Cutting Through the Clutter: Rocky Mountain Air Has Solutions for Abrasives

Abrasives are materials used to clean or roughen surfaces. They are often used in welding to remove rust, paint, and other debris, ensuring the weld properly adheres. Abrasives can also be used to create a textured finish on metal surfaces for a beautiful aesthetic. They are typically made of materials like aluminum oxide, glass, or metal. They can be either natural or synthetic and are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and grits. The abrasive type should be selected based on the material and application.

Choosing the Right Abrasive

There are many factors to consider when selecting the right abrasive for your application. Different materials can be used for different results. These are three of the most common.

Aluminum Oxide – Aluminum oxide is an aggressive abrasive with exceptional strength and hardness. Its composition, density, and physical attributes make it a great choice for both the wet and dry blasting process. Aluminum oxide abrasives are ideal for the following applications:

• – Abrasive blasting
• – Refractory coating
• – Polishing

Glass Beads – Glass bead abrasives consist of small, uniform beads manufactured from chemically inert materials. They provide a smooth finish, making them perfect for adding aesthetic appeal. They can be used for cleaning and finishing without removing a significant amount of surface material. Glass beads are ideal for:

• – Applications requiring a smooth finish
• – Stainless steel
• – Blasting and cleaning

Steel Shot & Steel Grit – Steel shot and steel grit are two types of metallic abrasives. The difference is that steel shot particles are round and steel grit particles have angular shapes. Both grit abrasives are dense, durable, and recyclable. Steel shot and steel grit are ideal for:

• – Texturizing surfaces
• – Heat treatment removal
• – Paint removal

Other abrasives commonly used are diamond, garnet, quartz, corundum, ceramic, walnut, sand, steel, boron carbide, and silicon carbide. With so many options for abrasives and industrial hard goods on the market, it can be difficult to decide which is the right one for you. When working with Rocky Mountain Air, we evaluate several aspects to determine the right abrasive for your application, considering wear, quality of output, and cost.

Our comprehensive review includes:

G-Ratio – measures the amount of metal removed per gram of wheel loss

Wheel Efficiency – measures the amount of time to remove or cut the work piece

Wheel Life – measures how long the wheel lasts in proportion to how much work has been completed

Cost per Cut – measures the cost for each cut of a cutting wheel in relation to the metal type and size

Contact Pressure – measures the amount of pressure required by the operator to safely complete the work

Scratch Pattern Analysis – evaluates the scratch patterns for each wheel type and grit on specific types of metal and applications

Cost Benefit Analysis – measures wheel cost in proportion to the increase/decrease in labor efficiency

Why Purchase from Rocky Mountain Air?

We test all our grinding, cutting, and finishing wheels against competitive wheels for safety, performance, efficiency, and cost savings. We can compare any wheel you are currently using side by side to provide you with a higher performing, longer lasting wheel for almost any application. We complete this level of testing on all our abrasives. Rocky Mountain Air Solutions provides our customers with flawless dependability. Our products are essential to the industries we serve, and we believe in creating a lasting partnership for all your supply needs. As a local business, we are passionate about reliably serving our customers across the Rocky Mountain region. Our industrial strength products are backed by competent professionals with industry knowledge and years of expertise. We have solutions for you, no matter what industry. With free product evaluations, onsite demos and free samples, our product experts will help you make the right decision. Contact one of our branches today. We look forward to serving you!