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From Beginning to Advanced: Blogs on Industry and Manufacturing

Greetings! My name is Adam. I work in the advertising industry as a brand developer. I also teach surfing lessons and spend a lot of time volunteering with an animal hospital. When I was on a gap year, I took a job in a pen factory. Through that experience, I learned a great deal about how pens were made, but I also learned a lot about industrial work and manufacturing in general. In this blog, I plan to write about all aspects of these topics, and I hope that this information is interesting and informative to you. Please, grab a tea and start looking around. If you like my blogs, share them. Thanks.

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From Beginning to Advanced: Blogs on Industry and Manufacturing

Some Questions You Might Have About Sandblasting

by Daniel Wilson

Sandblasting is a technique used for cleaning or etching certain surfaces, and it can be very effective for larger surfaces such as a parking lot or side of a building, or used on smaller pieces including gemstones. If you're looking for a very versatile way to etch or carve or even clean any surface, you might consider investing in sandblasting equipment. Note some questions you might have about the process and the equipment itself and then discuss these with a sales rep so you know you're getting the right equipment and understand what's involved in its use.

1. What materials are actually used in sandblasting? 

Sandblasting involves any number of abrasive material that are blasted or run over a surface, with sand being just one of them. The abrasive can be made of crystals or even a type of acid; this will depend on the material being blasted and the reasons for blasting. 

The sand itself will also vary; a smoother type of sand may be used to simply clean a surface of dirt, grime, and oil, whereas a more caustic or grittier sand might be used for etching. Be sure you discuss the surface to be etched and the reasons for blasting with your sales rep so you know you get, not just the right machinery and equipment, but the right sand or etching material as well.

2. What's the difference between siphon feed and pressure feed?

Typically sandblasters come in two types; siphon feed and pressure feed. The siphon feed uses a stream of air that literally picks up the sand or grit and delivers it through a nozzle or handheld gun. The pressure feed uses air pressure in a tank to blast the sand or other materials through the nozzle. A siphon feed unit is much more basic and lightweight, and one that you may see at a home improvement store. 

The pressure feed unit typically offers more pressures and gives the user control over the depth of the etching or the pressure itself; this pressure is typically controlled with a foot pedal. For industrial applications, the pressure feed unit is usually recommended. However, if you just need a simple way to clean your home's garage floor or a small parking lot, and have never used a sandblaster before, the siphon feed unit may offer less pressure but also less risk of damaging the surface when in the hands of an inexperienced user.

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