Surface Preparation with a Bristle Blaster

Paint Maintenance

It has been generally recognised that the best method of surface preparation in maintenance situations allowed by either regulation or situation is either grit blasting or even UHP (ultra-high pressure hydro-blasting if the surface has the underling anchor profile).

Hand tool and power tool preparation has always been regarded as methods which will afford much poorer surface preparation standards and therefore reduced lifetime of the maintenance coating applied. However, a new power tool equipment has been introduced which is portable and achieves cleanliness and surface profile approaching that which is obtainable by blasting cleaning equipment.

Bristle Blaster

In maintaining offshore or indeed onshore structures in corrosive environments the key concern for the end user is how long the remedial coating system will last. When maintenance is carried out in areas which are difficult to access the cost of maintenance can be up to 20 times more expensive than if the coating was properly maintained in the shop. For this reason it is becoming essential to evaluate alternative methods of remedial surface preparation to give longer lifetimes of maintenance painting. Traditionally for areas where wet or dry abrasive blasting to SSPC-SP 5 - SP 10 (NACE No: 1-4 or Swedish SA 1, 2, 2.5, 3) was not possible, has meant SSPC SP3 or SSPC SP11 standards have become the norm.

Power Tooling

Well, for power tooling surface preparation prior to painting there's a new norm, and it comes in the form of a bristle blaster (common mis-spellings include Bristel Blaster and Brissle Blaster). Bristle Blasting has been shown to give surface profiles approaching that of grit blasting!

The bristle blasting technology utilises a specially designed rotary head which removes coatings and affords an anchor pattern on the steel surface being treated. The process derives its name from the sharp, hardened bristles which upon impacting the surface immediately retract to leave a profile from an impact crater which resembles that of a freshly grit blasted surface without magnification. This differs from more traditional wire brushing preparation techniques which actually generate score markings or striations. Although precise comparative data in the field for different methods is not available at the time of writing, it is currently estimated that bristle blasting to a standard similar to SSPC SP11 can take four times longer than that of grit blasting.

The various preparation techniques were first evaluated for the effect they have on surface profile as this has been previously shown as a very good indicator of coating performance and asset life cycle. Bristle blasting, power wire brushing and grit blasting were evaluated as surface preparation techniques and Systems 4 and 5 were applied. After 6 months testing all panels showed no rusting or disbondment of paint.

Bristle Blasting

From the work carried out, there is no question that the bristle blasting technique has shown that it can improve the surface cleanliness in a situation where grit blasting cannot be used. This can be seen in terms of improvement of adhesion of maintenance coating systems to the substrate through improved surface profile thus leading to improved corrosion resistance in the ISO 20340 cyclic corrosion testing.

Why Choose Dangle's Academy

Here at Dangle, we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of professional and comprehensive inspection, access, coatings, and composite (IACC) industrial services and training courses to cater to the needs of both the private and public sectors. Our dedication to providing high-quality work at height solutions and training has helped us establish a strong reputation in the industry.

With a team of highly skilled and experienced professionals, we are committed to delivering exceptional results that not only meet but exceed our clients' expectations. Our on-site working at height services are designed to minimise maintenance costs in the long and short-term, allowing our clients to save on valuable resources.

Located in Belfast, Northern Ireland, our headquarters serve as the centre of our operations across Ireland. However, we also have a Dangle office based in Scotland, ensuring that we can extend our services to a wider clientele across the United Kingdom. No matter where you are located, our team is always ready to assist you with your industrial maintenance or training needs.

If you would like to learn more about how our dedicated team can help you, we encourage you to get in touch with us today. Our friendly and professional staff are always available to provide you with the information and support you require.

Contact us now to discover the Dangle difference and let us be your trusted partner in meeting your industrial service and training needs today.