What is wet blasting?

In wet blasting, also called vapour blasting, a mixture of water and abrasive is driven onto the part by compressed air. Degreasing, cleaning and finishing happen in a single treatment, without dust and without harmful products.

Which abrasive goes into a wet blasting cabinet?

The process mixture is water plus abrasive. The circulation circuit and the filtration principle of the Neptuna allow a wide range of abrasives. With greasy and oily contamination the heated cabinet works together with the universal cleaner V95².

Wet blasting with the Neptuna cabinet, dust free

Wet or dry

Wet blasting and dry blasting: what is the difference?

In wet blasting, a mixture of water and abrasive is driven onto the part by compressed air. In dry blasting, the abrasive hits the part dry, also driven by compressed air. That single difference, the water, decides what comes off the surface and how the part comes out.

Wet blasting

Water and abrasive together, atomised by compressed air. Degreasing, cleaning and finishing happen in one treatment, without dust and without harmful products. The part comes out of the cabinet wet and is rinsed with fresh water.

View the wet blasting installations

Dry blasting

Abrasive in dry form, driven onto the part by compressed air. It removes rust, mill scale and paint layers and sets a rougher profile for the next coat. The cabinet works with extraction and filtration, and the part comes out dry.

View the dry blasting installations

Wet blasting and dry blasting side by side

Feature	Wet blasting	Dry blasting
What reaches the part	A mixture of water and abrasive, atomised by compressed air	Abrasive in dry form, driven by compressed air
Dust	No dust	The cabinet works with extraction and filtration
In one treatment	Degreasing, cleaning and finishing together	Cleaning and roughening the surface
What it does to the surface	The water buffer keeps the fine grains from embedding in the surface	Sets a rougher profile for the next coat
What you choose it for	Parts that have to be degreased and cleaned after overhaul or machining	Removing rust, mill scale and paint before the next coat
How the part comes out	Wet; it is rinsed with fresh water	Dry

If degreasing and cleaning have to happen together and no dust may be released, wet blasting is the process. If only the soiling has to go without treating the surface, you end up at the industrial parts washers, which work by spraying and immersion.

References

They rely on Phibo for surface treatment

Aerospace

Automotive

Rail

Pharma

Metalworking

The models

The machine: the Neptuna

Per model the key values, the features and the full specification table. Open what you want to check.

The Neptuna with the external loading table, one of the extensions.

Neptuna

Wet blasting cabinet from the AQUA-impact range, listed as AQUA 1313

Internal dimensions1246 x 1246 x 1060 mm

Process pressure0 to 5 bar

Hopper volume200 l

Connection3 x 400 V, 5.5 kW

Degreasing, cleaning and finishing in one treatment, without dust
Built entirely in stainless steel, inner lining in white natural rubber
Viewing window of 750 x 430 mm, with sprayer and wiper
Vortex pump in solid polyurethane, directly driven by 5.5 kW
Extendable with turntables, heating, filtration and recovery

Price for this version

Technical data of the Neptuna

Model
Name	Neptuna
Model in the AQUA-impact range	AQUA 1313
Process	Wet blasting: water and abrasive, atomised by compressed air
Version	Standard equipment of the base cabinet; the extensions are listed in the table under Extensions
Cabinet
Construction	Fully stainless steel, on a frame with adjustable feet
Internal dimensions	Approximately 1246 x 1246 x 1060 mm high, above the work grid
Work surface	Reinforced composite grids across the full surface
Inner lining	White natural rubber
Access	Two side-hinged doors, each with a safety contact and a rubber curtain that forms a water gutter
Viewing window	750 x 430 mm in safety glass, with automatic spray system and wiper
Lighting	Frontal and lateral led lighting
Operator station	Pair of sleeves in anti-abrasive rubber, replaceable from the outside
Hopper volume	200 l
Process
Process pump	Vortex pump in solid polyurethane, directly driven, protected against overload
Motor power	5.5 kW
Distribution network	Solid wear-resistant polyurethane; all process lines run inside the cabinet
Process gun	Ergonomic, with a boron carbide nozzle of 10 mm diameter, and a holster for hands-free work
Process pressure	Adjustable from 0 to 5 bar, with regulator and pressure gauge
Rinsing	Rinsing gun with stainless steel internals, on fresh water
Extraction	Exhaust hood of 200 mm diameter with synthetic filter on top of the cabinet; acts as a mist separator and creates an upward air flow
Connections
Process gun connection	At least 3/4 inch; 1,150 l/min at 7 bar with a 10 mm nozzle
Second connection	BSP at least 3/4 inch, 2 to 6 bar
Electrical	3 x 400 V + N + PE, 50 Hz, 16 A, cable 5G2.5
Power rating	5.5 kW
Control	Two separate cabinets, one electrical to the national wiring regulations and one pneumatic
Foot control	One start and stop pedal for all process functions
Safety and standard
Process lines	Fully integrated inside the cabinet
Doors	Each fitted with a safety switch
Sound emission	70 dB(A), measured at the operator position
Standard	In line with the applicable CE legislation
Abrasives	Wide range, thanks to the circulation circuit and the filtration principle

