Becoming an independent blasting contractor can be easier than you think and can be an interesting job, not to mention lucrative. All you need is the right equipment and proper training to use it. Thanks to advances in surface preparation technology, manufacturers are now able to offer affordable blasting equipment solutions to independent contractors.
So what’s the right equipment? This depends on the type of blasting you will be doing. If you plan on doing a lot of work on site like cleaning rocks or metal, then it’s best to use a portable blast pot. Several manufacturers offer special blast pots for contractors that are ideal for site work and offer increased efficiency. Some manufacturers even offer blast pot packages that include a blast hose, coupling, nozzle retainer, deadman system, breathing filter, breather, and personal protective equipment. Plans like these can be very affordable as an initial investment and can get your operation up and running quickly and simply.
If you wish to have your own blast room, there are manufacturers who can offer containerized blast rooms which provide an economical solution when a weather-resistant or movable room is required. As the name suggests, containerized blast rooms are made out of converted shipping containers equipped with all the equipment you need for your blasting operations including blasting equipment, ventilation systems, and media recovery and reclamation systems. Having a ventilation system ensures maximum safety and productivity as the operator has a clear line of sight and no dust mixes with the abrasive, improving blasting quality. Reclamation systems also offer increased efficiency as they allow you to recover used abrasive.
If you need bespoke blasting facilities, modular blasting rooms offer a more flexible solution. Modular blast rooms can be designed to suit your needs. This type of blast room is usually required if you plan to focus on one specific area of blasting and can range from fairly small operations to large scale projects. For example, airblastafc.coma California-based manufacturer of surface preparation and finishing equipment recently completed a $1.4 million blasting and resurfacing facility for an Ohio-based rail group that needed a blast booth large enough to hold an entire railcar and allow four operators to work it. . simultaneously.
