FAQs
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What is wet blasting, slurry blasting?
In the Wet Technologies process, abrasive or non abrasive media is mixed with water by a specially designed, high volume pump. The mixture is then sent to a nozzle or nozzles where regulated compressed air is added to adjust the aggressiveness as it discharges over a surface. The “scrubbing” effect can produce a variety of successful results.
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What are the advantages of wet slurry blasting?
The Wet Tech Process is dust free and static free. It does not embed media into the surface, and it can also remove oils and grease while performing other functions.
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What are successful applications (applications page) for wet slurry blasting?
The process can successfully remove burrs, scale, oxidation and rust, machining marks, and coatings. It can enhance cosmetic appearance by producing a matt finish. It can take a smooth surface and etch it for superior coating and bonding, or it can create a smoother finish.
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How are all Wet Technologies systems designed to be closed loop?
The systems are designed to separate broken down abrasive and other surface particles as well as oils, and return the filtered water back into the machine for manual rinsing or automatic rinsing.
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Deburring. How does wet slurry blasting remove burrs?
Burrs are either eroded down or knocked off the surface, depending on the condition and desired effect.
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Wet etching. What is it and how does wet slurry blasting etch?
Water forms a cushion which allows the abrasive action, while minimizing or preventing the media from embedding or logging into a surface, thereby creating a clean, even etch which can be controlled and repeated.
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Descaling. How does wet slurry blasting remove scale?
While the abrasive erodes or lifts the scale, the water in the slurry carries it off for separation in the filtration system.
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Oil separation. How can oil and grease be removed from the wet blasting process?
For this application the slurry is heated, which speeds up the removal from the surfaces and enables most oils to float and be separated for disposal. Depending on the application, the closed loop system can be designed to separate floating and emulsified oils with an integrated oil separator.
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How can wet blasting improve efficiency and save money by reducing steps?
There are many successful examples where the Wet Tech Process has been used to combine parts washing with traditional abrasive blasting applications. In addition, the process can eliminate the use of harsh chemicals for washing or descaling.
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Why is it important for the wet blasting process to be dust free and static free?
All industries are now aiming to reduce or eliminate dust as it has been proven to be a dangerous health hazard. Static electricity combined with dust is a serious safety concern. By eliminating dust and static, Wet Technologies systems can be placed in close proximity to sensitive manufacturing processes, thereby reducing floor space and material handling time and methods, eliminating costly dust collectors and their maintenance, and giving manufacturing planners more options for improving work flow.
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How is mist handled in the Wet Tech, wet blast equipment?
The Wet Tech Process produces water vapor, which naturally contains airborne particles. Depending on the type, size of the equipment, and options selected, we can install a combination demister filter unit, which sends the condensed water back to the closed loop system, and can filter out the particles to HEPA levels before exhausting the remaining air to either plant atmosphere or outside ducting.
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How do you choose between Wet Technologies manual, semi-automated, and fully automated systems?
Budget and application considerations; Individual or diversified parts are generally run in manual systems, while high production of similar parts lend themselves to automated systems. In many cases, we supply combination systems that have automation capability while including a manual “glove box” station for touch up or non automation parts.
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What are the differences between wet blasting and dry blasting?
The Wet Tech process eliminates dust, combines other processes such as washing and oil removal, and reduces or eliminates abrasive embedment (apps/wet dry comparison photo) while usually producing a more even finish.
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What happens to the broken down abrasive, scale, and other particles removed in the process?
The included closed loop filtration system separates these particles and collects them as either sediment or in finer filtration bags or through other means and returns the water to the equipment.
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Why does a manually operated Wet Technologies system cost more that a comparably sized dry blast cabinet?
Primarily, most of our systems are manufactured from stainless steel and non corrosive materials. However, once the customer takes dust collection and/or elimination of washing and etching chemicals out of the equation while combining processes and greatly simplifying maintenance, Wet Technologies equipment more than justifies its initial purchase price. In addition, our durability speaks for itself as almost every Wet Technologies system sold since 1998 is in service with the original customer.
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How does media consumption compare between Wet Technologies wet blasting and dry blasting?
The water cushions the media, which reduces the media breakdown rate by as much as two thirds compared to traditional dry blasting.