Do You Really Know How to Choose a Method of Surface Finishing?

                                         --The Difference between dry and water abrasive blasting

When we need to treat a surface of anything in our daily life, we often face the problem of the selection of finishing methods, which are dry abrasive sandblasting and water abrasive sandblasting. It is essential to process the surface for preserving the quality of the desired coating and the integrity of the surface itself. The correct method of surface finishing will effectively guarantee that your object remains in prime condition. Therefore, how do find suitable sandblasting methods to meet our needs? To begin with, we need to have a deeper understanding of them.

Main Features

Dry Abrasive Blasting

As the name shows, dry abrasive sandblasting, or abrasive media blasting, doesn’t use water or liquid but applies the abrasive mixture by pressure airflow to spray a surface. It is a common surface finishing way featuring high efficiency and strong power. Although it is applied in various materials, sandblasting is generally associated with clearing the surface of metals.

Water Abrasive Blasting

Water abrasive blasting means it ejects the flow of mixed water and abrasive particles. The addition of water is aimed at suppressing dust caused by both the abrasive particles and the surface worn. Hence, compared with dry abrasive blasting, it is a good substitute when we require a cleaner blasting environment.

Common Styles

Dry Abrasive Blasting

Long Venturi Nozzle: It applies the structure following the Venturi Effect. This structure is mainly divided into three sections including a long tapered converging inlet, flat straight section, and diverging outlet. According to the number of the inlet, it is classified into single-inlet venturi nozzle and double-inlets venturi nozzle.

Short Venturi Nozzle: As its name suggests, it is similar to a long venturi nozzle except the length.

Straight Bore Nozzle: It is divided into two parts containing the converging inlet and full-length straight bore part.

Water Abrasive Blasting

Water Induction Nozzle: As the figure shows, the air force pushes abrasive particles through the converging inlet to a short straight path. In the middle of the path, airflow and water are drawn inside, respectively, by a pipeline and many small holes. The structure also follows the venturi effect principle.

The Advantages

Dry Abrasive Blasting

1) Efficient Result. It is an efficient way of remove away old coatings from metal surfaces, sticky paint, and stubborn rust for its highly abrasive.

2) Suitable for Metal. It is not involved the water, only abrasive particles, which will not result in metal rusting.

3) Convenience. The dry abrasive blasting needs less preparation for the simple work process and less equipment. Also, it can carry on in a wider range of locations.

Water Abrasive Blasting

1) Less Dust. Compared with dry abrasive blasting that produces lots of dust, it is good for our health for less dust caused.

2) Benefiting for media lifespan. Due to the buffering effect of water, the abrasive working life is prolonged.

3) No static charges. Sandblasting produces sparks, which may cause a fire in places with flammable materials. Although water abrasive blasting can’t remove sparks absolutely, it can eliminate static charges by producing ‘cold’ sparks, which diminishes the risk of explosion or fire.

The Applications

Dry Abrasive Blasting

For parts requiring high-intensity cleaning, dry sandblasting is a commendable choice because it contains extensive high hardness abrasives for cleaning. It has the following common uses:

1) Removing away the stubborn paint, heavy rust, scale, or carbon from the surface, especially on metal

2) Surface preparation work

3) Cleaning or shaping for plastic molds

4) Glass etching, decorating

Water Abrasive Blasting

Compared with dry blasting, water abrasive blasting has a different principle combining technology of water jet and sand blasting. It can effectively inhibit sand dust and is more beneficial to human health. It has the following main uses:

1) Removing away the stubborn paint, heavy rust, scale or carbon from the surface (try not to include metal)

2) Cleaning of models

3) Surface preparation before repainting or recoating

4) Removing small burr away from surface

According to different needs, we can choose the most suitable products.