How to Recycle Abrasives for Blast Cabinets
Last Updated: February 14, 2022
If you're working with a blast cabinet for surface preparation or finishing tasks, you can save money by reusing your abrasives. Simply send the used abrasives back through the blast cabinet multiple times, effectively recycling them.
This practice not only helps reduce costs but also minimizes waste and environmental impact. Some abrasives, like walnut shells, decompose quickly in landfills, while others, such as glass or metal abrasives, take much longer. Additionally, certain blasting materials contain plastics that degrade slowly and may pose environmental risks due to chemical leaching. Recycling your blast cabinet abrasives is a great way to lower your environmental footprint.
Why Should You Recycle Abrasives?
The advantages of recycling abrasives are clear. New abrasives can be quite costly, often running into hundreds of dollars per ton. By reusing your old abrasives, you can significantly cut down on your blasting media expenses.
Moreover, recycling abrasives reduces waste production and helps protect the environment. Some organic abrasives break down easily in landfills, while others like glass and metal abrasives take much longer. Certain blasting materials contain plastics that not only degrade poorly but may also release harmful chemicals into the soil, posing both environmental and health risks. Recycling blast cabinet media allows you to reduce your waste output and contribute to a healthier planet.
What to Consider When Recycling Abrasives
Before starting to recycle abrasives, there are several factors and best practices to keep in mind. This will ensure you get the best value when recycling abrasives in your blast cabinet.
Key Variables Affecting Recycling
Here are several variables that influence how extensively you can recycle your abrasives:
- **Abrasive Hardness**: The hardness of your blasting media often determines its recyclability. Materials with higher Mohs Hardness Scale ratings generally perform better for recycling.
- **Abrasive Size**: Smaller abrasives tend to wear down faster, resulting in fewer recycling opportunities and requiring more frequent replacement with new abrasives.
- **Abrasive Shape**: The shape of the abrasive can affect its durability. For instance, although glass is softer than many other abrasives, its rounded shape means glass beads and steel shot can last longer than other comparably hard materials.
- **Abrasive Volume**: Higher volumes of abrasives moving through the system generate more heat. Excessive heat can wear down the abrasive, reducing its recyclability.
- **Part Hardness**: Harder parts cause abrasives to wear down more quickly, leading to shorter recycling cycles.
- **Delivery Method**: Different blast cabinets use either a pressure pot for direct pressure or a two-hose injector gun for siphon delivery. These methods deliver abrasives at different speeds, even at the same pressure, impacting the recyclability of your media.
- **Nozzle-to-Part Distance**: The distance between the nozzle and the part being blasted affects the impact velocity. A shorter distance results in higher impact velocity, which can reduce the recyclability of your abrasives.
Factors to Consider Before Recycling
Before diving into recycling, consider the following important factors:
- **Single vs. Multi-Use Abrasives**: Ensure your chosen abrasive is hard enough to withstand multiple blasting cycles. Typically, abrasives labeled as "multi-use" are more durable than those marked as "single-use."
- **Media Lifespan**: The lifespan of multiple-use abrasives depends largely on their hardness and size. Softer abrasives like slag or garnet may only last a few cycles, while tougher materials like steel shot or silicon carbide can endure dozens or even a hundred cycles. Choose wisely based on your needs.
- **External Variables**: Other factors, such as the hardness of the parts being blasted or the blasting pressure used, can impact how many times you can recycle your media. If you're dealing with particularly tough parts or high-pressure setups, extensive recycling might not be practical.
- **Blast Cabinet Design**: Not all blast cabinets are equally suited for recycling. Cabinets designed for direct pressure or those with shorter nozzle-to-part distances tend to wear out abrasives faster. Siphon blasting and longer distances generally offer better recycling rates. A good separator reclaimer is also crucial for efficient and clean recycling.
Rules for Reusing Abrasives
Here are some guidelines to follow when planning to recycle abrasives:
- **Avoid Soft Abrasives**: Blast cabinets built for recycling usually struggle with softer abrasives like sand, slag, or sodium bicarbonate. These materials tend to turn into dust during blasting, clogging dust collectors. Opt for harder abrasives to prevent excessive dust accumulation.
- **Understand Maximum Impact Velocity**: Different abrasives have different maximum impact velocities. Softer abrasives typically have lower maximum impact velocities. Knowing this helps prevent premature wear and extends the life of your abrasives.
- **Estimate Recycle Numbers**: Several variables influence how long your abrasives will last. While exact numbers vary depending on your project and equipment, estimating how many cycles your abrasives have already completed can help predict future recyclability. You'll need data on hours of blasting, pounds-per-minute throughput, and total abrasive weight.
- **Invest in a Quality Separator Reclaimer**: A reliable separator reclaimer is essential for maximizing recycling efficiency. Without one, your abrasives can accumulate dirt and dust, reducing performance and potentially contaminating your parts. A well-designed reclaim system ensures you get the most value from your recycled abrasives.
- **Know When to Replace**: Continuing to use worn-out abrasives decreases blasting efficiency, similar to trying to sand wood with dull sandpaper. Regularly replace old abrasives before they become too worn down.
Dependable Finishing Solutions From Finishing Systems
When you're ready to start recycling your blast cabinet media, partner with Finishing Systems. We offer a wide selection of abrasives tailored to meet your finishing needs and are suitable for multiple blasting cycles. In addition, we provide a diverse range of blast cabinets compatible with various media types.
As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or for personalized recommendations. Happy blasting!
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