Heavy Hauling, Hard Prep: Dry Blasting a 48ft Hydratail in Abilene
We are currently on-site in Abilene, Texas, tackling a massive restoration: a 48ft flatbed Hydratail trailer. For a project of this scale, with years of road tar, thick paint, and rust, we needed a method with maximum cutting power.
The Right Tool for the Big Job: Dry Blasting
While we often use vapor blasting for its dust-suppression, some jobs call for the raw power of traditional dry blasting. For this 48ft Hydratail, we are using 40/80 Crushed Glass (Clean Bite) at 95-100 PSI.
Why this setup?
Aggressive Cut: The crushed glass media is angular and sharp, allowing it to cut through the heaviest coatings and scale efficiently.
High-Pressure Power: Running at 95-100 PSI gives us the impact velocity needed to strip the steel down to a NACE-standard white metal finish quickly.
Versatility: This proves that Can Be Done Blasting isn't just about one method. We analyze the project, from delicate antiques to massive industrial iron, and choose the most effective process for the job.
Progress Report: From Rust to "White Metal"
As you can see from the project photos, we are systematically working our way down the 48ft frame and the complex Hydratail mechanism. The difference between the black, coated steel and the fresh, grey-white blasted surface is night and day.
Once the blasting is complete, we will move immediately into the priming phase to seal this fresh metal against the elements.
