Other Products / Services #204334

Tumble blasting systems remove rust and scale, remove hard to reach burrs, produce either bright or dull texture finishes and prepare a surface for bonding. The process is very simple: load the parts, set the timer and, at the end of the cycle, open the trap door to unload the parts, which drop onto a sloped ramp and discharge into a tote pan.

Tumble blasters can remove tough flash, light burrs and heavy scale or rust from recesses, create even, texturized surfaces, perform tough cleaning jobs and mask imperfections. Tumble Blasters can replace hand operations and do the jobs barrel tumblers and vibratory tumblers cannot do, such as die-castings with internal flash, encapsulated and thermoset plastic parts with flash and precision parts with hard to reach burrs.

Here's how simple it is:

Load the parts through the front opening.
Close the door, which places the gun in position.
Set the timer and start.
When complete, open the cabinet door and the bottom tumbler door. The parts will drop down into a catch pan.
While tumble blasting is restricted to relatively small parts, it can perform the same tasks as standard blasting equipment. It also has the advantage of processing many parts at the same time, unattended. The random tumbling action presents all reachable areas to the blast stream, producing even results. By controlling the pressure, blast media, and time cycle, a broad range of jobs can be done, achieving consistent, predictable results.

The TB-1 Mini-Blaster can deflash, deburr and descale, since the blast stream is directed into the tumble basket.
Tumble Blasting is faster than vibratory and tumble finishing. It will reach areas that other methods cannot touch. There is less labor because no separation from media is necessary.
Some of the materials that can be used in the machine are: aluminum oxide, white aluminum oxide, urea and other plastic abrasives, corn cob grit, walnut shell grit, glass beads, pumice, crushed glass grit, silicon carbide, steel grit and steel shot.
The TB-1 is an inexpensive machine specifically made to solve small part problems utilizing minimal production space.

EV systems are a series of heavy-duty tub type vibrators designed for high efficiency and durability. They are primarily used as a deburring vibrator to improve surface finish, deflash, remove tool marks, and polish. The EV durable tub vibrators are available in six tub sizes ranging from 112 cubic feet to 20 cubic feet. All systems come equipped with a direct drive, separate control panel with overload protection, pump and timer controls. A variety of optional Tubular Rotary Separator Attachments can be easily attached to the EV deburring vibrator's tub outlet.Unique tub shape which forces load turnover: Unlike toroidal bowls, the EV generates considerable force by lifting the entire load, whereas toroidal bowls create a rolling action. The round contours of the EV wrap around the load to increase load pressure. The curved shape produces good circulation by forcing the load to turn over.
Controlled action that dissipates load pressure: The action of most tub vibrators tends to form an elongated elliptical path in an almost horizontal plane, which dissipates the load pressure. The EV achieves an almost circular path by employing a unique suspension system, which prevents power loss through tipping of the tub as it lifts the load.
Heavy-duty welded construction with a hinged top hood for quick accessibility and easy access to all drive components.
Shaft support with double row spherical bearings for extra durability.
Noise reduction: Vibration isolating pads to set the machine on, thereby reducing unwanted noise. Thick steel plate housing to minimize noise and floor vibrations.

12" 58" NS NS NS NS
34" 34" NS NS NS S
112" 112" NS NS NS NSS = Standard stock item (50 lb minimum order)
NS = Non-Standard stock item (Due to production scheduling, this item may be in stock Please Contact Us For Availability If not in stock, a minimum order of 800 lbs is required for manufacture)

Blast cleaning wood can be accomplished successfully using corn cob grit. The pictures below depict a graffiti covered wood bridge, both before and after blasting with corn cob grit. This graffiti removal operation was accomplished using a Portable Pressure Blast System with two different grit sizes of corn cob. These excellent resu



lts allowed the bridge to be restored to its original condition and beauty. Similar processes are used for log home cleaning. Wood restoration after fire and water damage can also be accomplished using corn cob blasting.

With portable sandblasting equipment, you can blast away rust, paint and other unwanted deposits. Using portable sand blasting equipment to pressure blast allows abrasives to penetrate into the deepest pitted areas of a part to remove rust, paint and debris. Abrasives which can be used include aluminum oxide, white aluminum oxide, urea and other plastic abrasives, corn cob grit, walnut shell grit, glass beads, pumice, crushed glass grit, silicon carbide, steel grit and steel shot. This is cost-efficient, professional, portable sand blasting equipment at its best! The PPB Series of portable sandblasting equipment is ideal for body, paint and welding shops and for use in refinishing vehicles, boats, monuments, brick buildings and industrial equipment.Portable tank design for ease of movement
Seven popular sizes
Recessed top for easy loading
Semi-automatic, pull-up tank closure
Adjustable abrasive flow valve
Choke valve and pressure gauges
Hood and extra nozzles included
Just add air and abrasive
Can be operated at 7 CFM with 332" nozzle; 25-30 CFM recommended for optimal performance
Two control systems
A pressure relief valve and a pressure relieving ball valve that meet OSHA requirements

The VH-ULN Series heavy-duty vibratory bowl tumblers feature an integrated sound dampening cover to keep noise level low, a heavy-duty motor and an integral invertercontroller, an extended screen deck, plus a low-profile, curved-wall construction. These floor model vibratory bowl tumblers deliver flexible operation with excellent overall machine performance, reliability and efficiency, all within a compact, space-saving footprint.

34" 34" NS S S S
118" 118" NS S NS NS
112" 112" NS NS NS NS
S = Standard stock item (50 lb minimum order)
NS = Non-Standard stock item (Due to production scheduling, this item may be in stock Please Contact Us For Availability If not in stock, a minimum order of 800 lbs is required for manufacture)

The HDPPB Heavy Duty Portable Pressure Blast Series are contractor grade abrasive blast systems designed for high performance, versatile removal of contamination, corrosion, mill scale and coatings from most surfaces. Using all types of dry abrasive blast media, the HDPPB Series systems can be used for sensitive paint striping off this metals to heavy duty blasting to create surface texture and profiling improving bonding surfaces for coatings. The remote control handle allows the operator to control the blasting at the nozzle. Once the handle is released the media flow stops and the blast hose depressurizes. The pressure pot is built to ASME specifications for up to 150 psi working pressure.The HDPPB Series Systems are all supplied with an Air Fed Helmet and all the fittings and hoses. A variety of sizes from 332" to 12" of durable, tungsten carbide nozzles are available for each system. The Deluxe Packages are also supplied with a Moisture Separator, Pressure Regulator and Leather Blast Suit.

