The Process of Media Blasting

The media blasting process is a very efficient way of cleaning and preparing a surface for further treatment. It is primarily used in the automotive industry but can also be used for other purposes, such as preparing a metal surface for repainting. The process uses high-pressure air to blast media onto the target surface. The media can be either sand, glass beads, or steel shot. So, what is the process of media blasting? Let’s take a look.

1. Wet the Surface

In media blasting, you must wet the surface before starting the process. This prevents the media from sticking to the surface and causing damage. You can use a hose or a pressure washer to wet the surface thoroughly. Essentially, you cannot blast a dry surface, as this will only cause the media to bounce off and not hit the surface evenly.

2. Create a Containment Area

If you’re doing this indoors, then you need to make sure that you create a containment area to prevent the media from damaging the surrounding areas. You can do this by using plastic sheeting or any other material that will prevent the media from spreading. Make sure you’re using thick sheeting as the media can be pretty forceful.

3. Set Up the Media Blasting Equipment

The next step is to set up the media blasting equipment, including the blast hose, compressor, and media blaster. Make sure that everything is connected correctly and that there are no leaks. Once everything is set up, you can start the process. You cannot ignore any of these steps as they’re all essential for a successful media blasting process.

4. Fill the Blasting Machine with Media

You’ll need to fill the blasting machine with your chosen media in this step. You can do this by pouring the media into the hopper. Once the machine is full, you can start the process. Check and ascertain that there are enough media in the machine so that you can complete the job. The number of media you’ll need will depend on the size of the surface you’re blasting.

5. Start at a Low Pressure

Once everything is set up, you can start at low pressure and gradually increase it until you reach the desired pressure. This is to prevent the media from causing damage to the surface. You must also hold the blaster about 6 to 12 inches from the surface. If you hold it too close, then you risk damaging the surface.

6. Blast the Surface

After you’ve reached the desired pressure, you can start blasting the surface. Move the blaster back and forth evenly to ensure that the media hits the surface evenly. You should also overlap each pass to ensure you don’t miss any areas. Continue blasting until the entire surface is evenly covered.

Conclusion

Media blasting is a very efficient way of cleaning and preparing a surface for further treatment. It is mainly used in the automotive industry but can also be used for other purposes, such as preparing a metal surface for repainting. The process uses high-pressure air to blast media onto the target surface. The media can be either sand, glass beads, or steel shot. Contact Powder Vision Inc. for all your media blasting needs.