Sandblasting Information Page
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History of Sandblasting:
The sandblasting process was invented in 1870 by a soldier by the name of Benjamin
C. Tilghman. Tilghman after viewing the affects wind blown sand had on glass developed the process that all sandblasters around the
world use to this day. Other notable inventors include: Alfred E. Davidson, William E. Watters, Clarence Fletcher, Stanislas Morel
and Yvon Desjardins. For more on these inventors please visit our Pioneers page.
Country: USA
Patent: US108408
Date: 1870, October 18th
Pioneer: Benjamin C. Tilghman
Invention: Inventor of the Sandblasting Process
Summary: By means of propelling
sand by rapid jet or current of stream, air, water, or other suitable gaseous or liquid medium this invention improves current cutting,
grinding, and engraving stone, metal, glass, and other hard substances. The greater the pressure of the jet the bigger will be the
velocity imparted to the grains of sand, and the more rapid and powerful the cutting effect upon the solid substance..more...
Country:
USA. 40th Exhibition of the American Institute of the City of New York.
Great Medal of Honor
Date: 1871, October 18th
Pioneer: Benjamin C. Tilghman
Invention: Inventor of the Sandblasting Process
Summary: Extract from the Judge's
Report at the 40th Exhibition of the American Institute, held in the City of New York, October, 1871: - No. 2522 – Specimens of cutting
hard substances by the sand-blast process. Benjamin Chew Tilghman, 1219 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...more..
Sandblasting
Process:
The process of sandblasting refers to the act of propelling abrasive from a sandblasting nozel, directing the abrasive
towards a targeted surface such as: concrete, steel, brick, rock... It takes an experienced handler to control the aggressive
speed of the abrasive. Abrasive blasting can improve a product's appearance by removing stains, manufacturing compound residue, corrosion,and
tool marks. Some blast media can blend surface variations, such as scratches and tooling marks, into an overall uniform appearance.
The sandblasting process can be further divided into six areas: Sandblaster, Air Compressor, Blast Machine, Hose, nozzle
and abrasive.
Air Compressor: supplies air to the sandblaster and the blast machine
Blast Machine: meter abrasive into the
passing air stream
Sandblasting Abrasive:
Abrasive- the abrasive is propelled from the sandblasting nozel at high speeds sometimes dry sometimes wet depending on the surface targeted. The abrasive utilizes the force of the compressed air to achieve the desired result on the targeted surface. Selecting the right abrasive for the job is crucial. Selecting the wrong abrasive for the targeted surface can result in expensive rework or in the case of concrete a new pour. Keeping this in mind selecting an experienced sandblasting company will save you time and money.
Dangers of Sandblasting
Sandblasting is only dangerous
when not prepared, uninformed, or dangerous occurrences occur that are out of the range of the sandblasters hands. If handled properly
a sandblasting site can be safe for all. Sandblasting precautions include: proper safety equipment, air respirators, gloves, boots,
suits, helmets. Properly maintained equipment. Safety procedures in place and risk assessments documented prior to blasting.
Lead
Paint: Sandblasters remove lead paint from various surfaces. Inorder to remove lead the area must first be contained in full to ensure
the safety for all involved. Please refer to our Lead Paint Removal Page or our Lead Abatement Page.
Silica: Silica can be lethal
to sandblasters. We have posted various articles on this topic and have also attempted to detail the risks presented to sandblasters on
our Silica page.
Containment:May be necessary depending on the conditions of the materials to be blasted. Complete containment
of a work area is necessary when dealing with hazardous materials. Containment solutions may also be necessary when sandblasting near
environmentally sensitive areas. Please refer to our Containment solutions Page.
Safety Procedures: are mandatory and vary from
job sites. Depending on the surface to be blasted safety precautions must always be in place.
Information
