Blog

Surface cleanliness and profile are the cornerstones of proper surface preparation, but those standards are not always met. Frequently, metal fabrication projects suffer from bad surface prep. When steel is cut with flame or plasma, the edges that have been cut become harder than the middle part of the steel. This creates challenges for those trying to follow coatings application best practices.

Imagine for a moment that ACME Coatings Contractor has recently completed an important water tank exterior coatings project. The job, which involved removing lead-based paint from the 40 meter (135-ft) tall, 3.7-million liter,legged tank, went well from start to finish. The owners are happy, final payment has been rendered, and the project manager is filing the last bit of paperwork when the owner’s representative calls and asks, “Out of curiosity, how can we be sure that ACME didn’t leave lead dust under or around the tank?”

B. C. Tilghman: The Father of Sandblasting and Abrasive Nozzles

The process of sandblasting as we know it today started around 1870 with a man named Benjamin Chew Tilghman, who observed abrasive wear on wind-blown desert windows. Tilghman also noticed the effect that high-velocity sand could have on hard material and began designing a machine that could propel sand at speeds much faster than the wind - and could concentrate this flow into a small stream.

The historic restoration of Boston's Longfellow Bridge is now complete! The large-scale granite restoration project included onsite blasting by United Stone, as well as dismantling the bridge’s iconic Rockport granite “salt and pepper” towers piece-by-piece, and then transporting them to nearby workyards in Charlestown via barge for offsite restoration. The now pristine towers were reassembled using a mix of modern and historic construction technology. Skilled masons at United Stone were able to clean ornate granite carvings as well as the large granite blocks using the same equipment and media.

Shipbuilding and marine repair is frequently heavy, hard industrial work. Manufacturing is loud and can get dirty. In a marine environment like a ship yard (which can include one or more dry docks) this process must occur within close proximity to water, posing unique challenges regarding containment and suppression of dust during the building and repair process.

Take a deep breath and consider the following: Every worker required to wear a tight-fitting respirator on the job needs a respirator fit test. In the United States and many other countries, respirator fit tests are law. This law even applies to disposable N95 particulate respirator masks. A respirator fit test, typically conducted in a controlled environment, is markedly different than the quick “seal check” performed whenever a worker puts on a respirator.

Those involved in lead paint removal, lead based paint encapsulation, or concerned with lead paint removal costs have likely heard the term “Cradle to Grave,” but not everyone knows what it means in the lead abatement world.

The main entrance, an extended portico, leading into the great hall of Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration (NY, USA) required a face lift. Suffering from exposure to the brackish Hudson River salt-spray, the ±625 micron (±25-mil) old coating system was failing and previewing spot corrosion over much of its steel structure.

When making decisions regarding lead abatement, facility managers naturally consider a whole host of complex variables. Their recommendations will be used to ultimately decide whether lead-coated surfaces be enclosed and encapsulated, replaced—or removed altogether.

Sandblasting (or abrasive blasting as it’s more properly known) was invented in the late 19th century. The simple process of introducing abrasive into a stream of air and propelling it at high velocity onto a surface has grown with the advancement of technology. Equipment can be as basic or as specialized as desired.