How it works

The wet blasting cabinet, seen from the inside

The Neptuna is built entirely in stainless steel. The operator works through two sleeves, with the process gun in hand and the start and stop control under foot. Everything that carries the process mixture sits inside the cabinet.

Three operations in one pass

Degreasing, cleaning and finishing of varied substrates happen in the same treatment, without harmful products and without dust.

Stainless steel on adjustable feet

The cabinet stands on a sturdy frame with adjustable feet. The inner lining is white natural rubber, which also keeps the walls easy to clean.

Two doors that catch the water

Both side doors swing open and each has a safety switch. The wear-resistant rubber curtain folds on opening into a gutter that catches splashes and so limits drips on the floor.

Viewing window of 750 x 430 mm

You look through safety glass. A sprayer and a wiper keep the window clear at all times. Frontal and lateral led lighting does the rest.

Vortex pump in solid polyurethane

The pump and its distribution network are in solid polyurethane, directly driven by a 5.5 kW motor. It keeps running, even after a long standstill.

Wide range of abrasives

The circulation circuit and the filtration principle allow a wide range of abrasives. One cabinet therefore covers a large number of applications.

Neptuna cabinet seen from the pump side, with the two control cabinets — The pump side, with the electrical and the pneumatic control cabinet.

Inside the wet blasting cabinet, with white rubber lining, composite grids and turntable — Inside: white natural rubber, composite grids, turntable.

Gun and nozzle, mounted inside the wet blasting cabinet — The gun and its nozzle, inside the cabinet.

Extensions

How you match the cabinet to your parts

The base cabinet covers a wide range of applications thanks to the possible configurations and customisations. Wheels and shapes that are hard to reach call for a tilting table, greasy and oily contamination for a heated mixture. The list below is not exhaustive.

1

Turntables

A fixed turntable holds bulky parts inside the cabinet while you turn them, without taking them out to reposition. A tilting table presents the part at the angle you want.

2

External loading table on rails

The turntable sits on a trolley that rolls out over continuous rails. Heavy parts are loaded for example with an overhead crane, and the hopper-shaped table catches the abrasive that falls off.

3

Heating of the process mixture

A 6 kW heating element in the process hopper, with an adjustable thermostat. Recommended for greasy and oily contamination, together with the universal cleaner V95².

4

Filtration and water saving

A labyrinth filter lets the coarse dirt settle, paper and synthetic media catch the rest. The recycling kit reuses the filtered rinse water in a closed circuit. A drain valve and a decanting valve let you empty and decant the mixture.

5

Hydrocyclone and magnetic separator

The hydrocyclone separates and recovers the abrasive. The magnetic separator removes the ferrous particles from the operating mixture.

6

Measuring and dosing

The external concentration gauge reads how much abrasive is in the mixture, as a percentage. An automatic dosing unit adds additives, such as detergent or a corrosion inhibitor.

Tilting turntable inside the wet blasting cabinet, with the process gun in the operator's hand — The tilting turntable, angled inside the cabinet.

External concentration gauge graduated in percent beside the cabinet — The concentration gauge reads the ratio in the mixture.

