1. How to Select and Optimize Abrasive Blasting Equipment

2. Agenda Factors to Consider for System Selection
Optimizing System Performance Through Component Selection
System Settings for Maximum Efficiency

3. Factors to Consider for System Selection

4. Four Critical Design Components
Portability
Pressure pot and water tank capacity
Media flow rate
Volumetric air flow

5. Volumetric Air Flow Capacity & Control
Determined by the internal components that make up the blast circuit
Internal diameter of the piping
Geometry of the piping (e.g., bends, tees, and reductions)
Air and blast hose connections
Main air regulator

6. Job Size
Large, high-production jobs or jobs with difficult- to-remove coatings
375 cfm or greater
Small jobs with detailed work or easy-to-remove coatings
185 cfm or less

7. Media Flow Rate Capacity & Control
Water pump
Media flow control valve

8. Media & Water Storage Capacity
Vapor Abrasive® Blaster
Wet Abrasive Blaster
(or modified sandblaster)
VS.
Water tank supplies water to the pressure pot
Some come with water tanks so you can refill after both water and media run out
High abrasive and water consumption. Check blast time before purchasing.
Important to point out some wet abrasive systems don’t use a water tank. Explain why.

9. Example of media and water storage
Graco EcoQuip 2 EQm
Dustless DB800
Weight (empty): 370 lbs.
Dimensions: 35.1 "L x 25.7" W x 47.4" H
Media capacity: 300 lbs. of crushed glass
Water supply from garden hose connected to machine
Weight (empty): 427 lbs.
Dimensions: 40"L x 36"W x 64"H
Media capacity: 300 lbs. of media
External water supply needed

10. Portability
System weight and overall dimensions affect portability and efficiency
Select system based on the job size, job frequency, and job locations

11. Examples of small, portable units

12. Optimizing System Performance through Component Selection
After a system has been selected based on job demands, the individual components need to be selected. Selection of compressor, blast nozzle, blast hose, and media selection are all key factors in improving production and profits.

13. Compressor
115 – 185 cfm compressors: Ideal for small to medium-sized jobs
300 cfm or higher compressor: Works well for large jobs

14. Blast Nozzle
What blast pressure is required to prepare the surface effectively?

15. Blast Nozzle Nozzle Throat
The throat dimension and geometry affects system performance, blast hose selection, and system settings, since it controls the maximum air flow at desired blast pressure.
Labeled or described by the throat diameter in 1/16-inch increments
Venturi nozzle
Wide Throat nozzle
Straight Bore nozzle
Double Venturi nozzle

16. Blast Nozzle Blast Pressure
25-55 psi - Monument Restoration, Cleaning, Soft Stone, Wood, Aluminum, Restoration and Remediation, Efflorescence Removal, Graffiti Removal, Parts Cleaning
56-90 psi - Concrete Cleaning, Building Restoration, Line Stripe Removal, Pitted Paint Removal, Rust Removal, Loose Mill Scale Removal
psi - Concrete Surface Prep, Exposing Aggregate, Steel Surface Prep, Mill Scale and Coating Removal
psi - White Metal Blast to Near White Metal Blast, Tight Mill Scale Removal, Removal of Layered Coatings and Polyurea Removal

17. Blast Hose
The blast hose plays a simple, but critical role: transport air, media, and water to the blast nozzle
If Air Flow < 100 cfm use a 0.5-inch blast hose
If Air Flow cfm use a 1-inch blast hose
If Air Flow 300 cfm > use a inch blast hose

18. Media
There are a few things to consider before selecting the right media type. Based on what substrate you will be blasting on your next job, as well as the desired surface finish,…
Abrasive size, commonly referred to in mesh or grit, affects blast equipment performance

19. Media
Smaller abrasive particles reduce the water-to-media ratio, since there is less space between the abrasive particles when pressurized in the system.
Larger abrasive particles increase the water-to-media ratio due to larger spaces between the particles while pressurized.
Example: If one quart of water per minute enters the pressure pot, one quart of water and media mixtures leave the pressure pot.
If a fine media is being used, the quart of mixture entering the blast stream will have a greater total mass, than if a courser media, since the abrasive is denser than the water.
There are a few things to consider before selecting the right media type. Based on what substrate you will be blasting on your next job, as well as the desired surface finish,…

20. System Settings for Maximum Efficiency

21. Three important components for achieving desired Blast Pressure

22. Blast Pressure Tough, thick coatings require a high blast pressure
Easy-to-remove coatings require a lower pressure
Care should be taken when removing tough coatings off delicate substrates since the substrate can be damaged when the coating is removed

23. Blast Pressure + +

24. Five important components to achieve desired Abrasive Consumption Rate
Abrasive Meter Valve Set Point
Blast Pressure
Air Flow
Air Velocity
Abrasive Size and Density

25. Abrasive Consumption Rate
Maximum abrasive consumption rate does not always provide the best production rates and blasting efficiency

26. Educational Resources

27. For more information or to request a demo, visit
Graco.com/ecoquip