Use Your Sand Blasting Machine To Its Optimal Abilities
Your sand blasting machine is an investment, so make the most of it! The better you and your team are able to operate your sand blasting machine, the more efficiently you can complete projects that are of higher quality! Check out some of our top recommendations for optimizing the use of your sand blasting machine.
Get familiar with all the ways you can use your sand blasting machine.
You might be using your sand blasting machine in one capacity, without realizing you could be using it for other projects and other purposes. For example, did you know most sand blasting machines can be used for scale removal, rust removal, deflashing, stripping, peening, and surface preparation for coating?
Use the right ratio of media.
Not every surface finishing project will require the same quantity of media in a sand blasting machine’s air stream. Be sure to research the quantity of media required or desired before every sand blasting project. Too much media can actually decrease the impact of the blasting, rather than increase it.
Sand blast at an angle (not perpendicular) to your project’s surface.
If you’re using a portable sand blaster with a hose, be cognizant of the angle at which you hold the hose. Blasting perpendicular to your surface will cause the incoming meia in the air stream to collide with the media that’s ricocheting off the project’s surface upon impact. This will lessen the impact of the air stream, which can increase the time it takes to finish surfacing. Blasting at an angle will also improve the strip rate when removing coating or other impurities off the surface.
Properly clean your sand blaster.
Increase the longevity of your sand blaster (and ensure it stays in proper working order) by cleaning it regularly. If you have a sand blasting cabinet, make sure that leftover debris is removed regularly. Be sure to replace the media regularly as it wears down. It’s also important to regularly replace any air inlet filters.
Check to see when nozzles are worn out.
The nozzle of your blast hose will also need to be regularly replaced. When your nozzles are intact, your sand blaster is effective and operates faster. Check your nozzles daily to determine if it’s time to swap them out with a new one. The interior area in nozzles is prone to wearing out due to the friction of sand passing through. The good news is that this deterioration should be visible to the naked eye, and nozzles are relatively easy and inexpensive to replace.
At Kramer, we’re skilled in sand blasting machines. To learn more sand blasting best practices, contact one of our experts. We’re here to help. Give us a call at 1-888-515-9443 or reach out to our team.
Related Articles
