Steel Shot & Air Blasting

Air blasting with either Steel Shot or Steel Grit provides a couple of unique challenges. Because of the weight of the media (2-3 times 'standard' abrasive blast media), it is important to check with the manufacturer to make sure that your blasting system is designed to handle this media. Many pressure systems are OK but siphon or suction systems will probably have some issues.

Clean and dry (and I mean dry) air is critical for air blasting with steel shot or grit. If moisture gets into the pressure pot, the steel can rust over time reducing the effectiveness and requiring more frequent replacement of the media. If the steel media is left in the pot overnight with moisture you will probably need to purchase a new blasting pot.

Abrasive Blasting Media - Plastic

Plastic Abrasive Blasting Media is a synthetic media that is available primarily as three different types - Urea (Type II), Melamine (Type III) and Acrylic (Type V). Plastic Media is a dry, thermoset plastics that is specifically designed for specialty applications such as automotive and aviation for stripping (without warping the metal), boat stripping, die and mold cleaning and other sensitive surfaces where etching could be a problem.

Plastic abrasive blasting is a very low dust application. While having a high re-usability rate, plastic media will break down during use into particles that maintain a sharp angular shape adding to the long-life and value of this media. The higher purchase cost of plastic media makes it difficult to call this media an abrasive blasting work-horse but in the applications where surface and part sensitivity are critical, plastic media is definitely the way to go.

Properly produced plastic abrasive media is manufactured to meet the MIL-P-85891-A specification which identifies the various Types.

Abrasive Blasting Media - Silicon Carbide

Silicon Carbide is the hardest of the abrasive blasting media. On the Mohs hardness scale, Silicon Carbide has a hardness of 9.5 (diamond is a 10). While this mineral does occur naturally, it is rare and most is manufactured synthetically using an Acheson furnace.

Silicon Carbide is sometimes referred to as 'black sand' but contains no silica. The hardness of this media makes it ideal for etching on surfaces such as glass and stone. Larger grit sizes can result in extremely heavy, rough and deeply etched surfaces while the smaller grit sizes can produce a very fine and 'frosted' etched surface. Silicon Carbide has a very high/fast working speed and is typically used in a blasting cabinet.

Relative to some other abrasive blasting media, Silicon Carbide does break down more quickly. Because of the higher cost of the media and the high fracture rate of the particles, this media is generally used for specialty applications or in areas where Aluminum Oxide (as a more general purpose abrasive media) is not aggressive enough.

Vote. Just Vote.

The 2008 US election season certainly seems to be one of the more important decisions to be made in recent memory (seem like that every 4 years, though). In addition to issues like fighting terrorism, military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, health care and energy among many others, the economy has certainly dominated the discussion the last few weeks.

Fears of a US and a global recession have many people worried about their jobs and the companies they work for. Innovation, ingenuity and a strong work ethic are bedrock principles for many of us. Over the long term, manufacturing and commercial services will survive and thrive in the US regardless of who wins this election.

Go to the polls and vote for the Republicans or the Democrats or even some 3rd party candidate. Vote for Congress. Vote in your local races. Vote for whomever you think will be the best elected representative for you. You do make a difference. Vote. Just Vote.