Are you planning on wet sandblasting using your pressure washer? I’m sure many of you are surprised as to how this is an effective process with good benefits, as long as you do it right. Not only can it clean your area, but it’s economical as well if you’re unable to use dustless blasters.
However, how can you start using a DIY pressure washer sandblaster correctly for a successful project? I did the tests and research to help you out so read on! I’ll show you everything you need to know in wet sandblasting to get you cleaning your surfaces.
Wet Sandblasting Kits for Pressure Washers
Let’s first know exactly what sandblasting is. This is through removing stains, rust, paint, or whatever unwanted material there is on surfaces, may it be on the wall or ground! Originally, this utilizes abrasive material on surfaces with high pressure.
With wet sandblasting, it utilizes pressurized water thanks to your pressure washer. As you send the pressurized water to the restriction, the pressure will drop, which would create a vacuum for air or other products that are sucked to a stream towards the restriction’s end.
To make the water sand blaster work well, you need to make sure your pressure washer offers enough flow for your nozzle’s restriction size so it can create the vacuum effect to clean your surfaces.
The similar works for actual sandblasting and using abrasive material instead of water. Remember, the smaller the hole is, or better restriction, the faster the liquid flow gets, as well as lower pressure. So to give a better vacuum effect, there needs to be a ton of pressure that goes into a very small hole. If ever the hole’s too big, or there isn’t enough pressure, then the vacuum won’t be enough to stream the particles.
I made sure to add this for you to know that when you want to try wet sandblasting, your pressure washer needs to meet a minimum size. The suggested rating for pounds per square inch is about 3,000 PSI, with a recommended for of 2.8 gallons per minute.
Advantages to Wet Sandblasting With Pressure Washers
So, what exactly makes wet sandblasting more advantageous and efficient than original sandblasting?
Take note that if you go for original sandblasting, a lot of particles are suspended in the air, making it hazardous. You’ll need to wear safety gear for it, and unfortunately, not all of the dust is removed after.
That’s where wet sandblasting helps you out. When adding water with your sand, it increases the total mass, with the water’s surface coating the particles. There will be a drop of water per particle of abrasive. That way, it drops at faster rates because of their slightly heavier mass.
Besides this, another benefit to wet sandblasting is that the surface you clean won’t heat up as quickly as normal, particularly on metal surfaces. Since surface temperature increases as more pressure being put on it, it can end up warping or damaging itself in the process. Through adding water with your sandblasting mix, you’re able to transfer the heat to the water, allowing your surface to stay cool. It prevents damage and heat to wherever you plan on cleaning.
Why Is The DIY Version More Cost-Effective?
Another advantage of using a pressure washer for sandblasting is how cost-effective it is! Let’s check out this cost breakdown with a sandblaster, estimating it at the lower side of prices:
Safety equipment such as your:
•Respirator
•Blasting Hood
•Blasting suit
•Full covering loves
•Pressure blasting pot
•Air compressor
•Specific media
The total can go as high as $1,100, not including the media cost!
When using wet sandblasting with a pressure washer, you spend on cheaper safety equipment, such as:
•Respirator
•Full coverage clothing
•Normal gloves
•DIY wet sandblasting nozzle and media blasting kit
•Pressure washer
•Specific media
The total is up to $950, saving you over $100 and it gives you a pressure washer to use for other purposes, making it worth more than the sandblaster.
Not only is it more cost-efficient, but it produces similar results and has you reap the benefits of wet sandblasting as I mentioned above. The pressurized water can also remove more surface contaminants for extra cleaning.
How Can I Make Wet Sandblasting Work For Me?
Now that you’re familiar with what wet sandblasting is and the advantages it has to offer, how can you get started? Here are some tips you can follow to start making a sandblasting kit for your pressure washer:
•Make sure that you use all the correct parts and the right pressure washer that can successfully clean off your surfaces. You need the right pressure washer, nozzle size, mesh of abrasive, and even learn the proper technique before starting.
•Your pressure washer size matters with this, so make sure that you check out your pressure washer type so you know which type of nozzles to invest in.
•Before sandblasting, make sure that the abrasive is dry win inside the intake hose. You can do this by tying your hose to the wand before it enters the nozzle. Keep your hose up and level with the washer’s wand to reduce water flow from going into the hose. You can also try to release the trigger while the nozzle’s face down, which prevents gravity from pulling water in the wand through its nozzle.
What Types of Media Can be Used for Wet Sandblasting?
Wet sandblasting involves using water to propel abrasive materials for surface cleaning. Various sandblast media types and disposal methods can be utilized in this process. Common examples include silica sand, crushed glass, and garnet, each offering different properties suitable for different surfaces and applications. Proper disposal of used media is crucial to ensure environmental compliance and safety.
Wrapping It Up
When it comes to wet sandblasting, you can actually use a pressure washer sandblasting kit to do so. It’s a great alternative to dustless blasters, which saves you money but reap similar results in the long run. Plus, it’s pretty easy to do as long as you know where to start and prepare everything beforehand.
I hope that this article on wet sandblasting helped you out! So don’t wait any longer and start utilizing these steps to get you started now.
If you have any questions or want to share your tips and experiences when using the wet sandblasting kit, then comment below. Your thoughts are much appreciated.
