Please refer to ”What is vapour blasting?”

We do recommend 40 cfm or more to get the maximum efficiency from your vapour blasting cabinet, however we do understand that this is not always an option. Blast guns can be configured to run down to 12 cfm of air. The downside is that this will not be as productive, however the surface finish will still be excellent.

You need at least one 10amp 240v 50hz single phase outlet. This is just a normal wall socket that you have around the house or in the shed. The actual power consumption is around 1kw.

Yes, absolutely. The more the merrier. Remember to add a check valve after each compressor.

95% of users will use a glass bead media, it is relatively cheap, readily available and leaves an excellent finish.

Apart from glass bead, the next most common is aluminium oxide. It is slightly more aggressive and can be used to remove more stubborn coatings such as paint. Be aware that because aluminium oxide is more aggressive it will also wear out some parts of the cabinet quicker. Aluminium oxide is also used to give a more ‘’matt’’ finish. Several other medias may be used such as ceramic bead. However this is generally a lot more expensive than glass bead.

The normal pressure for most applications is 60psi(4.1bar). This will give a good finish in relatively short time. Lower pressures can be used to give a more glossy finish however it will increase the time taken. A common approach is to start with 60psi(4.1bar), blast the part, and then reduce the pressure down to 40psi(2.8bar) as a finishing stage. Pressures can be altered to change the surface finish. It is not recommended to blast over 60psi with glass bead as the beads may shatter at higher pressures and alter the surface finish. Excess vapour may also be produced with higher pressures, this may reduce visibility inside the cabinet.

While it is possible, it is not considered effective. We recommend dry blasting or chemical stripping before vapour blasting.

Parts should be thoroughly degreased and cleaned as best as practical before blasting. They should also be fully disassembled if possible. Holes can be plugged with readily available silicone masking plugs and sensitive surfaces can be masked with an appropriate masking tape. Gasket surfaces generally do not require masking as vapour blasting is very gentle and does not remove parent material. Dirty parts can be blasted directly however this will increase contamination of the slurry.

Almost anything! The process is most commonly used on aluminium car and motorbike parts, however it has a large range of applications. You can blast most ferrous and non-ferous metals, plastics, rubbers, glass, etc

We do not recommend vapour blasting as preparation for painting. It does not have the tendency to ‘key’ the metal ready to take paint.

Whilst you can add non foaming degreasers to the slurry, it is not recommended to blast very greasy parts. It will not affect the machine, however the media and water will become very dirty very quickly which will mean your parts will not come out as clean. Light grease and oil is ok. If you have two cabinets, one can be used as a primary degreasing cabinet to remove heavy soiling, and can be moved to a ‘’clean’’ cabinet after degreasing.

While it can, it is not recommended. Most users will dry blast parts first, before vapour blasting. This is done to save time and give a more consistent finish.

Some parts can be blasted assembled, however there are several considerations. If there are moving parts, such as in carburetors and cylinder heads, it is highly recommended that they are fully disassembled. Media will find its way into bearings and bushes and increase wear rates and/or hamper movement. Media may also dislodge and cause damage to other critical components. Static components can sometimes be blasted assembled, however it is important to remember that vapour blasting will remove zinc coating from nuts and bolts, causing them to rust in the future. It is always recommended the parts are completely disassembled before blasting and are thoroughly cleaned prior to assembly.   

After blasting the part should be thoroughly rinsed with fresh water, and compressed air may be used to blow out any trapped media. It may take several attempts to remove all media on intricate parts. Suitable eye and hearing protection must be worn when cleaning with compressed air. Parts should be completely dried immediately after cleaning to prevent corrosion. You can dry parts using compressed air, a heat gun, or a drying oven.

Certain chemicals may be added to the slurry mix. However it must be noted that the blasting process may form a vapour which will contain any added chemicals. This vapour can be easily inhaled. The most common chemicals added are non-foaming degreasers, rust inhibitors and biocides. Do not add strong acids or alkalis to the slurry. This may damage the pump and other components along with affecting the finish Do not add volatile/flamable solvents to the slurry such as petrol, kerosine, diesel, naptha etc. If in doubt about a chemical you wish to use, please contact Surcon directly to discuss your requirements.

No. Do not add flammable or toxic liquids to the slurry mix.

The media does not have a shelf life and therefor replacement is only necessary when its effectiveness is reduced or becomes over contaminated from dirty parts. Depending on the application and how critical the surface finish is you may get weeks or months from a single charge of media. Life expectancy is also determined by the pressure you are blasting at.  The higher the pressure the shorter the life expectancy of the media. For faster cleaning use a higher pressure, around 60psi (4.1bar), for more ‘shine’ use a lower pressure – 40psi (2.8bar). Pressures over 60psi are not recommended with glass bead as the media may begin to shatter. This will alter the surface finish.

