After the National Day holiday, shipyards across Wuhan are back in operation. Steel plates that sat outdoors for a week have a thicker rust layer than before the break, and using the same abrasive mix as before the holiday often leaves the surface under-cleaned and doubles rework.

Matching abrasive to rust thickness

Heavy rust (over 1 mm): use S460 alloy cast steel shot. It has good rebound and moderate hardness, removes thick oxide scale efficiently, and withstands many cycles.

Light rust and finishing: add 1.0 mm cut wire shot. Its sharp edges produce an even surface profile, which improves primer adhesion.

Typical mixing ratios: for plate with mostly heavy rust, S460 steel shot to 1.0 cut wire shot around 7:3; for finishing work, around 5:5. Adjust according to the actual condition.

Why the mixing ratio matters

Impact energy comes from the round shot; cutting action comes from the angular cut wire shot. Run only one of them and you either leave scale behind or produce an uneven profile. Pairing steel shot with steel grit also helps keep the size distribution tight, which keeps the profile consistent across the plate.

Frequently asked questions

How fast can abrasive be delivered in Hubei?

Local production in Wuhan, with standard sizes delivered to shipyards within 72 hours.

What hardness suits shipyard plate preparation?

HRC 40-50 is the usual range for S460 alloy cast steel shot: tough enough to resist breakage, hard enough to clean.

Does rust thickness really change the mix?

Yes. Heavy rust needs more impact, so the round shot share goes up; light rust and finishing work need more cutting action, so the cut wire shot share goes up.

Wuhan Hongxin Lixin has 25 years of experience in metal abrasives and supplies major shipyards in the region. Send us your workpiece, machine and target profile and we will work out the mix.

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