The HDP Series Direct Pressure Blasting Cabinet Systems are designed for maximum productivity and operating efficiency and engineered for high performance. The HDP Blast Cabinet Systems are efficient and easy to use. This series is the optimal choice for compression mold cleaning, extrusion die cleaning and stripping applications. Built to last, these heavy-duty units incorporate system features to enhance part cleaning, such as an improved dust collection system for better visibility and an optional intake port to handle the difficult task of blasting long parts such as tubing, framing and feed screws.

The HDP Series Direct Pressure Blast Cabinets can be used with a variety of media including Plastic Abrasive Blast Media, Walnut Shell Grit, Glass Beads, Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Carbide and Corn Cob Grit. Each HDP Series Direct Pressure Blasting Cabinet features rugged construction (continuously welded 12 gauge steel) and a heavy-duty turntable with extensions (2, 500 pound capacity) to accommodate heavy and difficult-to-handle parts. Combining the media reclaimer and dust collection system into one unit frees up valuable floor space. A vertical door provides access for easy part entry and exit.

The TRS tubular rotary screen separator is a flow-through operation and can be fed directly from the vibrator opening. A whole load can be dumped into a pan and fed slowly to the screener. This frees the vibrator rapidly, allowing it to be quickly reloaded with a new batch. The entire TRS tube is made of perforated metal, with openings customized to the parts being processed. The TRS' legs are adjustable to control the tilt.

Specifications

TRS systems are available in three sizes: (1) The TRS-1 for vibrators up to six cubic feet; (2) The TRS-2 for large vibrators; and (3) The TRS-2D two-stage separator for removing fines and separating at the same time or for separating flash runners and parts from die-cast or molded plastic parts.

1" 34" NS S NS NS
112" 1" NS S NS NS
S = Standard stock item (50 lb minimum order)
NS = Non-Standard stock item (Due to production scheduling, this item may be in stock Please Contact Us For Availability If not in stock, a minimum order of 800 lbs is required for manufacture

The Kramer Blast Room Package is an economical and efficient blend of the Heavy Duty Portable Pressure Blast Series and Direct Pressure Blast Cabinet Series systems technologies. The media is held in an ASME coded 600 pound pressure pot. The remote control handle allows for safe control of the blasting process with a valve to stop the flow of the media at the tank when the handle is released.

Reclaim System
Blast Room Reclaim System

Reusable Blasting Media

Since most pressure blasting is done at lower pressures, abrasive media breakdown is greatly reduced. The Blast Room Package provides an effective process to recover the media, clean and recycle the media and allow for re-blasting. This Package offers the ability to use a re-usable blast media (outside an integrated and expensive blast room) on large parts or surfaces with the benefits of the quick, simple and easy recyclability inherent in an enclosed blast cabinet.

Blasting Media that are ideal for use with the Blast Room Package are those that can be re-used multiple times and include aluminum oxide, white aluminum oxide, urea and other plastic abrasives, corn cob grit, walnut shell grit, glass beads, pumice and silicon carbide.

Blast Room System Features

The unique feature of this Package is the Sweep-In Media Feed Hopper. The operator simply sweeps the media into the feed hopper where it is conveyed automatically to the abrasive separator and dust collection system and then into the pressure pot for re-blasting. The Blast Room Package includes a high volume, 1500 CFM dust collector, 6 cubic foot pressure pot, heavy-duty, 1" ID, 50 foot blast hose, durable tungsten carbide nozzle and abrasive separator.

In pressure blasting, a controlled quantity of media is pressurized by drawing through a special ASME pressure tank. It is joined by compressed air entering the system from your air compressor. The air and media mixture are then propelled together through a single hose to the nozzle at an extremely high speed.

roducing good surface finishes using barrel finishing depends on the right selection and use of tumblers, abrasives, lubricating agents, carrying agents and polishing agents.

Barrel finishing, also known as barrel tumbling, is a surface improving operation in which a mixture of parts, media and compounds are placed in a six- or eight-sided barrel and rotated at a predetermined speed for the purpose of rounding corners, deburring, grinding, descaling, deflashing, improving surface finish, burnishing, polishing and radiusing parts in bulk. It works by tumbling parts in a rotating barrel, thus creating friction by tumbling parts against each other and against other materials, such as media and compounds.

Tumbling Highlights

Parts can be finished less expensively than by hand.
Many parts can be processed at one time.
Requires very little handling.
Parts are tougher and stronger after tumbling.
Tumbling provides a certain amount of stress relief.
Forgings and castings can be blended.
Machine parts and stampings can be deburred and burnished to a high finish.
On long runs, the systems can run overnight.
Careful and proper machining of your parts will save tumbling time.
There are two types of barrel finishing: wet tumbling and dry tumbling. Wet tumbling is used almost exclusively for removal of excess stock. Dry tumbling is used for all phases, including polishing.

U.S. Mesh Size (or U.S. Sieve Size) is defined as the number of openings in one square inch of a screen. For example, a 36 mesh screen will have 36 openings while a 150 mesh screen will have 150 openings. Since the size of screen (one square inch) is constant, the higher the mesh number the smaller the screen opening and the smaller the particle that will pass through. Generally US Mesh is measured using screens down to a 325 mesh (325 openings in one square inch).

Sometimes the mesh size of a product in noted with either a minus (-) or plus (+) sign. These signs indicate that the particles are either all smaller than (-) or all larger than (+) the mesh size. For example, a product identified as -100 mesh would contain only particles that passed through a 100 mesh screen. A +100 grade would contain particles that did not pass through a 100 mesh screen. When a grade of product is noted with a dash or a slash is indicates that the product has particle contained within the two mesh sizes. For example, a 3070 or 30-70 grade would only have particles that are smaller than 30 mesh and larger than 70 mesh.