The water should be changed once it becomes overly contaminated. This will depend on the cleanliness of the parts you are blasting. Generally if it looks and smells ok, it is ok. The water will seem to become dirty quite quickly, this is not cause for concern. The water can become very dirty before it requires replacement. The frequency of replacement will be a matter of experience and will depend on the nature of your work. The media will still clean effectively even if the water seems very dirty. At any sign of algae or mold, the water should be replaced. If algae or mold is a common occurrence, a suitable biocide should be used.

If the cabinet is being used regularly the is no need, for periods where the cabinet is not being used for extended periods such as several weeks, the cabinet should be cleaned and emptied. To prevent corrosion and algae you can add a suitable corrosion inhibitor and a suitable biocide. Biocides may have to be added periodically as their effectiveness may diminish over time. The slurry pump should be run for a short period to mix the biocide.

Cleaning is of the cabinet itself is generally not required, however you can use any suitable stainless steel cleaner or polish. Clean water and a mild degreaser/cleaner can be used.

Due the abrasive nature of the media used, there are several wear parts that may require replacement over time, there is no hard rules on when these will require replacement as it will depend on the media used, the frequency of use, pressures used, chemicals added, and time used. The blast nozzle and air jet, the bottom ball valve, the pump end, wiper blade, viewing screen glass, gloves, hoses and some pipe fittings. Please contact us to arrange replacement parts.

Stainless steel requires no protection from the elements. It would be like painting a gold watch. Surcon vapour blasting cabinets are designed for a single purpose, and that is productivity. Paint or powder coating does not increase the productivity and is not required, it also increases the cost to the consumer unnecessarily. Over time paint will become damaged, chipped, scratched and faded, bare stainless however will not age. Due to the manufacturing process some light scratches and some blemishes may occur, however we believe that the advantages of leaving the stainless steel uncoated outweighs this small negative. Some manufacturers use paint to hide defects and other faults, Surcon cabinets have nothing to hide.

Competitors use pinch valves along with filters and weir tanks. Surcon cabinets use a proven stilling well to continuously remove excess water from the cabinet. This not only increases machine reliability, is also helps maintain a consistent media concentration when blasting.

Expect to budget around $1 to $2 (AUD) per hour to run the machine. This includes power (1kw), media(glass bead) and wear and tear on components.

Glass bead is usually measured in ”mesh size” or similarly ”screen size”. The larger the mesh, the larger the particles of media will be. Mesh size is usually measured in microns – thousandths of a millimetre. Mesh size is given as a range. So a typical mesh size might be given as 170-325. This means that the particles will be no smaller than 170 micron, and no larger than 325 micron. A detailed table of all mesh sizes and their equivalents can be found here. Different manufactures also use different naming conventions to denote mesh sizes. Ballotini, a well known supplier of glass bead, use letters, the same 170-325 mesh beads would be called ”AH”

Most operators charge between $80 to $250 (AUD) per hour. With Surcon’s industrial grade vapour blasting cabinets, you will can generally charge higher than some other operators due the the efficiency of the cabinets. This takes into account labour and other over heads. This assumes that you have a good 40cfm or higher air supply. 

There is no golden rule to determine how long it will take to vapour blast a part. Experience will help, but sometimes it is impossible to tell weather it will be a 5 minute job or a 30 minute job just by looking at the part. This will depend on the age of the part, how corroded the part is, how intricate it is, the quality of the original casting, how well the part has been precleaned and so on. To keeps things fair for the customer and the operator we recommend charging by the hour.

This will depend on many factors, a small, relatively clean part such as thermostat housing may only take a minute or two to give it an outstanding finish. A larger more complex part such as an air cooled motorbike cylinder with cooling fins or an engine casing may take over an hour to complete. The time taken as well as what finish is required will generally determine the cost. If the operator is required to change media to do a specific part, this will add to the cost. A high performance machine such as a Surcon vapour blasting cabinet with a good air supply will process parts faster than some other machines and this should be taken into consideration when looking for a vapour blasting service.

For some parts it may be more economical to dry blast the part first. This can help to remove heavy corrosion or other coatings such as paint. It can also help on some occasions to give a more even surface finish.

Most cast aluminium parts and other metals will have a reasonable level of shine once blasted. You will not achieve a mirror finish. There is no guarantee that the part will be a shiny as you like, as it is largely dependent on the original casting. However generally speaking most casting will achieve a good level of shine. Vapour blasting will not remove heavy corrosion pitting nor will it remove deep scratches.