Frequently Asked Questions

Abrasive blasting refers to the operation of forcibly propelling a high-pressure stream of abrasive material against a surface in order to smooth a rough surface, roughen a smooth surface, shape a surface or remove surface contaminants. Click here to learn more about abrasive blasting.

Cleaning most anything with soda blasting is a vastly superior process. You can easily remove carbon, grease, oils, gasket material, surface corrosion, paint and coatings from a variety of alloys, plastics and composites without substrate damage or distortion, and leave hard anodized coatings intact. Click here to learn more about soda blasting.

When sodium bicarbonate crystals are applied using the correct equipment and methodology, it results in swift, efficient mold removal with little waste, clean-up and damage. Click here to learn more about remediating mold with abrasive blasting.

Soda blasting is the perfect choice for smoke and fire restoration because it is without question the fastest and most effective tool available for removing soot and cleaning lightly charred building materials. Click here to learn more about soda blasting fire, smoke and soot damage.

Dry ice blasting is a process where dry ice pellets are accelerated by compressed air to high speeds that fracture the top layer of dirt and residue then, once the dry ice penetrates the dirt and residue, the temperature of both the dirt and residue layer and the substrate decreases. Click here to learn more about dry ice blasting.

Anilox roll cleaning is essential to maintain the precision of the ink or coating being delivered to the substrate. The clogging of the cells of laser-engraved ceramic anilox rollers with contaminants and dried ink impairs the printing quality. Click here to learn more about cleaning anilox rollers.

In air driven applications, soda blasting can be used dry or wet. When used wet with water as a dust suppressant, dust will generally fall within 10 feet of the work piece. When used dry, in a portable application, containment for migrating dust may be required or other mitigating measures such as negative air chambers or air scrubbers can be used. In process production or remanufacturing applications, glove box units, or fully contained cabinet systems, blast rooms or partial enclosures are available. At Kelso, we have two large blast booths within which dust is contained.

No. While all baking soda is chemically the same (NAHCO3) only ARMEX is formulated for use as a blast media and only ARMEX is manufactured by ARM & HAMMER®. Formulations contain uniform particle sizes from 70-270 microns, and ingredients for flowability and rinsabilty.

Yes. There are media injection devices available to introduce ARMEX into the water stream of your pressure washer, operating at 3,000 psi or above. These attachments are available through the authorized ARMEX distributor network. Most pressure washer applications are appropriate for cleaning only or light coatings removal like “tagging.”

Yes. All blasting operations require safety precautions for the worker and environment. You must take into account not only the abrasive being used but also the coating being removed and the environment in which you are operating. The coating content may dictate additional containment, waste disposal and worker safety requirements. ARMEX however simplifies all concerns because it has a 0 HMIS rating and therefore adds no hazards to a project. Personal Protection Equipment is essential for operators, during any blasting operations and care should be taken for protection of the surrounding area with regards to people, and the environment.