Direct pressure cabinets utilize an ASME coded pressure pot to hold abrasive media. When the foot pedal control is depressed, air pressure is released into the pressure pot, pressurizing the pot and then forcing the media from the pot through the blasting hose to the blast gun and nozzle.

Direct Pressure Blast Cleaning

Most direct pressure blast cleaning is done at 40-60 PSI. Due to these lower pressures, abrasive media breakdown is greatly reduced even though a high volume of media is being directed at the part to be cleaned. Most of the media is recovered through the recycling process of this abrasive blasting system.

Direct pressure blasting is ideal for tough jobs, applications where large surfaces must be cleaned quickly, production blast cleaning or jobs that require the use of heavy media or large mesh sizes. Popular media that are used in direct pressure cabinet systems are aluminum oxide, white aluminum oxide, urea and other plastic abrasives, corn cob grit, walnut shell grit, glass beads, pumice, crushed glass grit, silicon carbide, steel grit and steel shot.

Aside from using trim dies, the usual method of degating is to tumble in an open mouth oblique barrel then screen separate the parts. Working with small pieces in very large barrel tumblers means a densely packed load that is too heavy to move easily and has poor flow properties. Too much time is spent moving and screening the parts. One solution is to alter a standard horizontal enclosed barrel tumbler by adding an extra large door opening. The load is then tumble-degated. This process also removes flash and polishes. The solid door can then be removed and replaced by a screen door. As the barrel rotates, the parts fall out, leaving all the gates in the barrel. The parts are degated, deflashed and separated at one station, completely eliminating moving the parts.

This type of unit can also solve another problem that often plagues die-casters when working with small parts. The sprue and runner must be kept on the screen as the parts go through and the sprue often covers or fills in the holes. Since the sprue is heavy, it usually cannot be bounced out of the holes again. The rotating barrel eliminates this problem because it empties the hole every time it revolves.

Use an Oblique Tilting Tumbler

This principle can also be applied to the oblique (tilt) tumbler. Locks can be added to the mouth of the barrel to clamp on a screen door. The barrel is loaded then the screen door is put in place. The barrel is run at a 45 upward tilt until the pieces are broken off and smoothed out. The barrel is then tilted down 45, bringing the load forward to the screen. This is a good solution if you already have tilt tumblers, but if a choice can be made, the horizontal barrels will prove faster and more thorough. It should be noted that if a machine has bronze bearings instead of roller bearings, the bronze bearings would need copious lubrication to handle the extra load. Slotted screens or parallel bars have proven successful in allowing thin parts such as loops or zipper pulls to fit through while holding back the thicker gate.

There are two basic types of blasting equipment. While these systems are traditionally known as sand blasting equipment, all of these types of blasting machines can handle a variety of blast media. The blasting cabinet system is divided into tumble blasters which are a semi-automated, multi-part batch process and the traditional blasting cabinet used by an operator to blast one part at a time. Portable sand blasters come in a variety of sizes and types. The most versatile and valuable portable blasting equipment can blast all types of dry blast media without requiring changes in hardware.

Tumble Blasters

The Tumble Blasters are enclosed cabinet systems that have a rotating basket with a sandblast gun aimed into it. The random tumbling action insures that all parts in the basket are completely sandblasted when the cycle is finished. The TB-1 (Mini-Blaster) is a bench top unit that can process about 1 quart of parts; the TB-2 can process 2 cubic feet of parts and the TB-3 can process 3 cubic feet of parts.

The TB-1412 and TB-2424 tumbler blasters are designed for high volume automatic tumble blasting of small parts. The large 14" x 12" barrel holds approximately 50 pounds of parts and turns at 6 RPM. The extra-large 24" x 24" barrel holds approximately 150 pounds of parts and turns at 2 RPM. Simply load the barrel, close the door, set the timer, and turn on the dust collector. The barrel slowly turns, gently exposing all parts to the blast stream. When the timer expires, parts are finished and ready for unloading!

All systems feature an automatic timer, an air pressure regulator, an air line filter, a dust collector, one sandblast gun with carbide nozzle and one blow off gun (TB-2 & TB-3 only) to remove dust from parts. The systems work with aluminum oxide, white aluminum oxide, urea and other plastic abrasives, corn cob grit, walnut shell grit, glass beads, pumice, crushed glass grit, silicon carbide, steel grit and steel shot. Tumble blasting systems remove rust and scale, remove hard to reach burrs, produce either bright or dull texture finishes and prepare a surface for bonding. The process is very simple: load the parts, set the timer and, at the end of the cycle, open the trap door to unload the parts, which drop onto a sloped ramp and discharge into a tote pan.

Although vibratory finishing techniques are similar to barrel finishing and usually involve the same components (water, compound and media), the equipment is different. The vibratory finishing process creates smoother surfaces and can abrade inside deep cavities or tubular parts. A vibratory finishing process can finish a variety of parts (e.g. fragile or extra large) which the barrel tumbler is incapable of finishing. Vibratory tumblers are safer for delicate parts or large parts that could be damaged in a barrel tumbler, since the part only moves a fraction of an inch per stroke, as opposed to sliding the full diameter of a barrel tumbler. Vibratory machines are easier to load and unload, will abrade or polish in less time, keep parts cleaner and maintain a better color. They are also more easily automated or semi-automated, can process more parts than a barrel tumbler of the same size, can recirculate water and compound, cause less media wear in proportion to the amount of work performed and permit fast inspection of parts. Listed below are a variety of factors that make for a successful vibratory finishing process.

Media

Use the largest possible media for fast abrasive action and best circulation of parts. Of course, the problems of lodging, separation and damaging parts must be included in media selection. Small stones (38" or less) should not be run at speeds lower than 1600 RPM. Lower speeds will separate parts from media. Plastic media abrades faster when a minimum amount of water is employed and produces a better finish as the quantity of water is increased.

Compound

Plastic media usually requires only a cleaning compound. Ceramic media requires occasional runs with abrasive compound to remove glaze. When using a heavy abrasive compound, do not recirculate water.

icrodermabrasion is a procedure in which the skin is "blasted" with micro-fine particles of white aluminum oxide or corundum particles. As the area of the face, neck or chest is being pelted with corundum particles, it is also being "vacuumed" to remove the dead skin cells and the just-used white aluminum oxide.

