Everything you wanted to know about sandblasting machines

This treatment is a popular and effective way to clean surfaces. It has long been used around the world, but the methods and settings for performing work are constantly being improved. The sandblasting device must be powerful enough so that the pressure is sufficient to remove even the most persistent contaminants, so you need to choose it taking into account important requirements and optimal characteristics.

Content:

• Sandblasting Applications
• Sandblasting device
• The principle of operation of the sandblasting apparatus
• Types of sandblasting machines
• Stationary devices
• Mobile installations
• Injection Devices
• Pressure devices
• Types of compressors for sandblasting machines and their parameters
• Features and characteristics of guns
• Personal protective equipment for the sandblasting operator
• Sandblasting room
• Types of sandblasting
• Browse Popular Models

Sandblasting Applications

Sandblasting equipment is most often used in car body repair. With it, you can easily clean old paint from parts, remove rust, get rid of any dirt and grease. Also, sandblasting is widely used in repairing discs: damaged, rumpled, peeling products are first cleaned and then repainted.

Why is sandblasting preferable to other types of surface cleaning? After grinding the metal with an abrasive mixture supplied under pressure, even the smallest contaminants are removed, which cannot be achieved when working manually. Due to the removal of the smallest pitting corrosion elements located in microcracks, pores and pits, it is possible to stop the metal rusting process. This helps products last an order of magnitude longer and become less susceptible to corrosion. The surface remains smooth, without scratches, so the primer and paint lie evenly.

In addition to car repair and other equipment, sandblasting equipment is widely used in the following areas:

• shipbuilding, ship repair;
• overhaul of building structures;
• furniture manufacturing;
• cleaning concrete and brick products;
• woodworking;
• creating patterns on glass;
• metal engraving;
• frosting of glass, ceramics;
• cleaning products before galvanic operations and thermal spraying.

Powerful units with special nozzles can even drill holes in different materials, make grooves and grooves. Designers often use the technique of decorating masonry with sandblasting - special abrasive techniques help the surface gain an aged, vintage look.

Sandblasting device

Any sandblasting plant consists of the main elements, without which its operation is impossible:

• compressor;
• abrasive tank;
• gun with nozzle;
• connecting hoses;
• control system;
• storage receiver.

The main element of the system is a compressor that pumps air pressure. The operation of modern installations is controlled by automation, with which you can adjust the pressure, turn on and off the device.More expensive compressors have a breakdown system that protects against voltage surges.

Advantages of automation:

• stops the operation of the device if the nozzle falls out of the hands of the operator;
• puts the installation in idle and working mode;
• controls additional functions;
• gives signals when the level of sand is reduced.

The quality and size of the hoses for sand, air and the outlet of the abrasive mixture also depend on the operation of the entire installation, its power and productivity. Therefore, when choosing a device, it is important to pay attention to the diameter, internal resistance, hose length.

The principle of operation of the sandblasting apparatus

Depending on the type of sandblasting installation, some of the nuances of work may vary, but in general the principle of operation is the same:

• the compressor pumps air, increasing its pressure to the desired rate;
• the flow is directed to the abrasive mass, connected to it;
• the finished mixture through the hose goes into the nozzle of the gun, is thrown out of it with great acceleration;
• the operator directs the nozzle to the surface to be treated, sand particles reduce pollution, polish the material.

Types of sandblasting machines

Sandblasting installation is selected depending on the planned work and the processing area. There are three main types of devices on sale:

1. Suction Air in sandblasting plants operating according to this principle “takes” the abrasive and transfers it from the tank to the nozzle. Most often, these sandblasting is used for frosting glass, removing old paint.
2. Vacuum Sand is thrown to the surface and then collected by the system and can be reused. Typically, such plants are used in industry because they are expensive.
3. Pneumatic The pressure of the air flow in these devices is large, they are designed to work with large surfaces, complex structures.

According to the conditions of use, one can distinguish the following types of sandblasting plants:

1. Open type. They are used outdoors (outdoors, under a canopy). They are inexpensive, mobile, have small dimensions. The disadvantages include a high level of dust, the lack of the ability to collect and reuse the abrasive, high sand consumption. Working with such devices is dangerous for the operator and requires the putting on of protective equipment.

2. Closed type. They are used in an enclosed space - a special sandblasting chamber, which in size can be no more than a drawer or resemble an entire room. Such devices are powerful, allow for better processing and to collect sand for reuse. For the operator, working with closed sandblasting is safer, because the abrasive does not fly out of the camera. Cons of the device are large dimensions, difficulties with transportation, the need to connect to a ventilation system.

Stationary devices

Such sandblasting plants are placed in production. They have a built-in filtration system and are connected to powerful ventilation, therefore they cannot be transported. Usually they process individual objects, parts, and small surfaces.

Mobile installations

Such devices are used both for domestic purposes (small-sized appliances or home-made sandblasting), and for the treatment of building facades, tanks, large equipment, and are in demand in body repair. They can be moved from place to place depending on need.

Injection Devices

The injection method of feeding abrasive is considered the most popular. In these sandblasting air and sand pass through different hoses, after which the apparatus creates a rarefaction of the flow and the abrasive is sucked into the air stream. The speed and power of the sand mixture is small, so the injector-type sandblasting unit is cheaper.

