Blasting of wheels: a specialism
When repairing and restoring alloy wheels or rims, proper surface preparation is crucial. Modern alloy wheels often feature a hard coating and complex shapes, making the blasting process a challenge. In this article, we explore the difficulties of stripping rims completely and demonstrate how wet blasting technology offers an efficient solution for rim and wheel repair.
The challenge of complete stripping
The coating on rims is designed to be exceptionally hard and durable. This is essential to protect the wheel from wear and external influences while driving. However, that same strength makes it extremely difficult to remove the coating with abrasive blasting techniques.
Suction feed blasting (where two hoses run to the blasting gun) makes it virtually impossible to remove the hard coating. Pressure blasting offers more power, but even this process remains time-consuming and challenging because of the complex shapes of the rims and limited movement in a blast cabinet.
Therefore, when blasting larger quantities of rims, it is more efficient to work in a blast room in which the blaster stands. Indeed, in a room, several rims can be treated in succession, while the blaster works more efficiently thanks to the large freedom of movement. This results in a higher production rate, without compromising the quality of the work.
Blasting as post-treatment
To remove most of the hard coating, chemical and/or thermal pretreatment is often applied first. This treatment makes blasting more efficient, as the remaining coating can be easily and quickly removed in a blast cabinet or booth. At the same time, the rim receives an anchor pattern, a microscopically rough structure that ensures optimal adhesion of the new coating.
This combination of techniques ensures alloy rims and wheels are efficiently stripped bare and prepared for a new coating application.
Blasting as an alternative to sanding
Wheel repairs often do not require complete removal of the coating. For localized damage, such as curb damage, the damaged area can be repaired, after which a new clear coating is applied. The existing coating on the rest of the rim is often still in excellent condition and only needs to be prepared for proper adhesion.
The challenge of sanding
Traditionally, this process is performed with sandpaper and Scotch-Brite. Due to the complex shapes of rims - such as corners and small openings - sanding is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process. In addition, there is a greater chance of inconsistencies in the sanding result.
The solution: wet blasting
A wet blast cabinet offers an efficient alternative here. The process has several advantages:
- Within just a few minutes, the rim is completely pre-treated and ready for a new coating;
- The rim is simultaneously washed and slightly roughened (matted) without removing the existing coating;
- The labor intensity decreases drastically, while the quality of the pretreatment is increased.
This makes wet blasting the perfect solution for efficient and high-quality wheel repair.
Experience the benefits of (wet) blasting yourself
Curious about how (wet) blasting can transform your alloy rim and wheel repair process? Visit our Experience Center to discover the benefits of our innovative solutions firsthand. Our experts are ready to advise you and give demonstrations so you can see how quickly and effectively wheels can be treated.
