Since 1976, Blastec® blast wheels have delivered superior performance on airless shot blast machines throughout the world. Our blast cleaning components have proven effective in virtually all types of applications, ranging from common rebar and wrought iron furniture to massive bridge girders, heavy construction equipment, and applications for the department of defense (including battle tanks and nuclear submarine components). Shot blasting, or abrasive blasting, is an essential part of most steel mill, metal finishing and foundry operations and has been an established finishing technique since the late 1800’s. It is a mechanical method of propelling abrasive using a centrifugal wheel to remove surface contamination, scale and other impurities from the surface of steel applications, like structural steel including massive bridge girders and heavy construction equipment, large weldments, plate steel, bar and wire steel and foundry castings. In general. blasting prior to finishing serves three primary purposes: it cleans and descales surfaces, adds texture to enhance paint adhesion, and if done properly reduces maintenance costs by increasing coating life.