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Vapor assisted blasting, or mist blasting, uses specialized equipment that combines water with fine abrasive material and then sprays the water and compressed air in a more gentle, controlled manner. The water flushes out the abrasive and washes away any residual sediment, resulting in a clean, fine finish.
Vapor blasting started in restoration projects as it was less damaging to sensitive surfaces and substrates than traditional, dry sandblasting. It is now used for a wide variety of industrial cleaning and surface preparation purposes.
For sensitive areas or heavy-duty industrial cleaning
While vapor assisted blasting is commonly used for sensitive surfaces and areas, Painters USA can use this method in a variety of industrial settings and structures:
- Airports
- Bridges
- Concrete tilt-ups
- Factories
- Machine shops
- Metal structures
- Ship yards
- Silos
- Parking garages
When Painters USA performs vapor assisted blasting, we follow industry standards and government regulations. We use appropriate blasting materials and dust collectors. Our crews wear PPE (breathing protection and protective clothing) to ensure their safety and efficiency.
Minimal downtime, fast return to service
As much as we’d love to hang out with you, rest assured we’ll be out of your facilities asap. Our uptime is your downtime / slow time for scheduling that meets your needs. And detailed work plans, proven processes, large skilled crews, and diligent project management ensures on-time completion every time.
Lower overall costs and faster return to service
- Uses a fraction (10%) of blasting media over the traditional dry blasting method.
- Operators can work with greater efficiency and safety for enhanced productivity.
- Clean up takes less time as there is less residual material.
Other benefits of vapor assisted blasting
- Excellent for surfaces that need to be quickly cleaned and ready for new coating or re-coating.
- Operators can work more precisely and efficiently for enhanced productivity.
- Safer and suitable for confined spaces since health risks are lower.
- More environmentally friendly as it uses less water than wet blasting and less abrasive media than dry blasting.
- Coatings applied after vapor blasting perform better and last longer as the surface is well-cleaned and scored.
- Less damaging to substrates, equipment, and adjacent areas.
- By varying air pressure control, water and water injection control, and blasting media it can be used on nearly any surface.
Suspended scaffold skills and experience
Two-point adjustable suspension scaffolds hung by ropes or cables, also known as swing-stage scaffolds, are an effective way to perform cleaning and coating work on many types of commercial / industrial structures. Painters USA offers OSHA suspended scaffold training so when the time comes, our crews are equipped and comfortable doing their job. It’s another commitment to our safety culture and clients’ peace of mind.
Vapor blasting for equipment and machinery
Vapor blasting can effectively clean grease, rust, old coatings, and other contaminants from equipment and parts. It’s a relatively quick stripping and cleaning method leaves a satin-like finish on aluminum, chrome, or steel surfaces.
Vapor blasting to reduce fire and combustion hazards
Traditional sandblasting slams the abrasive into the surface and breaks it into dust, producing a static electric charge with the potential to create dry sparks. This creates a fire or explosion hazard, especially in areas with flammable materials. While sparks are possible with vapor assisted blasting, it's less likely and they are cold sparks, which have less of a flammability risk.
Vapor blasting for sensitive surfaces
Vapor blasting is the best and sometimes the only option for historical restoration, cleaning fire damage, removing graffiti—situations where traditional sandblasting may be too destructive. Traditional dry blasting also causes frictional heat, which can cause warping and other unwanted effects on soft metals and other sensitive substrates. Vapor blasting helps cool frictional heat, making it a better choice for stainless steel or aluminum.
Additional abrasive blasting services
Painters USA has over 40 years of experience in abrasive blasting, from sandblasting to dry ice blasting to vapor blasting. In some cases, our blasting services could be a two-stage process, starting with dry sandblasting and finishing with vapor-assisted blasting using blast media like glass beads.