White Aluminum OxideThe typical microdermabrasion procedure lasts about 25 minutes, but may take longer depending on how much area is being treated. Both dermatologists and spas offer traditional microdermabrasion procedures.

An alternative to the traditional blast procedure is a cream or two-step home system. Most cosmetic companies use the white aluminum oxide particles as the abrasive component in their products. The results can be very similar to a spa or medical procedure, but are less aggressive on the skin and may take more treatments.

It is critical that the abrasive media be a material which is contaminate free, thus the reason why white aluminum oxide is the preferred choice by most manufacturers. White aluminum oxide is ultra-pure (99.5% pure), contaminate free and contains less silica, making it safer to use than sand.

Cushions and supports parts to prevent damage
Keeps parts separate
Improves tumbling or vibratory action
Supplies abrasive
Performs work such as cleansing, polishing and drying
Burnishes surfaces
Deburrs or forms radii
Works on recesses
Serves as a carrier for the compound
Which stone size to use is determined by the ability to separate the stone from the part, holes the stone could jam and the ability of the stone to get at the desired surface. Large stones give a rapid cut, but coarser surface and more rounding of edges. Small stones give a slower cut, smaller edge break and a finer surface.

Ceramic Media Selection Guide

Ceramic media is best for heavy cutting and hard metals. Ceramic media will better support very heavy parts than plastic media. Fine threads or a hanging burr can be peened over by ceramic media, whereas plastic media won't peen. When a small media is required, ceramic media offer the best selection.

Plastic Media Selection Guide

Plastic media is used for soft metals (brass and aluminum) or stringy materials to produce a better surface finish and to avoid rolling the burr over into a hole. Plastic media will produce a very smooth finish, but very little shine. Plastic media is good to use when preparing parts for anodizing. Tetrahedrons or cones are good for parts with holes. Triangles are good for corners and flats. Plastic media gives the best surface quality. It does not discolor metal and does not peen over burrs. Plastic media is 30% lighter than ceramic media.

One of the steps for reloading cartridges involves brass cartridge case polishing to remove gunpowder marks and dirt, while restoring the casing to its pre-fired shine. This process of spent cartridge polishing and shell casing polishing is fairly simple and quick due to the casings being made from brass. Brass is a soft metal and does not require much effort to clean and polish.

Corn Cob Blasting MediaThe following list of equipment is necessary to completely and properly polish spent brass cartridges and shell casings:

Vibratory Bowl Machine
Walnut Shell Grit
Corn Cob Grit
Purchase a good quality vibratory machine that will handle the amount of spent brass casings you need to polish for reloading. The MB Series Mini Bowl Vibratory Finishing Systems are available in three sizes. Any one of these bench model systems is excellent at cleaning and polishing spent cartridges and shells.

Two different media are used in the polishing process: walnut shell grit and corn cob grit. Both come in a variety of particle sizes; which one to use and in what size will depend upon the number of shells being polished as well as the type (i.e.: rifle, shotgun, pistol) and caliber size.

Walnut Shell Grit Blasting MediaAlways make sure to read the directions carefully before loading the vibratory machine with casings and grit. Don't overload the compartment with brass or grit; the shell casings will not be adequately cleaned. Double check that the machine is properly closed and locked prior to turning it on.

If you're willing to pick up after yourself at the end of target practice, reloading spent cartridges and shells can save money as well as allow for customization of bullets.

uction system dry blasting cabinet systems work by using a high-pressure air line and an abrasive feeder line that both connect to a nozzle or gun type device. Air and abrasive particles are mixed at a ratio of 2 parts air to 1 part abrasive. Media is recycled from the gun system to the hopper and back to the gun system.

Dry Blasting Applications

The applications for a suction system dry blasting cabinet are virtually limitless, including cleaning, deburring, decorating, deflashing, etching, finishing, honing and peening. All of these uses and more can be accomplished easily with quick sweeps of the suction blasting cabinet's gun nozzle. Scale, corrosion, old paint and other surface materials are removed in minutes, leaving metal surfaces free of foreign matter and contamination. Even tough mill scale is quickly and efficiently removed

Just about any floor surface that routinely gets wet, oily and slippery should be treated with non-skid coatings to prevent falls and injuries. The safety that a non-skid floor provides is well worth the investment of time and money. Creating a durable non-skid floor will provide peace of mind and reduced liability from slips and falls.

Uses for Non-Skid CoatingsFlooring

The number of places in which to use a non-skid concrete floor coating is almost endless; in fact, just about any surface that gets walked on has a need for an anti-slip floor treatment. Here are just a few places where a non-skid floor coating would be benficial:

Walnut Shell Grit
Public building entrances and exits (inside and out)
Boats
Garages - home and business
Pools
Ramps
Loading docks
Utility rooms
Laundromats
Daycare centers
Warehouses
Storage areas
The entire floor does not have to be made non-skid, just the areas most likely to have water or slippery substance spills occur.

Application of Anti-slip Floor Coatings

Aluminum OxideThe secret to an industrial floor coating to make it a non-skid floor is the use of abrasive media particles in between the layers of coating. Generally there are three kinds of media used for the particle layer:

Walnut Shell Grit
Plastic Abrasives
Aluminum Oxide
Which media to choose when making a non-skid floor depends upon where the floor is located and what kind of liquid might be spilled, dripped or dropped on it. Also consider the amount of traffic the floor will receive as well as aesthetic concerns.

You will need the following items in order to do a non-skid flooring project:

Floor coating base and top coat
Abrasive media
Paint brush andor roller
Gloves, goggles, mask and protective clothing

More traditional and time-consuming methods for boat stripping include toxic chemicals, harmful acids and hand scraping. This can be environmentally damaging and contaminating to local water areas, require long hours of hard work and be a personal health hazzard.

Using a portable pressure blasting system will alleviate these problems and leave the boat's surfaces cleaner and prepared for refinishing and repair. Blast-stripping boats dramatically reduces the time needed for refinishing, resulting in quicker maintenance turn-around time and lower costs.

