A good quality Shot Blaster can power through tough jobs, fast. Typically, you shouldn’t have many issues if the machine is well maintained and cared for, but just like any piece of equipment, stuff can happen and things need to be fixed.
Sometimes you’ll need to call in a professional to assess and fix the situation but sometimes there are things you can check yourself, before calling in maintenance, to help save some time and money.
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If you’re using a Shot Blaster and notice that it’s dropping too much shot, that’s a sign that something isn’t working right, and not fixing it will only create more issues and decrease production.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can check before you need to call someone in.
CHECK THE VACUUM
If your Shot Blaster is dropping too much shot and not recycling it effectively, there is most likely an issue with the vacuum suction. If the dust and debris isn’t being vacuumed effectively, it will prevent the shot from rebounding properly.
Start by checking the filters to see if they need to be changed or if there is any sort of obstruction. This is the most common issue and once corrected, the Shot Blaster and vacuum should go back to working effectively.
If you find after checking the vacuum that you’re still having issues, the next thing to do is…
CHECK THE BLADES, IMPELLOR & CONTROL CAGE
The blast-wheel inside the Shot Blaster, which is what propels the shot towards the ground, is made up of a few different parts- however there are 2 or 3 main parts that can become worn out with use and need to be replaced as part of typical machine maintenance and upkeep.
In some machines the blades and impellor are attached as one part, and the control cage is separate.
SPE Shot Blasters have separate blades and impellors. The reason for doing this is because the blades generally need to be changed more frequently than the impellor and control cage. Separating them helps to prevent the user from unnecessarily replacing the impellor when the blades need to be replaced, but the impellor is still in decent shape.
Although it does sometimes depend on what you're blasting and removing, the general rule of thumb is 3 sets of blade replacements, to 2 impellor replacements, to one cage replacement.
When these parts become worn out, the shotcan'tbepropelled effectively onto the blasting surface, which prevents it from rebounding the way it's suppose to.
In this case, simply changing out the parts with excessive wear, will get your Shot Blaster up and running efficiently.
If the blades, impellor and control cage are in good shape, but your Shot Blaster is continuing to drop too much shot, the next thing to do is…
CHECK THE SEALS
The seals at the bottom of the machine that touch the ground are there to help maintain appropriate suction needed for the Shot Blaster and the vacuum to work effectively.
If these seals are worn-out it will affect the suction power and result in dropping too much shot.
In this case, changing the worn-out seal with a new one will help ensure proper suction.
Most of the time, you’ll be able to fix the Shot Blaster from dropping too much shot by checking the vacuum, the blades, impellor, control cage, and seals, and fixing anything that’s worn out.
If you’re new to Shot Blasting, are unfamiliar with how to fix those parts, or if you’ve checked the things listed above and they are in good working order but your Shot Blaster is continuing to drop too much shot, it’s best to call an expert and have someone come and look at your Shot Blaster.
Lastly, it’s important to note that when working with heavy duty equipment it’s always best to err on the side of caution so no one gets hurt or the machine doesn’t get damaged.