What is Clean by Flow?
Want a less harmful way to clean your parts? If so, try cleaning by flow. What do we mean by “clean by flow?” It is when the slurry mix follows the contour of a part, rather than bouncing off of it. This is due to the addition of water in the blasting process, which cushions the abrasive as it hits the surface.
Benefits of “Clean By Flow”
Cleaning with flow has a lot of benefits. This process is not aggressive. The water cushions your abrasive, so it rolls on the parts instead of slamming into them. Due to its cushioning nature, there is less damage to your parts. The lack of damage done to your part allows for a smoother finish.
The clean by flow characteristic vapor honing machines provide allows you to clean tighter areas, passageways, and other obscure areas of your parts. This makes sure to get all unseen contaminants in your parts out. This also helps abrasive to escape your parts, permitting them to move as they’re supposed to. This works by utilizing the natural rolling nature of water to flow into and across your part.
Vapor honing, using its clean by flow nature, does not generate heat! This allows you to use it on any surface without it warping your piece. You can vapor hone any material with this process.
The clean by flow process used in wet blasting is safer than sand blasting. The addition of water lessens the amount of dust emitted into the air because it encapsulates the abrasive. It also greatly reduces abrasive breakdown, extending its life by up to 30 times. Dust can cause visibility issues as well as silicosis in humans. Clean by flow is gentle on your parts and is safer for you and your environment.
Disadvantages of “Clean By Flow”
The one disadvantage of clean by flow is flash rusting. Flash rusting occurs on some metals immediately after blasting. The rusting occurs because of the use of water in our process. To mitigate this issue, use a corrosion inhibitor. A corrosion inhibitor gives you a 72 hour grace period to coat your parts. Put 1 oz. of corrosion inhibitor in for every 10 gallons of water and your products won’t rust. Though flash rusting occurs because of the water in our process, it is preventable with a corrosion inhibitor.
Conclusion
To recap, the clean by flow nature describes the way the abrasive and water mixture smoothly flows across the surface of your part. This is in contrast to sandblasting, where abrasive slams harshly into your parts, and immediately bounces off. The nature of this process provided by Vapor Honing machines can be seen in the bright and smooth finishes displayed on your parts.
It is not an aggressive process, it fits into tight spaces, and is safer for you. The only issue with this process is flash rusting. Flash rusting can be easily prevented using a corrosion inhibitor. For more information on the clean by flow process, contact us at 828-202-5563. For other great informative content, view our YouTube channel.