How to Blast the Hull of Your Boat

PPB Series Portable Sand Blasting EquipmentYou should have the following items on hand prior to starting your boat blasting project:

Portable Pressure Blaster
Blasting media
Gloves, goggles, mask and protective clothing
The boat dry docked or on shore
You will need a good quality pressure blaster, preferably with a 45-60 minute blasting time. The PPB Model KF150DM is ideal for saving time and labor as well as easily removing scale, dirt, debris and old paint.

The blasting media to be used will depend upon a few factors:

The composition of the boat's hull
The amount of build-up on the hull
Whether the boat is used in fresh or salt water
Walnut Shell Grit Blasting MediaIf the boat hull is wood, you should use walnut shell grit to protect the wood surface from etching or damage. On a fiberglass hull, you can use Plastic Abrasives or Walnut Shell Grit. Both media types come in an array of particle sizes designed for various stripping requirements. Choose the media carefully to achieve the desired surface finish and preparation.

Plastic Blasting MediaUse broad, smooth strokes while blast stripping the boat. Do not leave the nozzle on any single spot, otherwise damage to the hull can result and create a repair problem. Always start from the top of the boat hull and work down, blasting back and forth across, from bow to stern.

Once the blasting of the hull is completed, you should have a smooth, clean surface ready for refinishing. Boat blasting will not only save time, expense and labor; it will add years to the life span of the vessel.

Pumice granules have been used in liquid, solid and gel abrasive hand soaps for decades. Today, pumice powder particles are used in foot scrubs, abrasive pumice hand cleaner, body & shower gels, facial scrubs and even kitchen counter cleaners.

What is Pumice?

Pumice is a volcanic ash which is formed when lava is permeated with gas bubbles during the solidification process. Pumice is very fragile and breaks apart into small particles quite easily. Because lava has properties and a chemical make-up similar to glass, pumice is very abrasive, but unlike glass, pumice is very soft. Pumice is one of the softest abrasive media in use today.

What is the purpose of using pumice in consumer and commercial applications?

Pumice is used as a mild, yet effective, abrasive suitable for a multitude of uses, including in hand pumice soap and pumice hand cleaner. In soap, pumice offers a light abrasive quality which easily removes almost any grease or grime. Because pumice is a soft media and a natural mineral, it isn't harsh or toxic to people or the environment.

PumiceFor commercial applications, pumice has become the most widely used grit in many manufacturing processes which require a mild abrasive characteristic. Couple this with the fact that pumice can be ground down into a micro-fine powder for handling the lightest of abrasion needs.

Regardless of the application, it is important to perform tests and formulate procedures in order to determine the most appropriate grade of pumice to use. The grain sizes required in hand soaps differ from those used for facial applications. Using an incorrect grain size would prove ineffective and possibly damage the applied surface.

One other very important key to achieving desired results is consistency during manufacturing and grading of particle size from one batch to the next. Select a supplier that constantly monitors and checks for particle size and shape conformity to be sure of the quality of your products as well.

There are two basic types of small vibratory finishers, the small vibratory tub type finisher, which is a rectangular tank with a rounded bottom, and the bowl finishers, which are shaped like doughnuts. The small vibratory tub finisher is more aggressive than the bowl finishers, but the tubs are usually more expensive to build and are not as popular due to high prices.

Vibratory Bowl Drive Designs

There are two drive designs available in the bowl machines. The most common finishing equipment design has a single weight mounted on a motor that is fastened under the bowl. As the weight spins, it causes the bowl to wobble at a high speed. The other drive available has a two-weight system where the second weight is on the top of the motor in the cone center hub. The single-weight system produces a nice rolling action from the outer edge to the center, but very little spiral action. The two-weight finishing equipment system, which is usually more expensive, produces both the rolling action and the spiral movement around the bowl, which is the same action achieved in the large machines. The spiral action keeps the parts spread out around the bowl.

Using a Small Vibratory Finisher

Since things are scaled down, water flow must be carefully regulated, as too much water can bring the cutting action to a halt. Machines with a drain in the bowl will allow a constant flow of solution to flush the parts clean. Use the least amount of water that will still keep the parts clean. Bowls that do not have a drain will require a compromise between cutting time and clean parts. If you can, add a drain to the bowl.

Always be very careful when measuring compounds for use in small vibrators. A few extra drops of cleaner could cause excessive sudsing, which will slow down the action. Follow the compound manufacturer's recommendation for usage.Always be very careful when measuring compounds for use in small vibrators. A few extra drops of cleaner could cause excessive sudsing, which will slow down the action. Follow the compound manufacturer's recommendation for usage.

Small machines will work better if the load is at least 34 full. Not enough of a load causes poor circulation of the parts as well as 'ding' marks.

If small media must be used for a job, it should be mixed with a large media to push it around. Small media by itself tends to cling together due to the surface tension of the water. By adding some large media to the load, the small media will circulate much better. The best ratio is one part large media to 2-3 parts small media.

The cutting action in a small machine can also be aided by using a mildly acidic compound when possible. The acidic compound lowers the surface tension of the solution and reduces the lubricating properties of the water.

With small vibrators, careful measuring can produce a big difference in the results.

Note: All rules and advice here are aimed at vibratory finishing systems that have over one cubic foot capacity and are driven by at least a 12 HP motor. When working with less powerful motors, generally less than 14 HP or one cubic foot, the system is less forgiving of mistakes. Since there is less power per cubic foot in these small systems, an error in the setup could cause extremely long cycles or 'ding' marks on the parts

swimming pool requires a lot of patience, knowledge, care, maintenance and regular cleaning. Part of this involves blasting the tile and deck area of your pool. Pool tile blasting is an efficient and effective way to remove calcium and mineral deposits on the tile edging. In addition, the deck area will also benefit from being blast cleaned regularly.

Blasting vs. Chemicals and Scrubbing

Pool tile blasting is a safe and effective technique to completely remove the calcium and scale deposits on pool tile and to clean the deck area. The results are far better than using harsh acids, which take more time to remove the scale and will often result in greater overall maintenance and care, and allows for getting back in the pool in less time.

