coating removal
- Benefits: Sharp edges enable aggressive cleaning, and it’s affordable and widely available, making it a go-to for industrial surface preparation.
4. Garnet
- Best For: Softer surfaces like aluminum, fiberglass, and softer metals
- Benefits: Offers precision and efficiency without causing excessive wear on delicate surfaces, making it ideal for marine, automotive, and general use.
5. Steel Shot and Steel Grit
- Best For: Heavy-duty applications like structural steel, cast iron, or large metal components
- Benefits: Reusable and durable, steel shot and grit are ideal for cleaning, peening, and strengthening metal surfaces, with the added benefit of long-lasting use.
These media types are trusted for their performance across a wide range of applications and industries.
2 Commonly Used Organic Blasting Media for Surface Prep
1. Walnut Shells
- Best For: Delicate surfaces such as wood, fiberglass, and automotive parts.
- Benefits: Gentle, eco-friendly, and non-abrasive. It’s particularly effective for cleaning intricate or sensitive materials without causing damage.
2. Corn Cob
- Best For: Wood, fiberglass, and other delicate surfaces.
- Benefits: Non-abrasive, biodegradable, and gentle enough to preserve intricate details, making it ideal for restoration or cleaning of softer materials.
These organic media are ideal for projects where preserving the integrity of the surface is essential.
While there are several other options available, we’ve focused on the most commonly used and widely recognized choices.