Log Home Restoration – The Facts About Media Blasting

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Log Home Restoration The Facts About Media
Blasting Media blasting is regarded as a general
means of removing coatings from virtually any
surface. Additionally, in log home restoration,
it is effective for removing old stains and
finishes to ready the wood for a new
sealer. Media blasting also referred to as
Abrasive blasting is used to prepare surfaces by
removing any pre-existing stains or old coating,
leaving the new surface ready for any kind of new
finish. Consequently, this is achieved by
blasting compressed air from a blast machine or
pot. The air moves through a hose at high speed
and onto the surface to remove the existing
coating. Many home contractors use media blasting
in log home restoration, either to remove an old
coating of oil or latex or simply to rid an old
layer of dirt, stains or mildew. Typically, most
contractors rent a media blaster as at when
needed, however, a few of them own them too. The
sophisticated approach to this process coupled
with the specialized equipment tends to make it
more expensive than the chemical strip. Normally,
an industrial air compressor should be able to
produce at least 185 cubic feet per minute this
is the recommended air pressure for Media
Blasting. Furthermore, a blasting pot which is
similar to a sand blaster but slightly modified
is used to convey the crushed glass, baking soda
and ground corn that are also employed for this
process. It is not abnormal for about four
thousand pounds of media to be used in this
process. Typically, it requires a lot. In spite
of the fact that Media Blasting does a good log
home restoration job, chemical stripping is an
ideal option for oil based stains which is the
major coating of logs for most homes
here. Conversely, media blasting is better suited
to latex and water based stains and paints. One
of the major advantages of Media Blasting is the
fact that it is a completely dry process coupled
with the fact that the media can be collected and
reused again and even after it has outlived its
purpose, it can still be spread out as manure
since it is biodegradable. In contrast, chemical
stripping involves water and this means that the
surface would need to be given ample time to dry
before a new finish can be applied. On the other
hand, Media Blasting permits the coating of the
surface immediately after, due to its dry nature
a new finish can be applied straightaway. The
main blasting process can be easily worked by two
people if all the scaffolding and staging is
already set up. Typically, one person would
operate the nozzle and the second man can fill
the Hooper, monitor/adjust the air/media mixtures
and closely keep an eye on the machine to ensure
that the hoses are running working without any
hitch or fault. Thus, if a home log restoration
beckons again, be sure to carry out your research
and decide on what is needed and what isnt. This
could be the difference between spending wisely
or exorbitantly on your project.