Transform Concrete Design Projects with Stencils Built for Precision

 
When you’re in the sandblasting field and you come across a project that involves working with concrete, you know that you’re going to need a new type of sandblasting stencil to help. For all that concrete is used the world over as a strong building material, it is surprisingly easy to work with from an engraving standpoint. Because concrete is more porous and softer than other stone surfaces like granite or marble, you’ll need to use less pressure than normal to avoid big clouds of dust being blown around.You’ll need to monitor the depth of your engraving carefully to ensure that you’re not going too deep too quickly.

How Sandblasting Stencils Work with Concrete

Concrete requires a high level of skill when it comes to decorative sandblasting techniques. You’ll typically get involved at the early stages of the project, as it’s considerably easier to sandblast on freshly set concrete than it is to work with older, cured concrete. This is because as concrete ages it becomes more brittle on the outside, and it can be hard to get the precise lines and shapes you need to a crisp sandblasting finish.

When you’re working with concrete, having a sandblasting stencil will be essential for the success of your project for these reasons:

• Precise cuts – the first and most obvious way in which a stencil will transform your concrete design project is that it provides sharp and precise patterns to guide your sandblasting. No matter the size of your design, having a sandblasting stencil cut to the exact measurements shows your worker where to apply the abrasive material, and the stencil provides protection from the parts of the concrete that you don’t want to be touched by the sandblasting.
• Limit debris – one of the main challenges when sandblasting concrete is the large volume of dust and debris that gets thrown up in the process. This can settle on the rest of the target surface and make it harder to get consistent cuts across your whole project. Using the right sandblasting stencil for working with concrete will help to limit the debris from your work. This in combination with choosing the right abrasive materials and getting the pressure set correctly will allow you to move swiftly and successfully through the different phases of your concrete sandblasting project.
• No blowouts – a blowout can be the death knell of any sandblasting project. This is where the edges of a sandblasting stencil lifts up during the abrasive process and the whole stencils starts to lift, or blow, from the target surface. Even if you catch it in time, a blowout will mean that you have to restart the project by resealing the stencil, and even the smallest blowout can allow abrasive material under the stencil. Concrete is notoriously susceptible to blowouts because of the porous nature, so having the right sandblasting stencil adhesive will be key to getting your precise cuts every time.

Tips for Sandblasting Designs on Concrete

It’s easy to see that having the right sandblasting stencil and adhesive will be the biggest factor in creating beautiful concrete design projects. However, you can make life even easier for yourself by preparing the concrete ahead of time. The first step is to let the concrete cure for a month before your project begins – this might mean some close communication with the project manager as they’ll be ready to move on to the next step of the construction process by then. You then want to get permission to apply a light coat of high-quality solvent-based wet-look sealer and let it dry thoroughly. The sealer gives the stencil adhesive a “skin” to stick to instead of porous concrete. Don’t use water-based sealer, as it may blister when you peel up the stencil. Finally, the old adage of “measure twice, cut once” can be modified to “measure twice, lay once” to make sure your sandblasting stencil is exactly where you need it to be. Use chalk outlines to get it in the right place, and then layout the rest of the design if you’re using multiple stencils.

Working With U-Blast

Getting sandblasting projects with concrete to look good is a great skill set to have, and can make you stand out from your competitors. Our sandblasting experts here at U-Blast are ready to help you get started on this journey, so call us today to talk about getting the right sandblasting stencil to help transform your upcoming concrete design projects.