Melbourne Sandblasting / Abrasive blasting
We are Melbourne’s leading commercial sandblasting service with a strong focus on customer service, high-quality finishes, and prompt lead times. Our sandblasting facilities and equipment are the best in the industry, providing our customers with the best finish.
WHAT IS SANDBLASTING?
Sandblasting, or otherwise known as abrasive blasting, is a pre-treatment activity where abrasive sand, bead or shot particles are blasted directly at a surface at high velocity.
The purpose of sandblasting is to lightly strip metal, rust, welding scale, and oxidation from metal surfaces to clean and smooth impurities in raw metal which helps to create a smoother coated finish.
Sandblasting requires specialist safety and blasting equipment.
What Can be Sandblasted?
Many materials can be sandblasted including metals, glass, stone and concretes. As a powder coater, we routinely sandblast the three following materials:
Metal
Brass
Aluminium
our Sandblasting capabilities
We have custom designed and built a large 6M x 4.8M sandblasting booth with insulation, a state-of-the-art dust extraction system and cutting edge sandblasting equipment. Our equipment is custom designed and fabricated in-house to far exceed industry standards and ultimately produce superior results.
The Pre-treatment Process:
PRE-TREATMENT & PREP:
A durable and flawless finish is achieved with thorough pre-treatment preparation. Surfaces must be clean and free of oils, greases, dust, rust, impurities and imperfections to make sure the coating has optimal contact to the metal.
Certain types of metal require varying methods of pre-treatment. For instance, the method of preparing aluminium isn’t the same as galvanized steel as aluminium has a layer of oxidation that must be removed with specialised chemicals to create adequate adhesion.
Most metals require the following treatments:
ABRASIVE BLASTING
Abrasive blasting, otherwise known as sandblasting, blasts small particles of sand at metal surfaces to lightly strip metal, welding scale, and oxidation. Blasting also smooths impurities in raw metal which helps to create a smoother finish.
CLEANING & DEGREASING
Abrasive blasting does not remove contaminants such as oils, greases, waxes and dust from surfaces. A pressure washer with non-corrosive soap and hot water is an effective way of removing oils, dirt and leftover sand particles from the blasting process. Afterwards, it is essential to dry the metal in an oven to evaporate all moisture and heat the metal to an optimum temperature for coating.
ETCHING
As mentioned earlier, metals such as aluminium have a layer of oxidation that must be removed to increase the adhesion properties of the coating. Dipping or coating the aluminium in an acid-based chemical etches the surface and increases the level of adhesion and ultimately, the durability and longevity of the coating.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does my project require Sand Blasting?
Sandblasting removes all oils, dirt, paints, rust and corrosion from metals. While sometimes not visible, oils, dirt, and rust particles can interfere with the powder coating process causing imperfections in the finish, flaking, and premature wear and fading. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend sandblasting all metals before powder coat.
HOW MUCH DOES SANDBLASTING COST?
The cost of sandblasting can vary according to the job. For instance, variables such as the surface area of the object, size and weight of the object, and the hardness of the metal can influence the cost of sandblasting.
Larger surface areas take more time to blast, and heavy objects can require more care and time to safely move and position. Delicate and thin metals can also require a softer blast which may increase the amount of time in the sandblasting booth.
Furthermore, objects that have been previously coated with powder can take a significantly longer time to sandblast. Powder coating is an incredibly durable coating that is highly resistant to abrasion; even sandblasting won’t easily penetrate the surface.
CAN SANDBLASTING BE DONE ON-SITE?
While sandblasting can be performed on-site, we don’t offer mobile sandblasting services. We recommend connecting with a mobile sandblasting service if you require sandblasting on surfaces or objects too large to move such as footpaths, stone walls, and large metal tanks.
Get a Sandblasting Quote:
Please complete our form below or call us on 9707 3494, and we will be in touch shortly.
Please Note: We exclusively service commercial clients and large production runs.
