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Sand blasting is a process used to shape, smooth out, or cleans a hard surface by blowing particles of sand at the surface at high speeds. Precautions like wearing protective masks and cloths must be taken while doing this process. Sand blasting must also be done in an area with good ventilation in order to avoid inhalation of silica dust- a by-product in the process. Pressure-feed blaster and suction-feed blaster are the two types of blasters available.

The media (sand or other fine materials) are stored within the pressure pot in the pressure-feed sand blaster. After the pot is closed, the media travels through the valve and into the air stream, which is put in the blast nozzle. Such nozzle drives the media and the nozzle impacts the component’s surface. The pressure-feed blasters are normally deemed quicker than the suction-feed blasters. The suction-feed blaster utilizes a venturi siphoning action. The blaster draws the blast media into the air stream and then to the nozzle itself. Both the suction-feed blaster and the pressure-feed blaster use various types of media for the sand blasting process.

Sand blasting serves two purposes, namely carving, etching and designing glass or similar material easy and in removing dust or grime from the surface and making it cleaner.

In glass etching, abrasive media is blown at the glass lightly to change the glass’s surface from clear to semi-opaque. Such “snowing” or “whiting” of the glass can be used effectively to produce images or words. Adjusting the angle from which the media is being launched and the sand blasting speed can create different shapes. This allows the creation of true art works. Glass is carved by sand blasting the surface through a stencil that protects the areas that an individual does not want to carve out.

There are various methods of decorating glass. The basic methods are hand etching, sand blasting and laser etching. The most widely used one is the sand blasting which is effective and various depths and cuts can be created. The method like hand etching is very laborious and very expensive to make and is time consuming. In Laser etching it is cumbersome and there are lots of flaws in it. This makes the sand blasting the easy choice for decorating, carving and etching the glass.

Sand blasting as a cleaning method was patented during 1870 in the United States. For cleaning applications, sand blasting is used for priming a surface prior to applying sealant or paint. When painting, an individual does not want to trap dirt, dust, or bubbles in a previous paint layer or other imperfections beneath the new layer. By integrating tiny bits of abrasive materials at high speeds at the surface, imperfections are loosened and can be washed off easily; thus, creating a smooth surface upon which to apply the new paint layer. Sand blasting can also be used for endeavors like cleaning large structures like the Golden Gate Bridge or the hulls of ships.

Jeff Foster is a freelance writer for http://titanproducts.co.za, a company specialising in high quality Sand Blasters.

Do you have a favorite piece of art but you’re not sure how to display it in your home? You have a couple of options to choose from. You can easily go beyond simply hanging the piece of artwork on the wall. Choose from one of these creative ways to display your art instead.

Use Ribbon to Hang Art on the Wall
Rather than simply putting a nail in the wall, use ribbon to hang the art from the wall instead. Carefully choose your ribbon so that it adds to the art and complements it well.

You can do this by placing a hook or a screw on the back of the art piece and hanging ribbon either in the middle of the piece or from both sides. Then hang it from the wall, using a hook or a small nail. Look to make sure that the artwork is hanging evenly, especially if you are using more than one ribbon to hang i t by.

Place Artwork on a Decorative Shelf
Another option is to use a decorative shelf to display art in your home. There are all types of decorative shelves and ledges available that will add to the beauty of any piece of art.

Do be sure that the size of the shelf you select is appropriate to the size of the piece. Another great option is to display a collection of art on the shelf instead of just one piece. Before placing any artwork on your shelf or ledge, it’s important to be sure that it’s properly installed on the wall.

Use a Fireplace Mantel to Display Art
A nice fireplace mantel makes a great display area for your art, which will also work to draw more attention to the mantel itself. Rather than going the traditional route of hanging the artwork above the mantel, try placing the piece on the mantel and up against the wall instead.

You want the art piece to be smaller than the mantel, but you don’t want it so small that you can’t really see it. Rather than just displaying the one small piece, place two or three smaller pieces on the mantel for a unique look. Make sure that the piece of art is secure. After all, you don’t want it falling down off the mantel.

Find Unique Hangers for the Art
You probably haven’t even considered some of the unique things you can use to hang artwork on the wall. For instance, if you have a favorite stocking holder, you can nail it to the wall and use it to hold your favorite piece of art instead.

For another unique artwork hanger, find a rope or a chain that you can hang from the ceiling or the top of the wall. One piece can be hung from it or several pieces. Hang the artwork either vertically or horizontally, depending on the length of the wall. By hanging your pieces of art across a blank wall, you are essentially creating something like a clothesline.

You don’t have to keep displaying pieces of art in your home in the same old boring ways. There are plenty of creative and crafty ways to display art in a room, no matter your style or theme. So get creative and use one of these ideas to display art in your home.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has 40 years of experience in the furniture and interior design industry. He is the owner and operator of popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a large inventory of handcrafted American built solid wood furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for a armoire for your bedroom or any other type of Amish bedroom furniture then they carry everything you need.