Vapor Blasting, or liquid honing, is rapidly becoming the number one choice for applications requiring the highest quality of surface finish.
The key to wet abrasive blasting is that the finish is produced through flow of water borne abrasive, giving a finer finish due to the flushing action of the water. No media is impregnated into the component, nor is there any dust created by the break-up of media, unlike dry blasting where the finish is produced by sheer force of media impact.
The illustrations below show the different natures of grit, bead, and vapor abrasive blasting.wet
The aggressiveness of dry grit and bead blasting are shown in the first two illustrations which demonstrate the severe 90° ricochet that occurs when using these methods.
The third illustration shows the gentler, but just as effective, wet blasting method. The ricochet of media is reduced due to the cushioning from the water; the angle of the media is changed producing a lapping effect travelling across the surface, giving an even satin or polished finish.
Advantages of Vapor Blasting
- Dust-free process
- Cleans by the flow of water not by impact
- Simultaneously degrease & blast clean
- Water acts as a lubricant between media & component
- Promotes longer media life
- Produces a ‘softer’ finish
- Avoids media impregnation on soft materials
Vapor Blasting & Wet Blasting Compared to Traditional Sand Blasting
Vapor Blasting or Wet abrasive blasting removes coatings, contaminants, corrosion, and residues from hard surfaces. It’s similar to dry sandblasting, except that the blast media is moistened prior to impacting the surface.
The main advantage of wet blasting over sandblasting is that it reduces dust, allowing for operators to work in a wide range of environments with minimal setup and cleanup costs. It results in a cleaner, more consistent finished, ready to coat, with no embedded particles or clinging dust.
Wet abrasive blasting is alternatively referred to as wet abrasive blasting, slurry blasting, wet sandblasting, and dustless blasting.
