FAQ
Dustless blasting, answered
The questions Tim gets on the phone most weeks. If yours is not here, call and ask — the answer will end up on this page.
The basics
Does dustless blasting damage the surface underneath?
No. Wet media at a controlled pressure strips the coating without gouging the substrate. We drop the pressure and change media for softer surfaces such as timber, render and alloy panel, and test a hidden section before we start.
How much does dustless blasting cost in Perth?
Most domestic jobs land between $600 and $3,500. Price moves with square metres, how many coats are on the surface and how hard the site is to reach. Tim quotes a fixed price after a free site look inside the Perth metro area.
Do you come to me?
Yes. The rig is 100% mobile and works across Perth, Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie. We bring our own water, media, power and containment, so all we need on site is access and somewhere to set up.
How is dustless blasting different from sandblasting?
Water is injected into the media stream, so the abrasive still cuts but the fines drop at your feet instead of drifting as a dust plume. That means around 92% less airborne dust, less masking, and work can continue around the site.
How long does a hull take?
A typical 38-foot steel hull is one day on the hardstand: two passes, a wash down and a flash-rust inhibitor so your painter can start the next morning. Larger vessels and heavy build-up can run to two days.
Will the surface flash rust afterwards?
Bare steel wants a coat within four to six hours in Perth humidity. We rinse and apply an inhibitor at handover, which holds the surface overnight so the coating crew can start the next morning.
By surface
Will blasting warp my panels?
No. Water in the media stream carries the heat away, so panel temperature stays low and thin steel does not distort. We also drop the pressure on panel work and keep the nozzle moving rather than dwelling in one spot.
Can you blast a car at my house?
Yes. The rig is fully mobile and self-contained across Perth, so a driveway, carport or shed is enough. We contain and collect the spent media, and we mask glass, trim and rubbers before we start.
Can you blast a boat on the hardstand?
Yes. Most hull jobs are done on the hardstand at Fremantle, Rockingham or Mandurah, or in your own yard. We supply water, media, power and containment, so all we need is access and a spot to set up.
Will blasting damage gelcoat or GRP?
Not at the right settings. GRP is blasted at a much lower pressure with softer media to lift anti-foul and blistering without cutting into the laminate. We test a small area first and show you the result before continuing.
Will removal leave ghost lines?
No. Wet blasting lifts the coating instead of cutting the surface, so there is no grind scar and no shadow when the carpark is wet. On aged asphalt there may be a slight colour difference where the paint protected the surface from UV.
Can you work overnight?
Yes. Carparks, service stations and warehouses are usually done outside trading hours. We can stage the work bay by bay so part of the site stays open throughout.
Will the wall look patchy afterwards?
Not usually. We feather the blast beyond the tag so there is no hard edge, and on painted walls we can strip the full panel to a natural break such as a corner or expansion joint.
Can you clean heritage brick or limestone?
Yes, at low pressure with softer media. We test a hidden section first, show you the result, and stop at the point the surface is clean rather than chasing the last shadow into the substrate.
Can you blast to a coating specification?
Yes. Send the coating spec sheet and we set media and pressure to hit the profile it calls for. We photograph the prepared surface at handover so the coating crew has a record of what they are coating.
Do you handle containment and waste?
Yes. Enclosed sites get containment, collection and disposal of spent media and slurry as part of the job. We can also work to a site environmental plan where one is in place.
Will blasting fur up or damage the timber?
Not at timber settings. We use soft media at low pressure, which removes coating and the grey oxidised layer while leaving the grain proud. We always run a test panel and show you the finish before doing the whole area.
Is it better than sanding a deck?
For most decks, yes. Sanding flattens the grain, rounds board edges and struggles around fixings and gaps. Blasting follows the profile of the board and gets into the joints, and it is significantly faster on a large area.
Can you blast a balustrade run in place?
Yes. Balustrades, gates, fences and stair rails are usually done on site with containment on the surrounding surfaces. Where a piece can be removed, taking it off is often faster and cheaper.
Is the surface ready for powder coating?
Yes, provided it goes in reasonably quickly. We leave a clean, keyed surface with no chemical residue. Talk to your coater about their window, and we will time the blast so the metal is not sitting bare over a weekend.
Can you strip paint off brick without wrecking the mortar?
Yes, with the pressure set to the mortar rather than the brick. Old lime mortar is softer than the brick face, so we test a section, agree how far to take it, and work in panels so you can see the result as we go.
Do you work on heritage buildings?
Yes. Heritage façades are tested on a hidden section first and blasted at the lowest pressure that lifts the coating. We stop at clean rather than chasing every last shadow into the masonry.
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