Want to add a smooth surface to a workpiece?

Shot blasting effectively removes rust, oxide, scale, and other remnants from surfaces so they can be restored or re-coated – providing an even texture.

Whilst several factors make shot blasting possible, a shot blast room is essential if you’re planning on making blast cleaning an in-house process.

As a leading supplier of complete finishing plants and systems, Surface Finishing Equipment Group (SFEG) knows everything there is to know about shot blast rooms.

Here we look at what they are and their effectiveness.

What is a shot blast room?

A shot blast room is a blast cabinet but on a larger scale.

An operator will work inside the blast room, blasting surfaces with abrasives to create the desired finish. It provides a productive method for preparing large components and a safe environment for the operator and co-workers.

On top of this, shot blast rooms offer a practical solution for storing abrasive blast pots, collecting leftover abrasives, and recycling the abrasive used.

Blast rooms can be used for various industrial applications. But whatever the industry, there are several key components, including:

• The enclosure – the room is sealed to prevent any abrasive media from escaping and entering the outside air.

• Blast equipment – most blast rooms are equipped with blast pots that can be filled with various abrasives.

• Media recovery system – to collect blasting media so it can be re-used, shot blast rooms have a media reclamation/recovery system (either pneumatic or mechanical) on the floor.

• Dust collector – designed to filter the air in the room, ensuring maximum visibility and safety, a dust collector is one of the most vital components of a blasting room.

Of course, additional equipment can be added to blast rooms for convenience and to improve usability. This includes things like LED lighting and control panels.

5 advantages of using shot blast rooms

1.    Protects the environment

Abrasive shots are often recyclable and require very little compressed air. There is no water or harsh chemicals to contaminate the environment either.

Blast rooms allow operators to recover and recycle abrasives time and time again. This not only ensures that fewer materials go to waste and pollute the environment, but it also enables your business to save money. And because you’re propelling shots of abrasive media at the surface in an enclosed area, it prevents air pollution.

2.    Keeps the work area clean

As mentioned earlier, blast rooms consist of blasting equipment, abrasive reclaim systems, and dust collectors. Therefore, you needn’t worry about blasting components in open environments – to remove rust, corrosion, or imperfections – and making a mess.

Any abrasive that’s left on the floor will be gathered by the recovery system, before it’s taken into a recycling system. This means the work area will be kept clean and professional at all times, especially after blasting operations.

3.    Minimises costs

Most businesses are eager to reduce their expenditure these days and using reusable abrasives in a shot blast room – as opposed to expensive and one time use expendable abrasives – is a smart move.

Opting for cost-effective abrasives and working inside a contained blast room will not only keep costs low but will allow staff to work more productively. They’ll be able to blast large components with ease, completing more projects per day.

4.    Ensures the safety of employees

Health and safety should be the no.1 priority of all businesses, and a shot blast room will provide your staff with a safe environment to work.

Blast rooms have a host of safety features installed to prevent particulate from escaping into the air.

For instance, a dust collector will filter the air effectively, providing maximum visibility for your workforce. A media reclaim system will ensure the area is kept clean, eliminating the risk of staff slipping or inhaling harmful dust and toxic chemicals.

5.    Improves productivity

Shot blast rooms are designed to suit the application, surface/part, and abrasive. They are well-ventilated and equipped with lighting, so operators can work competently.

Providing workers with a dedicated area will enable them to blast larger areas without delay and without skimping on safety or quality.

Find out more about blast rooms

If you have any questions about shot blast rooms or any of the other equipment we supply here at SFEG, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Always on hand to help, we will be more than happy to share our expertise and guide and advise you.

Either complete the online enquiry form or email sales@sfeg.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.