How Does Media Blasting Work?
Media blasting is a type of abrasive blasting whereby sodium bicarbonate crystals are blasting against a hard surface with compressed air at very high pressures. It has a less severe abrasive effect than other types of media blasting. The earliest use was on the preservation of the Statue of Liberty during the latter's restoration in the late 1980s. It is also used to remove graffiti from public buildings. For this purpose, a drum containing media blasting dust is used, which then gets blasted with compressed air at various locations in and around the targeted area. Click here for more info.
A more common use for media blasting is the removal of unwanted debris from hard surfaces such as concrete, granite and tile. For example, it can be used to remove graffiti from public property, asphalt pavements or parking lots, tree stumps, roots and other rough patches in driveways and walls. The dust being blown off the surface areas leaves the surface areas clean and dry. This is why dry ice blasting is sometimes used to remove soil and loose particles from hard surfaces, where water is not a viable option because it freezes in such cases.
Another type of media blasting is used for cleaning steel structures and vehicles. As with cleaning steel structures and vehicles, it involves injecting compressed air into the structure and then cleaning the surfaces with a fine wire brush or other cleaning device. Usually, this type of cleaning takes place in areas where there is considerable rust such as in a pit where a steel rod is being cleaned. Paint is then pumped into the pits and then the rods are passed through a special drum that squeezes the accumulated paint and rust particles out of the rods. Read more about this here.
There is another form of media blasting, and that is sign blasting, which also involves using a drum containing compressed air and a special medium. In this process, the compressed air is blown into the sign lite mixture where it melts the sign lite in different directions depending on the requirement. For example, the sign lite may be blown in a counter-clockwise direction to remove sign dirt, or it may be blown in an anticlockwise direction to remove dust. When the medium is exposed to the air for a long time, it melts and creates a very fine dust. The dust is then vacuumed away to leave the sign intact.
Media blasting is also used when doing graffiti removal on buildings and on personal vehicles. The technique does not damage the structure or the vehicle, but it removes the unwanted graffiti without damaging the surface. It does not interfere with the functionality of the structure or the vehicle. Some other forms of graffiti removal include paint stripping and surface restoration. If you do your own sign removal or restoration, you should follow the procedures as prescribed by your local commercial building maintenance professionals.
Media blasting is most commonly used in industrial and commercial applications. However, it can also be used for personal reasons. A medium or compressed air nozzle is used during the process. The media blasting equipment is widely used in commercial and residential projects because it is inexpensive, easily available, commonly used, and safe for both parties.
For more information, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrasive_blasting.
A more common use for media blasting is the removal of unwanted debris from hard surfaces such as concrete, granite and tile. For example, it can be used to remove graffiti from public property, asphalt pavements or parking lots, tree stumps, roots and other rough patches in driveways and walls. The dust being blown off the surface areas leaves the surface areas clean and dry. This is why dry ice blasting is sometimes used to remove soil and loose particles from hard surfaces, where water is not a viable option because it freezes in such cases.
Another type of media blasting is used for cleaning steel structures and vehicles. As with cleaning steel structures and vehicles, it involves injecting compressed air into the structure and then cleaning the surfaces with a fine wire brush or other cleaning device. Usually, this type of cleaning takes place in areas where there is considerable rust such as in a pit where a steel rod is being cleaned. Paint is then pumped into the pits and then the rods are passed through a special drum that squeezes the accumulated paint and rust particles out of the rods. Read more about this here.
There is another form of media blasting, and that is sign blasting, which also involves using a drum containing compressed air and a special medium. In this process, the compressed air is blown into the sign lite mixture where it melts the sign lite in different directions depending on the requirement. For example, the sign lite may be blown in a counter-clockwise direction to remove sign dirt, or it may be blown in an anticlockwise direction to remove dust. When the medium is exposed to the air for a long time, it melts and creates a very fine dust. The dust is then vacuumed away to leave the sign intact.
Media blasting is also used when doing graffiti removal on buildings and on personal vehicles. The technique does not damage the structure or the vehicle, but it removes the unwanted graffiti without damaging the surface. It does not interfere with the functionality of the structure or the vehicle. Some other forms of graffiti removal include paint stripping and surface restoration. If you do your own sign removal or restoration, you should follow the procedures as prescribed by your local commercial building maintenance professionals.
Media blasting is most commonly used in industrial and commercial applications. However, it can also be used for personal reasons. A medium or compressed air nozzle is used during the process. The media blasting equipment is widely used in commercial and residential projects because it is inexpensive, easily available, commonly used, and safe for both parties.
For more information, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrasive_blasting.
