Dustless Blasting, Sandblasting or Soda Blasting: Which is Better?

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Working in the mining industry is no easy task, and aside from making a handsome profit, the safety of your employees is your number one concern. However, you also need to keep your vehicles and equipment well maintained to attract potential clients, save money in the long run and ensure your employees can carry out their duties efficiently. Rusted or damaged paintwork sets a bad impression of your company, and rust can be hazardous and lead to further damage in certain situations. To eliminate rust and repair paintwork, you need to hire the experts for dustless blasting, sandblasting or soda blasting, but which method is the most effective?

At Direct Blast, we have the knowledge and experience to have your equipment looking brand new again in no time, and we’re happy to recommend the best method of blasting for your needs. We specialise in providing abrasive blasting and re-coating services to the mining and industrial industries, and a huge database of satisfied customers can attest to our professionalism. Keep reading below to find out the benefits and drawbacks of sandblasting, dustless blasting and soda blasting.

Choosing the Best Method for Your Needs

In reality, though some would claim otherwise, no method of abrasive blasting is superior to the other. There are, however, a number of benefits and disadvantages of each method, and it’s important to understand them in order to choose the right method for your needs. Here’s a brief guide to the methods of dustless blasting, sandblasting and soda blasting:

  • Traditional Sandblasting — Traditional sandblasting refers to a method of firing sand at your vehicle at a high pressure to remove rust and paint, and it’s extremely effective at doing so. Some people say that sand particles can find their way into your vehicle using this method and that it can cause the metal to warp, though our professionals know how to take due care to ensure this doesn’t happen. However, if you are still worried about those issues, you may want to opt for dustless blasting.
  • Dustless Blasting — Dustless blasting is similar to traditional sandblasting with the addition of water, and it won’t cause the metal to warp because it doesn’t result in heat and friction. However, traditional sandblasting is much more effective at removing rust from the metal, which means though dustless blasting is great for removing paint from your equipment to prepare it for re-coating, sandblasting should be used if your vehicle is exceptionally rusty.
  • Soda Blasting — Soda blasting uses sodium bicarbonate instead of sand particles in order to remove paint and rust, and similar to dustless blasting, it won’t cause the metal to warp. However, there are a few environmental concerns with regards to how sodium carbonate affects plant life, which is why our professionals take due care to soda blast responsibly.

The Verdict

As aforementioned, no method of abrasive blasting is superior to the other — they all have benefits and drawbacks which make them appropriate for different purposes. Our professionals are here to offer expert advice to help you make the right decision, so contact us today for more information.