Abrasive Blasting Using Various Medias - Sand, Soda, Dry Ice and More!
Abrasive blasting is similar to sandblasting only we have experience using more than just sand to clean and restore surfaces. Our team has 10 years of experience in matching the right media to the job. We continually expand our tools into using the latest proven methods (such as dry ice blasting) to meet the project goals. Let us assess your project to determine the best method for you!
Video Above: Kirkland Waterfront Market Restoration Webisode
Abrasive blasting is the cleaning or preparing of a surface by forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material against the surface using sand, corncob, aluminum oxide, baking soda, garnet, steel shot, walnut shells, and others. Abrasive blasting is being used in many different applications.
- To roughen surfaces in preparation for bonding, painting or coating.
- To remove existing coatings.
- To clean surfaces after after a fire.
- To prepare surfaces for a final look in tenant improvements.
- To clean mold from studs
- To clean rust off engines
- The list goes on and on!
Abrasive blasting helps eliminate the use of organic solvent stripping and the generation of toxic waste material. A wide range of abrasive blasting equipment is available and blasting conditions can be selected to suit the coating and substrate. In most applications, the abrasive media are collected, cleaned to remove coating debris, and reused. In some instances they sublimate making cleanup and disposal quick and easy.
Media we frequently use listed from least to most aggressive:
- Dry Ice is the least agressive media we use. It is great for killing and removing mold as well as working on removing rust off engines because it will not damage the fine electrical parts. See our Dry Ice Blasting pages for more information.
- Soda is a biodegradable media that is also a naturally occurring element making it environmentally friendly. It is used on more delicate surfaces to minimize or prevent etching.
- Corncob is a biodegradable blast media that will not etch or warp surface being blasted. Ideal for applications such as wood log homes and thin metals and plastics.
- Walnut Shells - Walnut Shell Grit is the most versatile of the organic media due to its angular, durable shape yet is still considered a soft media. Use as an economical, biodegradable alternative for sensitive blasting operations that require aggressive stripping without affect on the substrate.
- Sand is a more aggressive media used on a variety of surfaces. We use Green Diamond sand which contains no free silica making it a more environmentally-friendly product. See our Sandblasting pages for more information.
- Steel Shot is used primarily in cement cleaning and restoration. This dense, smooth shot can be used up to 3,000 times producing minimal dust during the blasting process increased compressive strength of the metal. See our Shot Blasting page for more information.
Types of surfaces or locations we've blasted in the past:
- Cement
- Brick
- Metal
- Wood
- Pools and Pool decks
- Paper Mill
- Industrial drums
- Industrial Kitchens
- Parking Garages
We've removed the below from the above list of surfaces:
- Epoxy
- Paint
- Rust
- Stains
- Char
- Oil
Testimonial
“You guys were prompt and out there right away to remove the graffiti from our church and I can’t see a thing! I tried so many things on my own—bleach, scrubbing, etc.—and nothing worked. I’m having you come back to do some more work. Thank you!”
-Dennis. M, Facilities Supervisor, St. James Cathedral