How to Go About Blasting with Glass Beads and Walnut Shell Grit

PPB SeriesFor cleaning pool tile and deck areas, select a small high-quality portable blasting system, such as the PPB Series KF150DM. When selecting media, choose glass beads to clean the pool tile and walnut shell grit to blast the deck.

Glass beads will not harm the tile or the glaze and will leave a clean, scale-free finish. After blasting with glass beads, the beads will sink to the pool bottom, where the cleaning skimmer can pick them up during the next cleaning cycle.

Walnut Shell GritBlasting the entire pool deck is necessary to remove dirt and debris that will cause the surface to become slick and slippery. Walnut shells are the preferred media for deck cleaning because they are a soft, organic and will not damage wood, pebble-topped cement or tile. Walnut shells are also biodegradable, eliminating the hazards from disposal.

The quantity of glass beads and walnut shells necessary to blast clean pool tiles depends upon the size of the area to be cleaned. More regular cleaning will allow for less media use since it is much easier to clean thinner layers of scale or dirt than heavy, built-up residue.

Glass BeadsBe sure to wear gloves, goggles and protective clothing when using a blasting system. Make sure everyone is out of the pool and off the deck prior to starting blasting, includeing pets.

For its ease and quickness, pool blasting with blasting media is much safer and more efficient than chemical treatments. Keeping the pool tile and deck area clean by blasting periodically not only helps maintain a pool, but also increases its longevity

he mold and die cleaning process utilizes pressure blast cabinets which are typically equipped for one operator. These blast cabinets often incorporate a turntable with casters on a track extension used to roll the tooling in and out with minimal force. Depending on the dimensions of the mold or die, an easel may also be used in place of the turntable. A media reclaim system and dust collector are necessary in a blast cleaning system, since plastic media can be used over again many times. The media can be reclaimed in a cyclone separator system. Heavy-duty blast cabinets require very little maintenance, especially when used with plastic media.

The majority of the top rubber and plastic facilities worldwide use blast cabinets with plastic blast media to blast clean molds, dies, screws and other tooling. This method is simple and cost-effective, while achieving the desired result with minimal downtime and no wear on the tooling.

Buttons are manufactured in several different plastics or can be made from animal horns. It is important to determine the material used in order to apply the correct finishing procedure.

The operations involved include:

Cutting to remove tool marks or parting lines;
Refining the surface to remove scratches or roughness;
Polishing to produce luster;
Wiping off to remove excess waxes and deposit a sealing coat.
Cutting

Wet cutting is used for heavy stock removal, using pumice as the abrasive along with a few ounces of Kramco 1010 General Purpose Cleaner to prevent the residue from sticking to the button or clogging its holes. Often a ceramic triangle media 14" x 14" is added to smooth inside the depressed center. Triangles are added at a rate of 13 of the load of buttons. Pumice is added at a rate of 112 lb per gross of buttons. Water is added to cover the load by about 2". Time of run is overnight in a standard 30" x 36" wet barrel tumbler or 24 hours in a smaller barrel. When using this process to produce a dull finish on a processed button, the run can be reduced to 2-3 hours and should be followed by a 1-2 hour run in corn cob grit treated with silicone oil.

Dry cutting is used for softer plastics, such as acetate, or materials that will not tolerate an extended exposure to water, such as animal horns or urea. Wood pegs are loaded into the barrel at a volume rate of three parts wood pegs to one part buttons, filling the barrel to the 50% level. Dry Abrasive Cream should be added at a rate of 14 cup per 50 lbs of media. Run time is overnight. When using this process to produce a dull finish on a processed button, the run can be reduced to 2-3 hours and should be followed by a 1 hour run in corn cob grit treated with a small amount of silicone oil.

Log home blasting with corn cob blasting grit is an ideal technique to maintain and preserve the interior and exterior wood of your log home. By corn cob blasting (cleaning) the surface of the logs, you will not only remove dirt and debris as well as stain and coatings, you will restore the original appearance to your log home.

Why Blast a Log Home?

Corn Cob MediaThe proper care and maintenance is crucial to the longevity of your house, be it a log home or not. If you allow dust, dirt and debris to collect on the logs, this could create a moist area that causes decay and rot, leading to degradation of your log home. This can happen inside the home as well as outside. By log home blasting the exterior of your log home on a regular basis, you'll maintain your logs for many years to come. For the interior, use the corn cob blaster about half as often.

How Do You Blast a Log Home?

You will need a few items to properly clean your Log Home:

Portable Pressure Blaster
Corn Cob Blasting Media
Gloves, goggles, protective clothing
Cover or remove furniture and other items that will trap the used corn cob media
A high quality portable sand blaster, with at least a 35-50 minute blasting time is ideal for saving time and labor. The PPB Model KF150DM is perfect for log home blasting applications.

PPB SeriesCorn cob blast media is the most effective blast media for cleaning log homes without damaging the wood surface. It is virtually dust free, biodegradable and highly cost effective. Corn cob media comes in 5 different grit sizes from extra fine to extra course. Most commonly, Fine (20-40 mesh) is used on the exterior areas. The less aggressive Extra Fine (40-60 mesh) is used on the interior of the logs. The specific grit size and amount needed for log home blasting will depend upon several factors:

Condition of wood logs to be cleaned
Surface area to be blasted
Degree of cleaning required
For safety reasons, handle the log home blasting equipment as you would the wand at a car wash. Do not point the nozzle at people, animals or plants and be sure to wear goggles to protect your eyes.

