Grit Blasting Services
Aggressive, Angular Profiles for High-Performance Coating Adhesion
Grit blasting is an abrasive blast-cleaning process that propels angular media, most often steel grit, aluminum oxide, or garnet, at high velocity to strip rust, mill scale, and old coatings while cutting a sharp, angular anchor profile into the substrate. BlasTek delivers grit blasting to SSPC, NACE, and AMPP standards, in our West Michigan shops or on-site, matching media and profile to the coating system and service environment. The result is a clean, precisely profiled surface engineered for maximum coating adhesion. Call (616) 243-7550 to get started.
Since 2013, BlasTek has provided specification-driven surface preparation for construction managers, asset owners, and fabricators across the Midwest. Grit blasting is one of our core surface-prep methods, chosen when a coating system demands an angular anchor pattern and a high degree of cleanliness, conditions common to structural steel, tanks, and heavy fabrications headed into demanding service. We don’t blast for appearance; we blast to specification, with in-house coatings inspectors verifying every surface before a coating goes on.
What is Grit Blasting?
Grit blasting is a form of abrasive blast cleaning that uses hard, angular abrasive particles, rather than round shot, to simultaneously clean a surface and create a profile. As the angular grit strikes the substrate, it fractures and removes contaminants while cutting microscopic peaks and valleys into the metal. This “anchor profile” is what allows a protective coating to mechanically lock onto the surface for long-term performance.
The angular geometry of grit is the key distinction. Round media such as steel shot peens a surface and produces a rounded, dimpled profile, which is well suited to cleaning and stress relief. Angular grit, by contrast, cuts a sharper, more aggressive profile that increases surface area and coating grip, the reason grit blasting is specified ahead of high-performance coating and lining systems. BlasTek selects the media type and size to hit the exact profile depth the coating manufacturer requires, then verifies it with replica tape or a digital profilometer.
Because industry data consistently shows that 80% or more of coating failures trace back to inadequate surface preparation, grit blasting is not a cosmetic step. It is an engineered process that establishes the foundation for coating adhesion, corrosion resistance, and long-term asset protection.
Grit Blasting Media & Profiles
BlasTek matches the abrasive to the substrate, the required profile, and the coating specification, never a one-size-fits-all approach:
- Steel grit — Angular, recyclable, and aggressive; ideal for heavy rust and mill-scale removal on steel and for cutting deep, sharp profiles in shop settings with recovery systems.
- Aluminum oxide — Extremely hard and angular; used where a fast-cutting, contamination-free profile is needed, including on harder alloys.
- Garnet — A versatile, lower-dust angular natural abrasive well suited to field work and a wide range of profile requirements.
- Crushed glass & specialty grits — Selected for specific substrate, cleanliness, and disposal considerations.
Profile depth is dialed to the coating system, too shallow and the coating can’t establish a strong mechanical bond; too deep and peaks can protrude through the film and create rust pinpoints. BlasTek verifies profile and cleanliness on every job.
SSPC & NACE Standards for Grit Blasting
Grit blasting is executed to the surface-preparation standard dictated by the coating system and service environment:
NACE No. 1 / SSPC-SP5 — White Metal Blast
The highest achievable cleanliness, required for immersion service, aggressive chemical exposure, and high-performance systems where maximum adhesion is critical.
NACE No. 2 / SSPC-SP10 — Near-White Metal Blast
Permits limited staining; specified for severe service such as tanks, vessels, and water/wastewater infrastructure.
NACE No. 3 / SSPC-SP6 — Commercial Blast
Removes all visible oil, rust, mill scale, and coatings with limited staining allowed; a workhorse standard for atmospheric service.
NACE No. 4 / SSPC-SP7 — Brush-Off Blast
Removes loose material while leaving tightly adherent coating intact, economical prep for overcoating or encapsulation.
Grit Blasting Applications
- Structural steel — Beams, columns, trusses, and framing for new construction and rehabilitation
- Storage tanks & vessels — Interior and exterior prep ahead of linings and protective coatings
- Piping, weldments & fabricated assemblies — Shop blast cleaning to spec before coating and shipment
- Heavy equipment & machinery — Restoration and recoating of process equipment and components
- Bridges & elevated structures — Corrosion removal and recoating preparation
- Secondary containment — Concrete and steel prep for seamless liner systems
Shop Grit Blasting vs. Field Grit Blasting
Shop Grit Blasting — Our Shelbyville & Grand Rapids Facilities
When components can be transported, our shops offer a fully controlled environment with advanced material handling (20,000 lb lifting capacity), contained and recycled media, and straightforward inspection which is ideal for structural steel, tanks, pipe spools, and high-volume finishing runs.
