Shot Blasting For Boats: All You Need To Know

If you are looking for shot blasting material suppliers, it is safe to assume that you are in the shot blasting or sand blasting business. It is also safe to assume that you have been in business for a while and you know exactly how it works. For other people who may not be as knowledgeable as you are in this business, this article will provide plenty of information on the topic of shot blasting generally and the use of this process on boats and ships. This process can also be called shot peening, which can be traslated to kugelstrahlen in German.

Read more about kugelstrahlen

What is Shot Blasting?

In simple English, shot blasting is the process of abrading or cleaning metal surfaces using glass, metal, wood or plastic as the shot blasting material. The purpose of shot blasting is to get rid of impurities, clean the surface in question or even get that particular surface ready for painting or another manufacturing process. In boats and ships, there are areas that are difficult to reach. This is why other methods like solvent cleaning, needle gun, grinding wheel or even power brush will not work in this scenario. The best method is shot blasting because it gives you excellent results. 

The Shot Blasting Process

The principle of shot blasting is quite simple. You just get your shot blasting material and blast them at very high speeds using pressurized air through a special nozzle. The surface receives this material and it serves to get rid of rust, paint, dirt or other impurities. 

Materials Used for Shot Blasting and Where You Need Them

The material used for shot blasting depends on the surface you are working with, the industry and the space available to you. Among other materials, you can use sand, cracked nutshells, fruit husks, copper slag, garnet and even CO2 ice. 

Shot Blasting for Boats and Ships

Shot blasting for boats is the ideal preparation because boats have a number of places that are difficult to reach when you use other methods. However, you have to be careful about the material you use for blasting. For instance, wet blasting is not ideal here because water or moisture can lead to issues with rusting and you don't want this at all. The right media for shot blasting in boats include garnet, quartz, cracked nut shells and copper slag. You can get these and other materials from reputable suppliers in our area. You can even get these materials offline if the dealers operate in your area. 

Shot Blasting Equipment

Most people pay too much attention to the materials used in shot blasting as well the surfaces for the shot blasting itself. There is nothing wrong with this but it is important to pay attention to the equipment required for this process too. Among other things, you need a powerful nozzle, effective compressors and an excellent mixing vessel. The people doing the job also need to wear protective gear to ensure that they minimize risk as the work. 

Finally, it pays to get the job the job done in a competent manner. There is no point in rushing the shot blasting process. What matters at the end of the day is result.