Shot blasting

Shot blasting strips rust, mill scale and old paint from steel, leaving a clean keyed surface that coatings bond to. It suits fabricators and contractors preparing doors, frames and structural steelwork for coating. We blast before powder coating.

• Rust removedSteel back to clean metal
• Keyed profileCoatings grip firmly
• Doors and framesDoorsets, gates, steelwork
• Coat readyPrepared for powder coating

What the shot blasting service includes

Shot blasting fires steel abrasive at the surface to strip contamination and leave a uniform profile. It is the standard preparation before powder coating or wet paint on security metalwork, and the usual first step in any refurbishment.

• Removal of rust, mill scale, weld spatter and old paint
• Blasting of doorsets, frames, gates and structural steelwork
• Masking of machined faces, threads and bearing surfaces
• Edge and weld preparation where coatings must wrap round
• Blow down and degrease after blasting
• Primer or topcoat applied promptly to stop flash rust

Blasting is workshop based, so large items are handled by arrangement. The profile left by the abrasive is controlled for the coating that follows: too smooth and the coating will not grip, too rough and it will not cover the peaks. Dust is extracted during blasting so the surface stays clean for the next step. Our services hub sets out the full list of what we do.

Blasting for refurbishment

Refurbishment is where blasting earns its keep. A gateset or doorset with sound steel but failed paint can be stripped, primed and recoated for far less than replacement, with far less disruption to an occupied building. We assess the base steel first and will say plainly if corrosion has gone too far to save.

How shot blasting works

1. Assessment. We check the steel, the existing finish and the coating that will follow.
2. Masking. Threads, machined faces and hardware seats are protected.
3. Blasting. Abrasive strips the surface to clean steel with a keyed profile.
4. Clean down. Dust and spent abrasive are blown off and the surface is degreased.
5. Coat. Primer or powder coating follows without delay.

What shot blasting delivers

Components blasted to a clean, keyed profile and ready for coating, with masked areas intact. Where we also coat, priming follows the same day so the steel never stands bare. Powder coating is the usual next step.

When shot blasting is needed

Use shot blasting before any coating work, when refurbishing existing doorsets and gates whose steel is sound, and where site paint has failed and a durable finish is needed. It also suits HVM street furniture that must look clean in the public realm, and utilities sites where corroded steelwork needs a fresh start. Programmed refurbishment of gate lines suits blasting too, since the work can be phased section by section.

Refurbishment. Existing doorsets with sound steel can be stripped and recoated instead of replaced, which suits occupied buildings.

Which products shot blasting applies to

Any carbon steel product can be blasted, including security doors, security gates and HVM street furniture. Tell us the grade if the steel is anything unusual and we will confirm the right abrasive.

Frequently asked questions