Pressure devices

In such sandblasting, abrasive and air are supplied through one hose (sleeve).The sand tank is made of reliable material and is 100% airtight - it will constantly undergo high flow pressure. The feed rate of the abrasive mixture is high, so with the help of a pressure unit you can perform complex work of large volumes.

Types of compressors for sandblasting machines and their parameters

Most often in sandblasting there are reciprocating compressors - their capacity is enough to operate small, inexpensive devices with low or medium capacity. Screw compressors are considered more complex and effective, which allow you to work with storage receivers for reusing abrasive.

The main technical parameters of the compressor are power (pressure) and performance. The optimum pressure is 6-8 atmospheres, which is always indicated in the instructions for the device. The maximum value depends on the size of the nozzle and the thickness of the hoses.

The compressor performance reflects the amount of air under pressure that the unit can produce per unit time. Usually this parameter is measured in l / min. The volume of sand supplied to the treated surface for a certain period of time depends on productivity.

In addition to the main indicators, the compressor operation is characterized by secondary parameters:

• continuous processing time;
• revolutions per minute;
• power consumption.

Features and characteristics of guns

The most important technical characteristics of the gun, which is one of the main components of the sandblast, are:

• withstand pressure;
• performance;
• nozzle size;
• way to grip abrasive.

With a large nozzle diameter, it makes sense to use a powerful compressor in the installation, while the productivity of the device will increase. Even with equal pressure values, a larger nozzle will produce the strongest jet of abrasive mixture, but its acceleration speed will decrease. To choose the right gun for sandblasting, you need to consider the recommendations:

• for processing brick, concrete, wood, you should find a device with a lower jet power, but high productivity;
• for cleaning, special processing of glass and metal, it is better to buy a device that gives a jet of abrasive with high acceleration.

Personal protective equipment for the sandblasting operator

In order not to harm health and not provoke dangerous lung diseases, it is necessary to properly organize the protection of the operator during sandblasting. If you ignore the protective measures, you can also seriously injure yourself, because the speed of departure of the abrasive from the nozzle is very high.

To carry out sandblasting, you need to purchase:

• thick closed shoes;
• durable special overalls;
• leather gloves;
• protective helmet.

When working in the air, many people use conventional respirators, although the use of helmets with autonomous air supply will be correct. If sandblasting is carried out inside the stationary chamber into which the operator enters, such a helmet is a mandatory item of equipment, and air is supplied into it through a hose outside the device.

Powerful sandblasting machines make a loud noise, which also harms the body. To avoid damage to your hearing, do not forget about protective equipment. Usually, special sound-absorbing headphones are put on under the helmet. They can also be mounted in a helmet, which is even more convenient in action.

Sandblasting room

For the work to be convenient, safe and of high quality, you need to organize it correctly.Sandblasting apparatus should be placed in a room with normal humidity, otherwise the efficiency and productivity will decrease. To remove excess moisture, use air dehumidifiers for the room or mount special drying devices on the sandblast itself. Dear professional installations are immediately equipped with such a device.

A very important factor is clean air. For this, filtration systems built into sandblasting machines are used. Filters help remove particles of oil, dust, dirt, other substances from the air, after which a clean stream is mixed with abrasive material and fed into the nozzle.

If the sandblast works inside the chamber, it should be easily cleaned of the remnants of sand. It is better if the room is completely airtight, and the sand begins to pour into special tanks through openings in the floor. This will help reduce the consumption of material that can be reused after sieving.

Types of sandblasting

Using sandblasting plants, the following categories of surface cleaning can be performed:

1. Easy. It is used to remove traces of scale, rust. After the work is completed, the product becomes quite clean, but recesses and inaccessible areas may remain contaminated.
2. Medium. Allows you to more thoroughly clean the base from rust, dirt, paint. After processing, it is possible to identify only pockets of corrosion in the most "secret" places.
3. Deep Perfectly cleans metal, structures of any complexity from all contaminants. It is usually carried out when in the future it is necessary to apply a new paintwork on the surface.

Browse Popular Models

In specialized stores you can find different models of sandblasting machines. Here are the most sought-after masters of body repair and other areas:

1. Inforce S 4020B. It produces pressures up to 8 atmospheres, has a built-in capacity of 63 liters. Productivity is 2.8 square meters. m / hour. The device has rubberized wheels, it assumes easy nozzle replacement if necessary, weighs about 21 kg, and allows the use of different types of abrasive.
2. Sandblasting apparatus Sorokin 8. Has a large chamber (220 l), is used to clean any surface from dirt, paint, scale. Corundum acts here as an abrasive; river sand can also be used. The camera has built-in gloves and
   a window for assessing the quality of work. The design is stable and reliable, the compressor produces a pressure of up to 8 atmospheres.

3. KSO-80-I-FV-M 015−0038. The device for cleaning surfaces with shot, corundum, sand. It weighs 180 kg, the volume of the tank is 80 l, the pressure is 7 atmospheres. The system device is the simplest, so even a beginner can work with it.
4. ZITREK IM-30 015−1011. Most often used in workshop conditions to rid metal of paint, rust, varnish. It works according to the injection type, has high performance, and is economical. The volume of the tank is 30 l, the pressure is 6 atmospheres, the weight of the device is 25 kg.

Without a sandblasting apparatus, it is impossible to carry out a body repair with high quality, to clean old parts from dirt and rust. Sandblasting is popular among craftsmen, because it seriously saves effort, time and money, and can also be used for domestic purposes.