If you need to have some mining equipment sandblasted, then you should take time to choose the right contractor. To find the right partner, ask sandblasting companies the following questions before you make a final decision.

Do they have relevant experience?

While the principles of sandblasting are the same for any application, you should try to partner with a company that has experience that is relevant to your business. Ideally, you want a company with experience of working on equipment, machines and other items in a mining environment.

At the very least, look for sandblasting companies which have worked in industrial environments. Experience in blasting similar types of equipment, machines, infrastructure or parts to your stock is also useful.

You'll get better results if you use a contractor who understands your blasting needs and your working environment. You could be dealing with high-value pieces in your mining site that need careful and expert handling.

Which types of sandblasting do they use?

Sandblasting companies won't all necessarily use the same blasting techniques and media. For example, some might favour regular sandblasting techniques; others might use dustless solutions. If you have various sandblasting needs either now or in the future, then look to partner with a company that can tailor their blasting solutions to your needs.

For example, dustless sandblasting is a good all-round option. This technique mixes a blasting medium with water so that it creates less dust during the job. This is a safer and more efficient sandblasting process. You can work on pieces on your site without having to move personnel or cordon off areas to keep them away from dust particles. Plus, your machines and equipment won't heat up when they are cleaned because water keeps the blast cool.

You should also ask which blast media each company uses. You need to use a medium that is safe, efficient, compatible with all your surfaces and ideally recyclable. You can use recyclable media multiple times, which reduces your sandblasting costs.

For example, garnet is a good option for industrial needs. It is strong enough to deal with the kinds of rust, scale and surface deposits you get in a mining environment. It is also an effective blast medium to use on all kinds of steel.

Can they scale up and down?

You should think about your future sandblasting needs as well as your current project. You might have other machines or pieces of equipment that need sandblasting down the line. Or you might want to clean up other parts of your site's infrastructure such as your man cages, walkways, track frames and water tanks.

Look for a company that is small enough to give you a quick response on one-off jobs but large enough to have the equipment, experience and manpower to work on bigger or multi-piece projects. If you check their scalability thoroughly, you get a reliable and efficient long-term partner.

Can they paint your equipment after blasting?