What Is Blast Cleaning?

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” is a saying you have probably heard many times before. As steel fabricators in Indiana, we may not be experts in chains, but we do know that the same principle applies to what we do make, which is just about anything that can be made of steel. Any steel structure is only as strong as its weakest point and, for most steel structures, the perimeter of the steel is its weakest point because it has the most contact with the surrounding environment.

In order to protect and ensure the integrity of the steel products and structures we create, we use a process called blast cleaning to clean and prep the steel surface for its final coating. Blast cleaning allows a final coating to adhere properly to the surface of the steel, which improves the performance of the coating and ensures the integrity of the steel itself.

How does it work?

Blast cleaning, in its simplest terms, is a process where a stream of pressurized abrasive materials, such as grit, soda or dry ice, is forcibly propelled against a surface. The combination of force and the abrasive materials creates a unique operation that can be used to clean even the toughest surfaces, including steel.

What is it used for?

There are a wide variety of uses for blast cleaning techniques. Blast cleaning can be used in the following operations:

• Shaping a surface
• Smoothing a rough surface
• Roughening a smooth surface
• Cleaning and removing surface contaminates

As steel fabricators in Indiana, we use blast cleaning in a variety of ways when constructing steel products and structures. However, the most common use of blast cleaning techniques in our industry is to clean and prep steel surfaces for the final coating. Blast cleaning not only removes any contaminants, but it also makes the surface of the steel more abrasive, which in turn allows the coating to adhere to the surface more readily.

Can anyone do it?

While the process of blast cleaning may sound simple, it actually requires a high level of expertise. The pressure of the blast as well as the abrasive material used must be carefully managed in order to obtain the desired result. Particularly when using blast cleaning to prep a steel surface, close attention must be given to the pressure of the stream to avoid affecting the integrity of the steel itself.

Steel is one of the strongest materials in the world, which is why it is used in so many products and structures. However, one weak point can become a serious threat to the integrity of any material. At Benchmark Fabricated Steel, we use clean blasting techniques to ensure that everything we build for a customers is top quality and will stand the test of time. If you would like to learn more about clean blasting or are interested in working with our steel fabricators in Indiana, contact us today! We’re always happy to answer any questions you have about what we do.

Categorised in: Steel Fabricators

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