Last week, we talked a little bit about blasting: the process, the advantages, and its impact on the success of powder coating.
A lot of shops offer blasting services. Some enthusiasts even have a blasting setup at home. What makes Kaser different?
Not all blasts are created equal. The Society for Protective Coatings, SSPC, classifies the degree of blast cleaning into five categories. The industry standard, for instance, is called a “commercial blast,” also known as SP 6. This refers to a level of blasting that is considered sufficient for most coating needs – it’s quick, it’s cost-efficient, and it’s what most fabrications expect as the default when they bring their parts to be blasted.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with a commercial blast. It’s the industry standard for a reason – parts come out looking fine. The problem comes later, when the part has been exposed to elements and any remaining mill scale that was missed by the commercial blast eventually releases from the part, causing the powder coating to fail.
At Kaser, our default is SP 10, which means we blast to a near-white metal finish.
This higher-quality, more labor-intensive level of blasting has some serious advantages over the commercial blast. For starters, it ensures that all residual paint/rust/mill scale is completely gone; additionally, it creates a more pronounced blast profile on the part, making it easier for the powder coating to adhere. Both of these factors help ensure the longevity of the powder coating, significantly reducing the risk of future powder coating failures.
If a customer requests a commercial blast, of course, we’ll do it. But it’s not our norm.
Kaser Blasting & Coatings is known for yielding consistent, high-quality work, and we’ve achieved that reputation (in part) thanks to our commitment to near-white metal blasting. Is it more expensive? Sure. But like any good investment, it results in a much better long-term value for our customers. That’s what we strive for.
