Sandblasting is process of smoothing and cleaning a hard surface by forcing solid particles across that surface at high speeds using compressed air. There are two kinds of sandblasters: “Suction” / “Siphon”" & “Pressure” Blast Systems. There are two basic kinds of sand blasters: Blast Cabinets & Portable Blasters. Our project used the suction/siphon system in a blast cabinet.

 


A Sandblasting Machine

 

A sandblasting system includes four basic components: the air source, the sandblasting cabinet, the dust collector, and the blasting media. The air source is usually bottle gas or an air compressor. The sandblasting cabinet holds the object being blasted, while the dust collector removes dust from the cabinet. The materials used in sandblasting, whether sand or not, are referred to as blast media.

Sandblasting can remove paint, rust, and residue from oxidation from materials quickly and efficiently. Sandblasting can also be used to change the condition of a metal's surface, such as through removing scratches or casting marks. Sandblasting as a cleaning method has been widely used for over a hundred years.

 

Below are the typical sandblasting steps inside a cabinet:

Steps for Sandblasting

  1. Open Door
  2. Place Item inside
  3. Close Door
  4. Turn On The Power
  5. Place Your Hands Inside The Gloves
  6. Grab The Blast Hose, or Suction Gun
  7. Step On The Foot Pedal
  8. Blast Surface
  9. Blow-Off Item with Blow-Off Nozzle (Inside Cabinet)
  10. Inspect
  11. Repeat Blast If Needed
  12. Open Door
  13. Remove Item

Written by Lily Danqi Shen '11