Metal catch pan with rails to hold screen
Chute door
Reinforced metal edge
Wood framed screen fits on rails of catch pan
24" wide x 2912" deep x 4" high
Metal screens

Vibration setting should be set at a maximum or close to maximum.
The tub or bowl should be filled 55-75% with steel shot and parts.
Use a volume ratio of three parts steel shot to one part of parts.
Use a mixture of large steel shot (316" - 50-70%) and small steel shot (18" - 30-50%). Large steel shot increases action.
A small quantity of water should be pumped into the tub or bowl.
A ratio of one ounce of liquid compound to each gallon of water is recommended.
Compounds that contain soap (usually powders) should not be used. Instead, a liquid compound with a detergent component is advised.
Steel shot will not burnish if it is not polished.
Change compound and water every 4 hours of operating time.
Burnishing with Steel Shot in a Barrel Tumbler

The most effective action in a barrel tumbler is achieved when the barrel tumbler is filled to 50% of its total capacity. At this level, you will also find that your parts are less likely to damage each other. With this in mind, fill the barrel halfway with steel shot and parts. Use a volume ratio of three parts steel shot to one part of parts (i.e. jewelry).
Place sufficient water in the barrel tumbler to cover the load (shot and parts) by 1 to 2 inches.
Add 1 teaspoon of Kramco 910 Burnishing Compound for each quart of water. The barrel should be rinsed out after every run. Fresh water and compound should be used for the next run.
Processing time for burnishing can be from 1 to 20 hours. Soft metals will take less time than hard metals. When the object of burnishing is to brighten recessed areas or produce a smooth surface, the run will take a minimum of 3 to 4 hours.
Store steel shot in a barrel or plastic container. Cover steel shot with water and a rust-inhibiting compound.
Steel shot will only polish if it is bright and light colored.

brasive blasting will produce an effect that may combine both a cleaning and finishing action. The finishing effect may vary by controlling such factors as hardness of the abrasive, abrasive particle size, velocity of abrasive stream, angle of abrasive gun, distance from the work, method of application and work flow.

As it is applied to preparation of surfaces prior to finishing, abrasive blasting is generally used to replace sanding, wire brushing and pickling. Ordinarily, no other cleaning is necessary because the blasted surface is chemically and mechanically cleaned.

Abrasive blasting can save from 25% to 75% of the time normally required by hand cleaning. Blasting is considered economical. The abrasives are relatively inexpensive and reusable. The general economical advantages of abrasive blasting lie in the reduction of man-hours required to clean and finish parts and needing only minimally trained personnel, yet still having high productivity per hour per dollar of equipment.

Abrasive blasting can make a good finish better and cleaner. It also produces a better tooth for bonding. It is estimated that the surface area of metal increases as much as ten times as a result of the abrasive impact action. This increases the surface to which paint, coating or plating can adhere.

Ceramic Tumbling Media Applications

Ceramic media is recommended for general purpose polishing, light and heavy deburring, fast and extra fast deburring and ultra aggressive metal removal. Ceramic media is best for heavy cutting and hard metals. When a small media is required (under 34"), ceramics offer the best selection. Ceramic media supports very heavy parts better than plastic media.

t is important to know the differences in blasting media, since different abrasive blasting media are required for different applications. Blasting media can be used for purposes such as cleaning, stripping, etching, strengthening and polishing. In addition to the media type, grit or mesh size is another factor to consider for your application. The final choice of media depends on the nature of the work required and on the blasting equipment that is employed. The blasting media selection guide below contains a list of the common blasting media and the differences in blasting media.

Aluminum Oxide

Aluminum oxide is the most widely used abrasive in blast finishing and surface preparation Aluminum oxide is an extremely sharp, long-lasting blasting abrasive that can be recycled many times. In addition to the standard brown, aluminum oxide is available in 99.5% pure white grades. Hardness 8-9; Grit size range 12-220; Angular shape. Compare

Crushed Glass Grit

The angular nature of crushed glass grit allows for aggressive surface profiling and removal of coatings and surface contamination. Crushed glass grit contains no free silica, is non-toxic and inert and contains no heavy metals typically found in coal and copper slags. Since crushed glass grit is lighter than many slags up to 50% less media can be used. Hardness 5-6; Grit size range Coarse to Extra Fine; Angular shape; Consumable. Compare

Glass Beads

Manufactured from lead-free, soda lime-type glass, containing no free silica, glass beads are manufactured into preformed ball shapes. Glass beads produce a much smoother and brighter finish than angular abrasives. Glass beads can be recycled approximately 30 times. Hardness 5-6; Grit size range 50-325; Round shape. Compare

Jewelry polishing and burnishing by hand is a labor intensive and time consuming process and is far too expensive to use in a mass production, large-scale environment. Using mass finishing and jewelry polishing systems, jewelry manufacturers save time and money as compared to the more traditional hand finishing techniques.

Mass Jewelry Burnishing and Finishing

In the jewelry manufacturing industry, mass jewelry polishing systems can provide excellent results:

Significant reductions in labor costs
Increases in quality control
Increases in productivity
Reduced losses of precious alloys
The purpose of the process is to polishfinish jewelry in a quick and efficient manner in order to get the jewelry pieces ready for the next step in the process.The most important tool is the jewelry polishing machine. The two most common types of machines are barrel tumbling systems and vibratory bowl systems. Both are more than capable of handling a variety of jewelry finishing needs.

The Barrel Tumbling System rotates the jewelry pieces and media inside a hexagonal barrel, causing the items to tumble over and over again. This tumbling action, combined with the proper media, will polish jewelry pieces to a beautiful brilliance. Either the MT Series Wet Barrel Mini-Tumbler System or the K14 Series Wet Barrel Tumbler System are ideal for this application and both come in a variety of barrel sizes to accommodate any capacity needs.

The Vibratory Bowl System is a widely used type because it is very effective and cost efficient. These systems can produce high quality finishes and can polish virtually any item suitable for mass finishing. The MB Series Mini Bowl Vibratory Finishing Systems offer a wide range of capacities suitable for any size operation.

Applications for High Density Ceramic Tumbling Media

High Density Ceramic Media is used for applications where reduced cycle times and low residue is important. Being about 50% denser than standard Ceramic Media, this High Density Tumbling Media will produce quicker deburring and higher polishing in barrel tumblers, vibratory tumblers and high energy (centrifugal barrel) systems.

