Several manufacturers say the water blasting machine is more eco-friendly than the others, but this is not an absolute truth, and we will explain the reasons. See the topics we will discuss in this publication:
1. How the water blasting works and why it is not the more eco-friendly machine
Let's first understand how the water blasting works. The wet blasting works with water and can perform blasting, washing, and drying operations. The main argument for using a water blasting machine is that it does not produce dust. In this view, if it does not "pollute," it is more sustainable.
It is true that the water blasting generates less dust and is very attractive since it is unnecessary to envelop the place, which can often be time-consuming and costly. On the other hand, the cost of maintaining this equipment is much higher than similar ones because the water blasting machine does not allow abrasive recycling. Once the abrasive is used in operation, it is lost, which means that you cannot reuse the primary input of the equipment.
Making an analogy, let's imagine that you own a car. This car is hybrid and can be used in any terrain, but it uses 300x more fuel than similar ones. It sounds like an exaggeration, but it's a reality.
But that doesn't mean water blasting should never be an option. On the contrary, there are many cases where this machine is recommended. One of them is in situations where the wrapping is very complicated, such as rough terrain.
The water blasting is also more appropriate when treating a thin sheet, such as a car's bodywork. It proves to be the best option in this case because if it is well adjusted, it will not deform the blasted part—a common fact in dry blasting.
Another factor that is essential to know if you are considering water blasting for your company is the more water this machine uses, the less productive it is. Since water works as a friction reducer, the roughness is reduced at a high volume.
Water blasting machines that work with a smaller volume of water operate with abrasive and inject water right after the abrasive dosing valve leaves, moistening the abrasive just enough not to generate dust - a system used by CMV®.
2. Which blasting machine is more sustainable
Suppose the blasting operation takes place in a blast room or even in an open area that has been enveloped, using an abrasive recycling system to prevent the abrasive from escaping. In that case, the dry blasting is a much more economical and ecological solution for the following reasons:
There is no water consumption.
Higher productivity rate due to lower energy consumption.
It allows the recycling of the abrasive, which is not possible in the water blasting.
In water blasting, grit is not commonly used, and besides that, it only uses the abrasive once. In contrast, dry blasting allows the reuse of grit up to 300 times. Dry blasting is even more advantageous because it can be associated with a portable abrasive recycling system, allowing field applications to be carried out. A fact that is very common in the North American market.
3. What blasting machine makes more sense to my company?
Which blast equipment is best? Which uses less energy? The truth is that it depends on the application. For example, many consumers ask us for a quote for a blast room or an automatic blasting machine. When we see the company's activity and use, we realize and recommend a different purchase because CMV® always prioritizes optimizing customers' resources.
To recommend a shot blasting machine, we take into account three main factors:
How many pieces need to be treated per day (volume)
What kind of material will receive the treatment
What are the dimensions of these pieces?
If you are curious to know which shot blasting machine is best suited for your activity, please contact us. Our technical team will analyze your situation and indicate which blasting machine is most appropriate without cost or commitment.