How Shotblasting Works

Many contractors and property owners choose shot-blasting to clean and prepare their existing concrete, steel and asphalt surfaces because the process is fast, efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Shot blasting can be used for a variety of purposes but its primary function is to strip, clean and profile surfaces that may have had some kind of surface preparation in the past ahead of the application of new chemical treatment, coatings or overlays.  It’s popular because it doesn’t require water, it leaves the profiled surface clean and dry and immediately ready for further work, no harsh chemicals or acids are required and there’s no need for time-consuming and messy waste disposal.  

Let’s take a look how this one-step process works.

A shot blasting machine is a specialist piece of equipment which comes in either a walk-behind or ride-on option.  

Basically, a walk behind machine uses a high-performance, rapidly rotating centrifugal wheel to propel abrasives (such as fine steel shot) at high velocity onto the surface that is being prepared.  A ride-on shot blaster works on the same principle, except that it uses a paddle wheel configuration.

In both types of machines, the shot is charged by the kinetic energy of the blades of the rapidly rotating blast wheel and accelerated onto the surface.  These abrasives strike the surface (be it concrete, asphalt or steel) and bounce back into a recovery chamber along with any debris, dust and contaminants.  An air-wash separator then separates the material collected, recycles the shot back to the paddle wheel and transfers the dirt and debris to the dust collector. 

Thanks to the high power vacuum and innovative design of the machines, this process is completely contained and dust-free and makes it very easy for operators to handle the waste products and change bags if necessary.  

Different surface profiles can be achieved by varying the size of the shot and the speed at which they travel with the advantage that regardless of the desired surface finish (fine, matte or rough), the finished product after shotblasting will be uniform and consistent.

Generally speaking, the smaller the abrasive, the less the power of impact and the smaller the profile will be - whilst larger shot is good for roughening up a concrete substrate to  improve its slip resistance.  Larger shot can also be used to create a unique look for decorative coatings but an experienced concrete equipment hire professional will help you choose the right abrasive size and format for a particular application. 

The fast production rate of the technique, the versatile finish profiles and low operating cost make it a popular choice in many different industries but remember, a shot blaster is a powerful machine and should be used by a qualified and experienced contractor to achieve optimum results.  

If you’re considering hiring a shotblaster for your project or if you have any questions regarding shot blasting in Perth, get in touch with Concrete Hire.  Through their many years experience working in the concrete industry in Perth, they’ve acquired a wealth of knowledge and understanding about specialised tools and they stock an extensive range of quality concrete equipment for hire at affordable rates.

Whether you’re a professional contractor, tradesperson or a DIY home-enthusiast, contact Concrete Hire on 1300 048 521 for all your concrete equipment hire needs.