BARTON
GARNET: THE PREFERRED NON-FERROUS BLASTROOM ABRASIVE
"I prefer to blast with Barton garnet in our blast room over any other
abrasive, be it coal slag, silica sand, aluminum oxide or Starblast®,"
says John Darrell, Senior Field Estimator at O.T. Neighoff and Sons, Inc.
of Baltimore, MD. After more than three years of blasting in literally hundreds
of different applications, Barton garnet continues to offer the best combination
of high productivity, recyclability, low dust levels and quality surface
profile.
O.T. Neighoff, the second contractor nationwide to be certified under the
Steel Structures Painting Council's Painting Contractor Certification Program
(PCCP), has been in business for 38 years and specializes in surface preparation,
painting, flooring and construction.
As O.T. Neighoff's business grew over the years, selecting the best abrasive
for their blast room became complicated by the wide range of items and substrates
blasted and the need for an abrasive that offered both performance and versatility.
Steel grit was ruled out because it is difficult to remove from units with
intricate geometries, tends to short electrical components, is highly moisture
sensitive and can not be used to blast aluminum. Coal slag and olivine mineral
sands were rejected due to their high dust generation and low recyclability.
Aluminum oxide was deemed unacceptable due to its high cost and its tendency
to wear out blasting and recycling equipment.
In its search for the best blastroom abrasive, O.T. Neighoff used andradite
garnet and Starblast®. The calcium-based andradite garnet was very
dusty when blasted and broke down 40-50% each time it was blasted. The Starblast®
cut satisfactorily when removing light rust and very thin coatings but was
considered dusty and offered very limited recyclability. Additionally, productivity
using Starblast® slowed on thicker coatings.
In early 1995, after discovering there are different varieties
of garnet, O.T. Neighoff tested Barton garnet. The testing showed that Barton
garnet, a hard and durable almandite garnet, provided the highest performance
during the blasting and recycling processes. The excellent results provided
by the testing convinced O.T. Neighoff to switch to Barton garnet.
Barton garnet has helped make O.T. Neighoff's blastroom operation more competitive
by reducing abrasive costs while improving productivity and the quality of
the finished product. Annual abrasive requirements have been reduced by 60%
compared to Starblast®. Dust generation has been reduced by approximately
75%. Cutting speed is up for a variety of applications ranging from new steel
to the removal of thick coatings.
Barton Garnet has been used to blast everything from artillery cannons to
light aluminum UPS delivery trucks to stainless/HY80 steel. For O.T. Neighoff
& Sons, Barton garnet has, in fact, proven to be the best blastroom abrasive.
EAST
COAST SHIPYARDCUTS BLASTING COSTS ALMOST 30% WITH BARTON GARNET
Coal
or copper slag has long been the standard shipyard blasting abrasive because
of its low price. But a comparison trial convinced an East Coast shipyard
that they could realize significant savings by switching to Barton Garnet
despite its higher initial cost.
Trial parameters were to remove 12 - 20 mil epoxy coating and
3/16" non-skid surface from an Army landing vessel in for general refurbishment.
All blasted surfaces were to be brought to an SSPC-10 finish.
Open nozzle time and garnet
consumption were closely monitored and compared with data from blasting with
slag. The results with Barton Garnet were impressive:
Abrasive consumption DOWN69%
Disposal costs DOWN 69%
Total blasting time DOWN 36%
Dust generation DOWN 75%
By switching to Barton Garnet, the shipyard is assured of getting
top-quality results and excellent value, together with many added benefits.
Worker safety and visibility are greatly improved in the low
dust environment, and blasting is now possible regardless of wind direction.
Less manpower is needed for receiving abrasive shipments and charging blast
pots. Plus, Barton Garnet can be recycled up to four times, saving the
shipyard even more than the 30% demonstrated by the trial.
Cost-Efficient - Barton Garnet cuts faster, minimizes
consumption, maximizes productivity. Recyclable up to 5 times with no
loss of performance.
Safety Approved - No risk to human health or the environment.
Certified by all regulatory agencies and U.S. Navy MIL-A-22262B(SH).
Superior Surface Preparation - Ideal for use on steel,
stainless steel, aluminum and other substrates. Improves coating adhesion
and durability by producing a clean substrate with a uniform surface profile.
Abrasive Performance Comparison
Average air pressure at venturi nozzles 100 psi based on multiple daily
needle gauge reading. New Schmidt Microvalves used, open 1.5 - 1.75
turns.
Barton
Garnet
Coal
Slag
Garnet
Savings
Abrasive
Consumption
3.7 lbs./ft.2
12.1 lbs./ft.2
8.4 lbs./ft.2
Total Nozzle
Hours
38.2
60
36.3%
Total Abrasive
Cost
$3,763
$4,011
$248
Total Disposal
Cost
$494
$1,604
$1,110
Compressor
Fuel Cost
$840
$1,320
$480
Total Direct
Abrasive Impacted Costs
$5,097 ($0.67/ft.2)
$6,935
($0.91/ft.2)
26.5%
COST SAVINGS EXAMPLE
BLASTING WITH GARNET VS. SLAG
Contractor: JOHNSON INDUSTRIAL PAINTERS (Date
11/30/02)
Blasting Criteria
Garnet
Slag
Savings
with Garnet
Lbs. per sq. ft. used
2.49
6
3.51
lbs. per sq. ft.
Total nozzle hours
78
90
12
nozzle hours
Total man-hours for blasting
277
341
64
man hours
Tons of Abrasive used
11
26.48
15.48
man hours
Total # of compressor days
5
6
1
day
Total # of sandpot days
5
6
1
day
Total # of decon trailer days
5
6
1
day
Gallons of diesel used
320
400
80
gallons
Cost of Abrasive
$3,146.00
$3,410.62
$264.62
Abrasive
Cost of Labor for Blasting
$6.457.30
$7.945.40
$1.488.10
Labor
Cost of Equipment for Blasting
$1,851.00
$2,402.00
$551.00
Equipment
Cost of Fuel for Blasting
$320.00
$400.00
$80.00
Fuel
Cost of Disposal
$528.00
$1,271.04
$743.04
Disposal
Total Cost
$12,302.30
$15,429.06
$3,126.76
Total
TOTAL SAVINGS WITH GARNET
$3,126.76
These results are based upon an independent study
conducted by Johnson Industrial Painters and are not necessarily indicative
of the results for all projects. Actual results may vary depending upon
surface substrate(s), equipment and current environmental conditions.
Barton Mines Company, LLC • Six Warren Street • Glens Falls, NY 12801
USA/Canada: 800.741.7756 • 518.798.5462 • Fax:
518.798.5728 • info@barton.com
Coal
or copper slag has long been the standard shipyard blasting abrasive because
of its low price. But a comparison trial convinced an East Coast shipyard
that they could realize significant savings by switching to Barton Garnet
despite its higher initial cost.
consumption were closely monitored and compared with data from blasting with
slag. The results with Barton Garnet were impressive: