A media blasting machine propels abrasive media (such as sand, water, paint, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, or brass) from a high-pressure air blast gun to work surfaces quickly and easily. Media blasting is an excellent method for removing debris from a hard-to-reach surface or preparing a work surface for additional painting or finishing. It can also be used to finish an unfinished surface by blasting a bead of material directly to the work surface with no secondary finishing process. The abrasive media used in this process is usually water. There are several types of media blasting machines on the market. Some are electric; some are cordless; and some are gas-powered.
Most portable media blasters use sandblasting drums to operate. These media blasters usually attach to a power tool in such a way that it is only necessary to keep the unit charged. However, if you plan to use a drum media blasting system, it is recommended that you purchase a quality sandblast cabinet so that you don't damage your workpiece when it becomes dirty. Media blasters that are run without a sandblasting unit can generate dust and other impurities that can damage the finish on your workpiece.
There are many advantages to using an air media blasting device. One is the speed with which it works. A single press on the trigger releases abrasive media that blasts through the air in a fast, consistent stream. This allows the user to complete one job quickly so that they can move on to the next. Because of the speed of the compressed air, it is ideal for finishing jobs on the job site without stopping to change media. If the workpiece becomes wet or dusty, changing media can be completed without changing the drum or injecting new abrasive media into the tool. Be sure to view here for more details!
Another advantage to the air blast media is that it is powerful cleaning media. Because it is made up of very fine particles, it creates very little waste and has very little impact on the finish of the material being blasted. Unlike hard media blasting, the result from using baking soda is very little change in the finish. In fact, some professionals prefer to work with baking soda because it leaves a fine residue on workpieces that cannot be removed by hand scrubbing. Be sure to click for more info!
When purchasing blasting systems, it is important to consider the types of media that will be needed to remove old paint. In many cases, the amount of pressure exerted on the surface to remove the old paint will determine the type of media that is used. For high-pressure systems that must be used on extremely wet surfaces, hard plastic media is used. For applications that only need to be removed from a clean surface, a soft media such as sandpaper can be used. Look for more facts about pressure washing at http://creativerse.wikia.com/wiki/Washer.
Other media blasting applications include applying paint thinner or finisher to metal and stainless steel products. In these cases, the application of a finisher or paint thinner is not necessary because the product already comes with an adhesive surface. If a contractor is unsure about which media to use, they should consider discussing these options with their supplier. In most cases, a provider of wet blasting equipment will have a final analysis of the blasting needs of a client and can recommend the best media to use based upon those requirements. The choice of media in this instance is up to the client and their contractor.