Field Grit Blasting — On-Site at Your Facility
For immovable assets, BlasTek deploys portable blast pots, compressors, media, and engineered containment directly to your site, integrating dust suppression and environmental compliance while holding the same profile and cleanliness standards as our shop work.
Request a Grit Blasting Assessment
Contact BlasTek to schedule an assessment for your grit blasting project. Our team will evaluate your substrate condition, recommend the correct media and SSPC/NACE standard, and provide a detailed estimate. Call 616-243-7550 or fill out our contact form to get started.
Industries We Serve
BlasTek is a specialty blasting contractor built for the most demanding industrial environments. We provide expert grit blasting, coating, and corrosion-control solutions for a wide range of sectors, including:
- Municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities
- Food and beverage processing plants
- Pharmaceutical and cleanroom facilities
- Energy generation and power transmission infrastructure
- Steel fabricators and structural steel fabrication shops
- Advanced manufacturing and heavy industry
- Commercial and industrial construction
- Environmental and disaster restoration projects
Service Area
BlasTek operates from two strategic locations: our headquarters in Shelbyville, MI, serving the greater West Michigan region, and our dedicated powder coating facility in Grand Rapids, MI. Our mobile field service teams extend across Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Southern Illinois, covering the heart of the Midwest industrial corridor. We proudly serve primary areas including:
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Three Rivers, MI
- Southwest and Northern Michigan
- Southern Illinois
- Northern Indiana
- Ohio
Frequently Asked Questions — Grit Blasting
What is the difference between grit blasting and shot blasting?
Is grit blasting the same as sandblasting?
What surface profile does grit blasting produce?
Which grit media does BlasTek use?
Can grit blasting be done on-site?
How do you verify grit blasting meets specification?
Industries We Serve
BlasTek specializes in high-performance dry ice blasting and industrial coatings engineered for sensitive and demanding environments. We provide expert, non-abrasive surface cleaning and preparation that eliminates secondary waste, making it the ideal solution for a wide range of sectors, including:
- Municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities
- Food and beverage processing plants
- Pharmaceutical and cleanroom facilities
- Energy generation and power transmission infrastructure
- Steel fabricators and structural steel fabrication shops
- Advanced manufacturing and heavy industry
- Commercial and industrial construction
- Environmental and disaster restoration projects
Service Areas
BlasTek operates from two strategic locations: our headquarters in Shelbyville, MI, serving the greater West Michigan region, and our dedicated powder coating facility in Grand Rapids, MI. BlasTek provides dry ice blasting services throughout the Midwest, supported by both in-shop and field capabilities. We proudly serve primary areas including:
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Three Rivers, MI
- Southwest and Northern Michigan
- Southern Illinois
- Northern Indiana
- Ohio
What Our Clients Say
Testimonials
Sales and Operations
Clearwater Filtration
Matthew McDonald
BlasTek has completed every project either on schedule or ahead of schedule. They excel with every job in craftsmanship and workmanship. In my mind, they are one of the leaders of the trade in the West Michigan area. Their integrity and determination to provide the best service for their customer are undoubtedly one of the best I have ever seen.
Project Manager
Andy J. Egan Co.
Chad Reed
Over the last few years, we have been utilizing BlasTek LLC for various fabrication projects ranging from semi loads of large-bore carbon steel piping to complex equipment and piping skids. They not only meet the demanding turnaround of our projects but have also expressed great quality and workmanship. Among other things, BlasTek has expressed a willingness to adapt to the specific needs and skillsets of some of our projects.
Advantages of Dry Ice
When it comes to dry ice blasting, there are several advantages associated with a technology that safely removes contaminants without causing harm to the underlying substrate. For example:
Non-Abrasive
It’s not so much the impact of the dry ice that cleans a surface, but rather, the kinetic energy released from the heat transfer upon impact. The impacted surface is literally frozen by the dry ice pellets which, in turn, causes the weakened contaminants to lose their adhesiveness and break free from the substrate during dry ice blasting.
No Residual Media
Since dry ice goes directly from a solid to a gas upon impact, there is no secondary cleanup with dry ice blasting beyond the contaminants being removed. Normally the coatings or contaminants can be swept or vacuumed from the floor beneath the treated object. Whereas chemicals and solvents create environmental concerns, and water carries with it the risk of bacteria growth, dry ice blasting produces zero secondary waste.
No Disassembly
Dry ice blasting is such a delicate process that equipment need not be disassembled during cleaning. Unlike media blasting and water blasting, there is no waste material produced by CO2 blasting. That means equipment can be cleaned in place, which should reduce plant downtime. In fact, if proper safety procedures are followed, most equipment can be cleaned ‘online’ to increase the amount of heat transfer during cleaning and maximize end results.
Environmentally Friendly
Dry ice blasting is an EPA, USDA, and FDA approved cleaning process, making it the perfect solution for most industrial and commercial surface decontamination projects.