Options and their data

Turntables
Fixed manual turntable	Diameter 1000 mm, load capacity 500 kg
External loading table	Turntable on a trolley and rails, diameter 1000 mm, load capacity 500 kg
Tilting manual turntable	Diameter 800 mm, load capacity 500 kg in the horizontal position
Process
Heating unit	6 kW in the process hopper, with adjustable thermostat; recommended process temperature 40 to 60 degrees maximum
Prescribed cleaner	Universal cleaner V95², machine compatible and matched to the heating unit
Concentration gauge	Mounted in line with the circulation circuit, with a directly readable scale in percent
Dosing unit	Automatic, for additives such as detergent or a corrosion inhibitor
Filtration and water
Filtration system	Labyrinth filter with sedimentation compartments, plus fine filtration over a paper filter and a synthetic filter
Rinse water recycling	Closed circuit with a pneumatic diaphragm pump, about 20 l/min at 7 bar
Overflow control	Automatic overflow membrane for regulating the filtration
Valves	Drain valve and decanting valve
Separation	Hydrocyclone for separating and recovering the abrasive; magnetic separator for ferrous particles
Handling
Raised insert basket	Stainless steel with a synthetic mat, for small parts
Drum for batch treatment	For small parts in batch, such as nuts and bolts
Blow-off gun	For blowing off after treatment
Process automation
Oscillation system	Powered oscillation of the guns
Extraction	Version with condensate separator

Applications

What the Neptuna handles in one pass

Parts that have to be degreased and cleaned after maintenance, overhaul or machining. Oil, grease, carbon deposits, resins, glues, paint and corrosion come off without attacking the base material.

1
Pumps and valves
Paint, rust and chemical deposits come off in a single operation. Pipework and similar parts are treated the same way.
2
Electric gearboxes and motors
Steel, copper, bronze and aluminium are treated under control, without attacking the structure. Even complex assemblies go through the cabinet without full dismantling.
3
Turbines
Turbine blades, discs, motors and linings are commonly wet blasted.
4
Automotive parts
Alternators, brake calipers, starters and motors, with the carbon deposits removed. Moulds, tooling and aircraft parts go through the cabinet as well.
Will my part fit
Inside, the Neptuna measures about 1246 x 1246 mm, with 1060 mm of height above the grid. If your part does not fit, the range holds a blasting platform. Send us the dimensions, the weight and the contamination.

Request your quote

The AQUA-impact range

The other wet blasting installations

Besides the Neptuna, the range has two more sizes. Which one suits you depends on your largest part and on how you present it. We go through that with you.

The compact cabinet

The AQUA 0806 is the smallest of the range and adjustable in height. It has an extra large viewing window at an adapted angle and led lighting.

The blasting platform

The AQUA 3000 is not a cabinet but a platform with a large work surface on which the operator stands. For parts too large for any cabinet.

Consumables

Which abrasive and which cleaner go into a wet blasting cabinet

The process mixture is water plus abrasive. The circulation circuit and the filtration principle of the cabinet allow a wide range of abrasives. With greasy and oily contamination the heated cabinet works together with the universal cleaner V95².

From our own warehouse

We keep abrasives, cleaners, additives and protective equipment in stock, so you order them from the same partner as the installation.

Abrasives for wet processes
Universal cleaner V95²
Additives, including corrosion inhibitors
Paper filters and synthetic filters
Operator sleeves and nozzles
Personal protective equipment

View the abrasives and cleaners

Assistance and service

Maintenance, spare parts and training

You arrange maintenance, repairs and spare parts directly with Phibo. Our own technicians do the work.

Maintenance contract

We plan the inspection of your installation and follow it up. You agree the content with us.

Repair and spare parts

The spare parts come from our own warehouse. Our technicians carry out the repair.

Training

Your operators learn to run and set the installation, at commissioning.

View maintenance and spare parts

Elsewhere on the site

The wet blasting techniqueHow the process mixture works, and when wet beats dry.Wet blasting applicationsExamples of parts that go through the cabinet, with the result.Dry blasting installationsCabinets, blast rooms, blast pots and mobile systems for the dry process.

We call you and go through your application

Send us the dimensions and weight of your parts, the contamination that has to come off and the number of parts per day. You receive a proposal with the cabinet and the equipment that fit. One partner, from the first conversation to the last spare part.

Request your quote Ask us to call you

Rather call us first? +32 55 21 98 99

Request

Request your quote or a price indication

With these details we determine the cabinet together. We call you and go through your application, and you receive a proposal with the full specifications. The request form is right below.

Dimensions and weight of your parts
The contamination that has to go, by name
The number of parts per day
The free space and the access in your workshop

Rather call? +32 55 21 98 99WhatsApp +32 477 90 00 46By mail sales@phibo.be

Wet blasting: degrease and clean in one treatment