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What Is Sandblasting?

Sandblasting is an industrial process that is also referred to as abrasive blasting. The sandblasting process dates back to 1870 when Benjamin Chew Tilghman first took out a patent for this newly invented industrial finishing process. Tilghman had taken note of the effect on windows caused by wind-blown sand in the desert. This eventually gave him the idea to refine the process of sandblasting for various industrial applications. In 1877, Tilghman took out a second patent for sharpening industrial files uniquely marketed as “liquid grindstone”. Initially, he has found the process particularly well-suited for sharpening files, cleaning metal surfaces such as boilers, and finishing wooden grain surfaces. Since that time, the sandblasting service has been used worldwide for various industrial applications.

How Are Sandblasting Services Performed? 

Sandblasting is performed by forcibly expelling a high-pressure stream of abrasive material called a media against a solid surface. The person conducting the sandblasting service must wear a variety of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect their eyes, hands, and skin from these high-velocity particles. Typically, compressed air is used in the sandblasting process.

However, some sandblasting machines use a centrifugal wheel to project the media at the target surface. The equipment used for sandblasting includes a machine chamber where the media and compressed air are mixed. The air and particle mixture are then forced into a hose and out through a hand-held nozzle to direct the spray of particles at the work surface. Sandblasting equipment is made from tough and durable materials, such as boron carbide since it must resist the abrasive wear and tear of the process.

Sandblasting Variations

Variations of the sandblasting process may use different media, some of which are highly abrasive while others are less abrasive. For instance, sand or metal shots are used as the most abrasive media types, while less abrasive variants of the process might use glass beads, plastic stock (PMB), corncobs, or even walnut shells. Lastly, some blasting processes are barely abrasive, including soda blasting which uses baking soda and dry-ice blasting. 

What Are The Benefits Of Sandblasting?

Like many other industrial processes, sandblasting can be used for various industrial applications. Sandblasting is often used to polish and smooth a rough surface, for starters. But you can also use it to rough up a smooth surface, which is usually done to prepare the surface for painting. Alternatively, sandblasting can be used to re-shape a surface, or you can use it to clean and remove particle contaminants from a surface.

Contact VeriForm Inc For Sandblasting Service

If you’re looking for metal fabrication services including sandblasting, don’t hesitate to consider VeriForm today. VeriForm has been in business for at least 25 years. They have great expertise and top-notch equipment to perform any metal fabrication capabilities. Contact VeriForm today to receive a quote on your next project. No matter how big or small, VeriForm will get the job done right the first time.