Shot Blasting Exeter: Ditching Metal Glaze for a Classier Look

Posted by SharonEvans on December 4th, 2014

Bead blasting is a process in hich inert media are shot on metallic surfaces at high pressures to clean the surface or muster together a less reflective matt texture on the surface of the metal. Shot Blasting Exeter has gained popularity over the years across several industries. Many people are now shifting away from glossy steel to less reflective varieties of it. In such cases, there is immense need for firms that deal in Steel Fabrications Exeter. These firms do not just aid private concerns, but are also instrumental for industries.

The bead blasting finish has great aesthetic appeal as it adds much beauty to the texture of steel. The finish bears resemblance to the finish that is left by acid etching. The material that is blasted is coloured chemically. The material is then combined with rolling patterns. Following this, the material is polished. The polishing is sometimes done by the standard process of acid etching. The etching is generally what defines the look on these surfaces. Most good finishing on steel surfaces is obtained in this way.

The texture that results from the blasting can extensively depend on the blast media. Among some of the commonly used blast media in Shot Blasting Exeter are glass, lead or ceramic beads, aluminium oxide, silicon carbide and shot (ground) quartz. The finishing methods are the same that are used in some professional finishing shops. This is done under test conditions after fabrication. If the purpose is architectural, bead blasting is the ideal foil in steel texturing. The finish gives a non-resplendent look to the steel and therefore avoids the risk of scratches.

Generally, during blasting the medium that is used cuts through the surface of the metal. This means that a small portion of the metal surface is removed by corrosion. This makes the new surface resistant to corrosion. The extent to which the surface is resistant to corrosion however depends on the media that is used as the blast agent. If a very rugged surface is required, the Steel Fabrications Exeter  can use a hard medium like aluminium oxide can be used for the purpose. If a smoother finish is required, a softer medium such as silicon carbide can be used for the purpose. However, the finish that aluminium oxide leaves on the body will be more resistant to erosion than that left by a soft medium like silicon carbide.

In a separate method of surface tampering, surface steel is not eroded. The rounded beads do not erode but form tiny craters in the surface. When magnified, this gives a dimple-like impression of the surface. Here in spite of removing metal from the top surface, the rounded beads scatter the metal to the sides. The edges of the miniscule craters are not too sharp. This also imparts a certain level of roughness to the metal; which is again the purpose of the process. It is however important for the Shot Blasting Exeter company to use beads that are clean and perfectly round. Only then can desired results be expected.

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