Problem Solving Forum
January 2 - January 4, 2019
Is it cost-effective to grind steel edges before coating for atmospheric service? Why or why not?
Selected Answers
From
Jonathan Rausch of That's private on
January 7, 2019:
When you grind AFTER blasting, you destroy the bla ...read more
When you grind AFTER blasting, you destroy the blast profile.
Grind edges before blasting.
From
James Prevatt of SPEC-GUARD on
January 3, 2019:
The benefit to edge grinding is realized long afte ...read more
The benefit to edge grinding is realized long after the construction is completed and the necessity to re-paint has arrived. The most frequent location of corrosion is edge and weld area failure areas requiring repainting. Pre-grinding sharp edges and protrusions significantly extends the life interval between repaint projects. Over the life expectancy repaint expense and the inconvenience of the painting cycle are significantly impacting in a measure much greater than the cost of grinding prior to the original preparation.
The rub (battle) is typically not is it beneficial but rather the fight between capital expense (construction) vs. maintenance budgets. The people who control each are usually not the same and each wants to preserve its capital. It is truly a pay me now or pay me later matter. The reality of the pay me later is much greater by multi-fold when pre-grinding is not addressed during construction at the 1st painting event.