Surface

WENCON ® preparation

Index - Chapter 4
1. Blasting
1.1. Dry Blasting
• Specification for Dry Blasting
1.2. Wet Blasting
2. Perago cleaning
3. Grinding
4.1. Needle Gunning
4.2. Machining
4.3. Steam cleaning
5. Dehumidification
6. Steel brushing

WENCON ApS • Jyllandsvej 15 • DK-5400 Bogense •

Phone +45 6481 1010 • wencon@wencon.com • www.wencon.com
 Surface
WENCON ® preparation

1. Blasting There are basically two different methods of blasting. Wet blasting and dry
blasting. Shot-blasting, sand-blasting and grit-blasting employ different types
of blasting material, but are essentially the same. In this manual we will use the
word blasting.

Dry blasting is the most common kind of blasting. There are a large number of
1.1. Dry Blasting
companies who use dry blasting, and the way we become involved is usually to
specify. Blasting is not only used for cleaning metal surfaces, but also used widely
for cleaning before painting houses, steel constructions etc. Blasting is without
doubt the best way of preparing the surface for Wencon applications. It offers
the best physical adherence, and is by far the most efficient way of cleaning the
part. Accordingly, whenever possible we advise our customers to use blasting
prior to an application. If blasting is impossible, other ways of surface prepara-
tion must be adopted. Machine parts that have been in use, for instance in sea
water, will have quite an amount of water and salt penetration into the metal
structure. This penetration should be removed before application, or, said in
another way, sufficient salt and water should be removed to ensure salt and wa-
ter do not come to the surface of the substrate before the Wencon repair mate-
rial has cured. If the surface of a machine part shortly after blasting turns black,
or perhaps very dark, it is a sign of salts sweating from the substrate. A way of
accelerating the sweating out of the salts, is by heating up the part or leaving it
in a warm place for at least 12 hours. The most efficient way of removing water
from the substrate is by using dehumidification units. (See Wet Blasting) In many
cases it may be a good idea to use written specifications. This may sound rather
formal, but does not need to cover more than indicated below.

Specification for 1. Blast the machine part to SA 2 ½ using sharp-edged blasting media, to a
Dry Blasting roughness of min. 75 microns.

2. Leave the part for sweating out salts in a warm place for at least 12 hours or
heat it up to 30 - 40 °C (86-104 °F) using gas torches.

3. Blast again to SA 2 ½ immediately prior to the application.

4. For parts containing lots of water and salt it may be necessary to repeat 2.
and 3. until the surface remains light grey for at least 2 hours after blasting.
Most companies will understand a specification like this, but it may be neces-
sary to check the blasting prior to application. If there are any signs of salts
sweating out, the parts must be blasted again.

WENCON ApS • Jyllandsvej 15 • DK-5400 Bogense •

Phone +45 6481 1010 • wencon@wencon.com • www.wencon.com
 Surface
WENCON ® preparation

1.2. Wet Blasting Some applications do not allow dry blasting, due to dust coming from the
process. For instance when the application should take place on site and you
have lots of motors, pumps, valves etc. in close proximity, your customer may
not be too happy about dry blasting. The reason being that dust will enter roller
bearings, etc. even inside the motors. In such conditions, the answer may very
well be wet blasting. Wet blasting is carried out in almost the same manner as
dry, but using water in union with air and grit. We use the same standards as for
the dry blasting (SA 2.5, SA 3 etc.). There are two problems that may follow wet
blasting. The first being that the technique leaves the substrate wet, the other
being the fact that a wet surface will oxidize before getting dry.

Dehumidification. Prior to application on a surface that has been wet blasted,

a dehumidification must take place. Dehumidification units can be hired from
companies who rent out machines. Make sure your are instructed, to choose
the correct type and size for the application. After dehumidification a light dry
blasting may be necessary. It may be done using equipment, that retrieves the
blasting material and dust by means of vacuum suction.

2. Perago Using a Perago disc is a like blasting, but without sand.

Perago is a rubber disc with hard steel spikes mounted on the perifericke. Perago
can be mounted in a normal drilling machine, and the result is a surface close to
a blasted surface - clean and rough with sharp edges. Perago discs can be orde-
red at Wencon and all Wencon distributors.

3. Grinding For small repair jobs, there are often too many objections to be blasted. Wheel
grinding is an acceptable way in cases, where it is possible to grind the entire sur-
face, mostly when repairing mechanical damages. Corroded areas are often in a
state where a wheel grinder will only be able to cover part of the surface, and is
therefore not advisable here. When grinding use a coarse stone. Use the Wencon
Cleaner before and after grinding. Grinding with sandpaper or emery cloth is
only advisable when, for example, carrying out shaft-repair on a lathe.

4.1. Needle Gunning
Needle gunning is a method that has almost been forgotten in recent years or
mainly used for very rough cleaning or removal of rust. It is possible to do a

very nice job using a needle gun, but it takes time and should be closely supervi-

sed. It is essential that the marks from the sharp needles cover the whole surface

so that none of the original surface remains. It is recommendable to steam clean

the surface before needle gunning. (see steam cleaning)


4.2. Turning When carrying out mechanical repair jobs, turning is often the best and easiest
way of preparing the surface. When, for instance repairing a worn shaft dama-
ged by a loose roller bearing, turning to a rough standard should be done prior
to degreasing and application.

WENCON ApS • Jyllandsvej 15 • DK-5400 Bogense •

Phone +45 6481 1010 • wencon@wencon.com • www.wencon.com
 Surface
WENCON ® preparation

4.3. Steam cleaning

An effective method of removing salt and oil remaining in the substrate is to
use steam cleaning. Steam cleaners are available from most plant hire firms. Use

steam temperature of approx. 95 °C and repeat the process three times, leaving

the substrate to dry for some 15 minutes between each cleaning. Steam cleaning
is not sufficient in itself. It must be followed by blasting or one of the other
surface preparation methods.

5. Dehumidification A very simple and effective method of removing moisture, whether it be mois-
ture in the metal or from wet shot-blasting, is dehumidifying. Even parts which
appear to be completely dry, can contain large quantities of moisture. When
coating tanks, or other totally or partly enclosed parts - large pumps, pipes, etc.
- dehumidification is recommended, as humidity emanating from the persons
doing the work can condense on the part and reduce its physical adherence.
Dehumidification units (DU) can be hired most anywhere, and companies are
very helpful in advising the type and capacity of the unit.

Position the DU close to the substrate to be treated, and insert the tube carrying
dry air into the tank or part. If the parts to be treated are numerous and small,
make a tent of plastic sheets and feed the tent. Usually a few hours of dehumidi-
fication is enough to obtain a dry and good surface ready for the application.

A quality requirement of dehumidification, is that during the coating process

there must be a temperature of minimum 3°C. above the point of condensation.
The point of condensation temperature is the highest the part must have, when
moisture from the surroundings falls on the part and condenses. The point of
condensation is thus dependent upon the temperature of the part, the ambient
temperature, and the relative humidity of the air. Instruments exist for measu-
ring these values, and where the repair of large parts is concerned, conditions
should be laid down regarding this, if the application is to be done by subcon-
tractor or customer.

6. Steel brushing Cleaning by using a steel brush (by hand or on a machine) is not recommended.
A steel brush leaves a polished surface, which will reduce the adhesion of Wen-
con or other products - paint etc.

WENCON ApS • Jyllandsvej 15 • DK-5400 Bogense •

Phone +45 6481 1010 • wencon@wencon.com • www.wencon.com