A Little Bit of Sandblasting - aLittleBitOfAll
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A Little Bit of Sandblasting

A Little Bit of Sandblasting

Dealing with DIY projects at home can be fun, but sometimes challenging and very time-consuming, demanding a lot of effort if you aren’t relying on the adequate tools. Such is also the case with renovation, restoring, and painting projects that require removing paint, corrosion, or rust. Even if you’re not restoring your car, or fixing the floorpan, having in mind many items in your home can be subjected to rusting, and would require cleaning sooner or later, is reason enough to consider the purchase of an air compressor sandblaster a wise investment.

The process this tool is based on the same abrasive blasting process that goes back to 1870 when Benjamin Chew Tilghman, a US army officer and inventor, came up with it and patented it. Sandblasting is made possible when fine particles, that act as abrasive material, are propelled with a high speed towards a certain surface, meant either for cleaning or etching. You wouldn’t only save on time but force as well since you’d be able to get clean and smooth surfaces quicker and easier.

sandblaster

Though sandblasting in the past was carried out with silica sand, nowadays this is considered rather dangerous as it poses a risk and can lead to the dangerous lung disease called silicosis. This is why nowadays other materials are preferred as abrasives, like walnut shells, coconut shells, copper slag, steel grit, and the mild version advanced air compressor sandblaster models work with – the non-toxic and water soluble soda.

Unlike in the past when sandblasting was commonly used with metal surfaces and machinery, the advanced sandblasters of today, particularly the one based on soda, are suitable for a wide range of materials, such as concrete, brick, plastics, fibreglass, and even timber, without the fear of causing any distortions. Depending on the projects you plan on carrying out, you can get to choose the type of sandblaster you need in the adequate size.

Smaller sandblasters are ideal for removing car paint and rust, and their portability makes it possible for sandblasting to be done wherever you find it most suitable, which isn’t the case with the bigger industrial-grade sandblasters that have to be mounted. A word of caution when handling DIY projects related to sandblasting is to always wear the protective equipment as the abrasive particles can spread through the air and easily find their way into your lungs; silica sand or not, lungs can’t get rid of abrasives.

This is why you also have to have the area in mind. If you live in a densely populated area, it’s best to carry out the projects in a garage and not outdoors.

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Ian Tompson
iantompsonlee5@gmail.com