The heavy-duty floor model MB Series systems are designed for larger batch sizes and 247 industrial processing. These bowl vibrators include a 38-inch-thick, polyurethane-lined steel bowl with adjustable amplitude. The 1.0-hp, 1, 800-rpm motor can be upgraded to allow for vibratory burnishing and polishing operations using steel tumbling media. Specifications

Optional abrasive separators are designed to keep blast media free of contaminants, thereby extending media life and minimizing media waste. During operation, media from the blast cabinet is suctioned through a hose into the abrasive separator. As the media spiral in a downward vortex, the heavier, reusable media particles are thrown to the outside, passing through a filter bag or optional deluxe dust collector that traps any debris. Dust and fine particles collect in the center of the vortex where they are pulled out through the suction tube and exhausted into a filter bag or dust collector. The cleaned media is then returned to the cabinet to be used again. Free of contaminants, the media is more efficient and provides more consistent results. Abrasive separators are ideal when blasting painted, rusted or corroded parts.11-gauge welded steel construction
Easy installation (welding required)
Tunable for different media
300, 450 & 600 CFM sizes available
Internal filter screen
Front-loading media door
110V motor (other voltages available)
Zippered dust bag

Competition is forcing management to eliminate costly labor operations. Many jobs can no longer justify the expense of hand polishing. Management is relying heavily on the knowledge and advice of their finishing and plating operators to help choose new systems.

One of the major sectors of mass finishing systems is the vibratory machine. While there are automatic buffers, barrel tumblers and centrifuge finishing systems, none can approach vibratory finishing for the low production cost per piece. With the proper application of media and compounds, finishes in the 10 to 4 micro-inch range can be produced in a vibrator. The system can also be automated to eliminate virtually all hand labor. Die-castings can now go from casting machines to vibrator and then to plating without being touched by human hands.

Vibratory Finishing in Pre-Plate Finishing

Generally, vibratory finishers can remove flash or burrs and refine surfaces. Vibratory finishers can also be used as a super active degreasing and chip remover or roughen plastics and metals for good adhesion of coatings.

The vibrator works by causing the media to rub against the pieces. This action is induced by shaking the tub in a circular motion or in the case of the doughnut shaped machines, wobbling. While the load is scrubbing, the vibratory action also causes the load to circulate in the tub at a slow rate. This circulation keeps the pieces apart to avoid impinging on each other. The rubbing activity is not only produced on the outer surface of the piece, but even inside a cup shape or a blind hole. Cleaners or soaps can be pumped through the tub for cleaning or burnishing operations. The action is very rapid due to the high G-force and the fact that the entire load is being cut at the same time and not just a small slide area, such as that which occurs in a barrel tumbler.

58" 38" 12" NS S NS NS
114" 58" 78" NS S NS NS
S = Standard stock item (50 lb minimum order)
NS = Non-Standard stock item (Due to production scheduling, this item may be in stock Please Contact Us For Availability If not in stock, a minimum order of 800 lbs is required for manufacture)

Preformed hardwood media shapes, such as peg shaped media, are generally used in conjunction with abrasive or polishing compounds in dry barrel and vibratory finishing applications. Hardwood finishing media shapes can be utilized for smoothing and finishing plastic and for light deburring and finishing of metal. Hardwood media is effective and durable in a variety of mass finishing applications for materials as diverse as plastics, ceramics, wood, metals and other materials. Hardwood finishing media is also suitable for dry tumbling, finishing, polishing and deburring

14" 14" 14" S S NS S
38" 38" 38" S S NS S
38" 58" 38" NS S NS S
158" 1" 1" NS S NS S
2" 118" NS S NS NS
212" 178" 114" NS NS NS NS
S = Standard stock item (50 lb minimum order)
NS = Non-Standard stock item (Due to production scheduling, this item may be in stock Please Contact Us For Availability If not in stock, a minimum order of 800 lbs is required for manufacture)

The MB Series Mini Bowl Vibratory Finishing Systems are available in three bench model sizes and two heavy-duty floor model sizes. A bowl vibratory finisher can be used for small and delicate parts without the concern of damage often found in large, tub-style vibratory equipment systems.

Bench Model Features

The bench model MB Series systems includes a dump chute for easy discharge. This vibratory finishing equipment also has an optional stand with a vibratory recirculating system. The toroidal-shaped bowl is suspended on multiple springs to allow for three-dimensional vibratory finishing, thus reducing part-to-part interaction during processing

Designed for continuous duty blasting operations. Provides optimum dust filtration efficiency with minimum maintenance. Cartridge filters are automatically pulsed clean during operation. Dust is stored in sealed 30 or 55 gallon drum.

The Dust Drum Package is designed for continuous duty blasting operations. It provides optimum dust filtration efficiency with minimum maintenance. Cartridge filters are automatically pulsed clean during operation. The dust is automatically collected and stored in a sealed 55 gallon drums.

55 Gallon Dust Drum Package
Dust Collector shown with
55 Gallon Dust Drum Package

1500 CFM Rated airflow
Two high efficiency cartridge filters
472 Square feet total surface filter area
99.7% efficiency to 0.5 microns
Automatic reverse pulse cartridge cleaning
Magnehelic pressure sensing gauge
5 HP, 230460V 3Phase motor
30 gallon steel dust drum with lid
Adjustable air flow damper
Exhaust fan silencer
110 Volt sequencer
30 or 55 gallon drum available

Tumble blasting removes hard-to-get-at flash and burrs. Finishing small parts with recesses or blind- or cross-holes can pose problems. Tumble blasting can do the job consistently and economically.

How can you remove flash and burrs located in part areas that are inaccessible to tumbling and vibratory media? Many jobs can be deflashed and deburred by sandblasting. Small particle size can penetrate restricted areas, but doing this in large volume has often been a problem in the past. Systems with conveyors are expensive to build and require many blast guns, consuming large volumes of compressed air. "Wheel machines", which sling the grit at parts, are even more expensive to purchase and operate.

Kramer Industries has devised a tumble-blasting machine that can finish large volumes of small parts consistently and economically.

The Benefits of Tumble Blasting

Random tumbling action provided by a slowly rotating screen basket presents all reachable part areas to a steady stream of media blasted by compressed air from a single gun.
The basket rotates at only 2 RPM to avoid damaging delicate parts. Even die-cast parts with external threads can be finished without peening the threads.
Variable blast pressure, blast media and cycle time provide consistent results for a wide range of jobs.
Part finishing is thorough. Drill burrs from intersecting holes and flashed-over holes as small as .010 inch in diameter can be removed. In addition, surfaces can be easily texturized to produce a more appealing surface finish.
While cycle times vary, experience has shown that most jobs can be done in about a 20-minute cycle. The addition of an extra blast gun can be provided for very stubborn flash.