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Abrasive Blast Media comes in many different shapes and sizes. The size, shape and also the force with which blasting abrasives are propelled to the surface often determine the profile created during blasting. With few exceptions, most industrial coating projects require a specific anchor profile of the surface or substrate so the new coating can adhere properly. When choosing an abrasive media, remember that both too big of an anchor profile or too small of an anchor profile will cause premature coating failures.

Projects involving granite substrates are a contractor’s most common kind of masonry restoration. Granite is a beautiful, durable stone  used on the interior and exterior of buildings, structures, and monuments.It has a Mohs hardness ratings between six and seven and therefore capable of withstanding the demands of everyday life.

Sponge-Jet and its distributors are partnering with two corrosion expos to focus on corrosion mitigation. Sponge-Jet technology provides clean, dry, low dust abrasive blasted substrates which comply to NACE, SSPC and ISO standards for surface preparation.

As part of New York’s Central Park Conservancy project to reconstruct Grand Army Plaza, the William Tecumseh Sherman monument was brought back to life with newly applied 23.75-karat gold leaf. The monument restoration, included as part of the larger Plaza restoration project, called for the removal and reapplication of gold leaf on Augustus St. Gauden’s 1903 masterpiece. The sculptor favored bright, shining monuments, and disdained the look of bronzing as it darkened with age. Unfortunately, with weather wear and time,  this was happening to the Sherman monument’s failed gilding.

This turn-of-the-century lighthouse, also known as Hockomock Head Lighthouse or Swan’s Island Lighthouse provided fisherman and their schooners a beacon for safe travel in busy Penobscot Bay (ME, USA) starting in 1872 and still acts as a navigation aid today. In 1988 the lighthouse was added to the Register of Historic Places. In 1994 the US Coast Guard deeded the light station to the Town of Swan’s Island and by 2000 the Friends of Swan Island Light began working on a long-needed preservation plan. The plan called for adaptive public use while restoring each of the four buildings including the light tower.

Many abrasive blasting industry products claim to offer low dust, dust free, or dustless blasting. In reality, no blasting media is dust free. “Dustless blasting” is a term commonly used to describe blasting that creates less dust (or fugitive airborne emissions) than traditional blasting methods. Abrasive blasting products prepare surfaces by striking substrates at high velocities using large volumes of compressed air. Sometimes the volume of air alone can generate airborne particles without any blasting being done.

It’s becoming increasingly more apparent that companies in the commercial marine space, specifically shipyards, dry docks, and other industrial marine manufacturers are in major need of increasing their ROI while simultaneously decreasing production and repair time. That’s why Sponge-Jet is attending the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, Louisiana.

If measuring dry film thickness is part of your profession, sign up for this free webinar, which will discuss the latest revision of SSPC-PA 9, “Measurement of Dry Coating Thickness Using Ultrasonic Gages.” This standard describes procedures to measure the thickness of dry, homogeneous coatings applied to concrete, wood, wallboard, plastic, fiber and composite material using commercially available ultrasonic coating thickness gages.

Duluth City Architect, Tari Rayala chose Sponge-Jet as the solution to clean the Duluth City Hall’s high profile, travertine limestone interior walls. Nearly a century of cigarette smoke, “dirtier forms of heating” and oils from visitors bumping the walls, left obscured the creamy fresh look that the stone can deliver. Premium Plant Services and Sponge-Jet are teaming up to complete the cleaning and restoration of the two story project.

In OSHA’s recent fact sheet, “Protecting Workers from the Hazards of Abrasive Blasting Materials,” abrasive blasting technologies were strongly scrutinized. The fact sheet follows increasing pressure from the general public and industry watchdog groups to include a more holistic approach in protecting those working in and around abrasive blasting operations. The OSHA report discusses health hazards and worker protection methods, stating that, “Employers must protect workers from hazardous dust levels and toxic metals that may be generated from both the blasting material and the underlying substrate and coatings being blasted.”