Sandblasting and Media Blasting in Mount Vernon, NY

Blasting is the first step in most of the restoration work that comes through our shop in Mount Vernon. Paint, rust and failing coatings have to come off before anything can go back on, and how they come off decides what condition the metal underneath is in when we get there.

What Blasting Is Actually For

Stripping is not the point on its own. The point is a sound, clean surface that the next finish will bond to. A coating applied over old paint or active rust fails from underneath, which is why a piece that was painted last year can already be flaking.

We blast back to bare metal, assess what is underneath, and only then talk about repair and refinishing. Sometimes the blasting reveals damage nobody knew was there. It is better to find it at that stage than after a finish has gone on.

Choosing the Media: Sand, Soda, Glass, Plastic

Sand is aggressive and fine for heavy steel and iron. It is the wrong choice for thin sheet, soft metals and fine castings, where it will pit the surface or distort the panel.

For those we use soda, glass or plastic media, which lift the coating without cutting into the substrate. Matching the media to the metal is most of the skill in this work, and getting it wrong is not something a finish can hide afterwards.

Delicate Work: Thin Sheet, Castings and Antiques

Antique and decorative pieces are where media choice matters most. Detail in a casting is exactly what the customer is paying to keep, and an over aggressive blast rounds it off permanently.

We treat crisp detail as the thing being preserved, not an obstacle to getting the paint off.

Paint, Coating and Rust Removal

Old paint, powder coat, lacquer and failing clear coats all come off. So does rust, corrosion and pitting, as far as the material allows. Where pitting has gone deep, blasting will expose it rather than remove it, and we will tell you what the surface is going to look like once it is finished.

What Happens After Blasting

Bare metal does not stay bare. Once blasted, a surface starts to flash rust quickly, so repair and finishing follow on without the piece sitting around. Because stripping, repair, polishing, plating and finishing all happen in our shop, nothing waits on a courier between stages.

Common Questions About Blasting

Can you blast without damaging the metal underneath?

Yes, when the media is matched to the substrate. That is why we use soda, glass and plastic media as well as sand. Tell us what the piece is and we will tell you which we would use and why.

Do you blast on site or in the shop?

Blasting happens in our shop in Mount Vernon. Some repair and finishing work can be done on site, but blasting needs containment.

Will blasting remove rust pitting?

It removes the rust. Pitting is material that is already gone, so blasting exposes it rather than filling it. We will tell you before we start how the surface is likely to look once finished.

Can you blast and then leave it bare?

We would not recommend it. Blasted metal flash rusts quickly, so it needs a finish or a protective coating soon after.

Get a Free Estimate on Blasting Work

Send us photos of the pieces or call (914) 662-4218 and we will give you a free estimate. Blasting is usually one stage of a larger job, so see our metal restoration page for how the rest of the process fits around it.

Projects Like This

Real projects from our own shop and job sites. Every one of these is work we did ourselves.

Metal Man Restoration at Yale University's Harkness Tower Metal Man Restoration was hired in June 2009 to restore the cast iron windows at Yale University's Harkness Tower... View the project Yankee Stadium Plaques In April 2008, the New York Yankees and Skanska Construction Corporation hired Metal Man Restoration to restore two... View the project 251 West 89th Street - Entranceway Restoration In August 2015, Metal Man Restoration was hired to restore the front entranceway of 251 West 89th Street in Manhattan... View the project

★★★★★

I wanted to restore a pair of radiators in an NYC apt that I bought. Desired to remove the radiator box/cover to create more space and to have beautiful radiators to display. I searched around NYC for restorators but could only find shops that spray coat radiators, which would make them look...

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