Vertical shot blaster is a type of industrial equipment designed for surface preparation, specifically for cleaning, smoothing, or preparing vertical surfaces such as walls, tanks, or ship hulls. It uses a process called shot blasting, where a high-speed stream of abrasive material (usually steel shots, grit, or similar media) is propelled against the surface to remove coatings, corrosion, or contaminants.
Working Principle of Vertical Shot Blaster
They have a similar basic concept as walk behind shot blasters when it comes to how they work. Various sized steel shot is flung at high velocity to remove rust, mil scale, paint, coatings and contaminants etc. from the steel surface its blasting. The debris is then vacuumed away through a dust extraction system and the usable shot is re-entered into the blasting process.
Vertical Shot Blasters are used for blasting vertical surfaces such as walls of industrial oil tanks or ship hulls, in a vertical or horizontal direction.
The unit is suspended by a rigging system or crane and can be operated by one person using a remote control on ground level.
A high powered magnetic roller clamp arrangement holds the vertical shot blaster to the steel surface eliminating abrasive loss and dust emission.
The vertical shot blaster offers a highly productive and environmentally safe alternative to conventional open blasting methods.
Key Features of a Vertical Shot Blaster:
- Vertical Orientation: Unlike traditional shot blasters designed for floors, a vertical shot blaster operates on upright surfaces. It is equipped with mechanisms to adhere or move along the vertical surface, such as magnets, vacuum systems, or rails
- Abrasive Recycling System: The shot blaster collects the abrasive material after impact, recycles it, and separates debris from reusable media.
- Dust Collection: It often includes an integrated dust collection system to capture dust and debris, ensuring a cleaner work environment.
- Precision: Vertical shot blasters can target specific areas with adjustable blasting pressure and media flow to suit the job’s needs.
Vertical Shot Blaster Application
- Concrete Walls: For cleaning, resurfacing, or preparing walls for coatings or paints.
- Ship Hulls: Removing marine growth, old paint, or rust to prepare surfaces for repainting or repairs.
- Industrial Tanks: Cleaning or preparing the surface of large tanks and silos.
- Steel Structures: Removing corrosion or scaling from vertical steel surfaces.
Vertical Shot Blaster Advantages
Efficient Surface Preparation: It delivers uniform results across vertical surfaces.
Environmentally Friendly: The recycling system minimizes waste.
Improved Adhesion: Prepares surfaces effectively for coatings, improving their durability.
How Vertical Shot Blaster Works
Vertical shot blaster works by propelling high-speed abrasive media (e.g., steel shots or grit) onto a vertical surface to clean, texture, or prepare it for coatings or other treatments.
- Positioning the Machine:
The vertical shot blaster is mounted or adhered to the vertical surface, such as a wall, tank, or ship hull.
It may use vacuum suction, magnets, or a track system to hold itself securely in place or move along the surface.
- Blasting Media Propulsion:
A motor-driven centrifugal blast wheel or air pressure system propels abrasive particles at high speed.
The abrasive media strikes the surface, removing contaminants such as rust, paint, coatings, or debris.
- Impact and Surface Cleaning:
The high-energy impact of the abrasive breaks down and removes unwanted material.
The process also creates a uniform surface profile (important for coating adhesion).
- Media Recovery:
The machine collects the spent abrasive media and debris immediately after impact.
A vacuum system or magnetic recovery system directs the material into a separator within the machine.
- Media Recycling and Separation:
The separator filters out dust, debris, and broken-down media, allowing the reusable abrasive to be recycled back into the blasting system.
Non-recyclable debris is directed to a waste collection bin or dust collector.
- Dust Collection:
A built-in dust collection unit captures fine dust and particles to ensure clean operation and meet environmental and safety standards.
- Controlled Movement:
The machine is moved along the surface either manually or via an automated system to cover the entire area.
Adjustable speed and intensity settings allow operators to control the depth and extent of the surface preparation.
Conclusion
Vertical shot blaster is specialized industrial equipment designed for surface preparation on vertical surfaces like walls, ship hulls, silos, or industrial tanks. It operates by propelling abrasive material at high speeds onto the surface to remove contaminants, coatings, or corrosion, while simultaneously cleaning and preparing the surface for further treatment.