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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Is Garnet abrasive blasting a Stainless pickling alternative?

We received a shipment of 108 pieces stainless pipe for new tankage project in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. that are rusting due to plasma end cutting. Can we abrasive garnet blast clean the pipe instead of pickling to clean rust contamination? Garnet is from Australia, new, clean, non-recycled, 10 ppm chloride content, size 20/60.

Tom Pickett
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2007

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If a blast finish is acceptable, garnet will do a nice job and can be recycled many times. Other abrasive blast media will also work and probably will cost less. Remember, the larger the abrasive particle size, the rougher the surface finish.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
2007

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2007

No. It is not at all advisable to use garnet blasting instead of pickling. Blasting will not give passivation on SS surface and hence further rusting will start. So, use pickling jelly to solve your problem.

Secondly, on SS if blasting is required ( to get rough finish ), then glass bead blasting should be used as it will not have problems of free iron associated with other.

So, if you do blasting on SS surface then don't forget to use pickling jelly and passivation jelly, other wise you can do more harm to SS surface then solve your problem. You can easily apply them by special spraying bottle and it does not involve any electricity & heavy machinery.

Vinay Golwala
- Dahisar, Mumbai, India