When finishing round shank tools with narrow flutes, wet blasting offers distinct advantages over brushing, especially in terms of consistency, precision, and geometry preservation.

✅ Superior access
Wet blasting uses a pressurised slurry that easily reaches into deep, narrow flutes, areas that brushing struggles or fails to access reliably.

✅ Uniform finish
The wet blasting process delivers a highly controlled, even surface finish across complex geometries, unlike brushing, which often leaves inconsistent results.

A leading US-based aluminium window and door manufacturer* was facing a familiar challenge; their dry blasting process for cleaning extrusion dies was labour-intensive, dusty, and inconsistent. With around 240 dies processed per day, even small inefficiencies had a big impact.

By installing a Vapormatt Cougar+ wet blasting machine, they’ve transformed the way dies are cleaned.

When it comes to surface preparation for composite materials, especially those reinforced with carbon or glass fibres, the finishing method you choose can make a big difference.

Unlike dry blasting or sanding, wet blasting uses a mix of water and fine abrasive media. This not only delivers a consistent finish but also helps protect the integrity of the composite structure.

Here’s why wet blasting stands out:

- It’s gentle on fibres – The water cushions the abrasive media, helping avoid fraying or cutting the fibres.

The demands of aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations leave little room for compromise. Precision, consistency and reliability are essential. That’s where the Vapormatt Leopard Cub stands out.

Compact in footprint but highly capable, the Leopard Cub is purpose-built for automatically wet blasting components such as jet engine fan and propeller blades. With a variety of clamping and loading options, it’s designed to accommodate tall, hard-to-handle parts without sacrificing accuracy or repeatability.

Its key strengths include:

When bonding additive manufacturing (AM) parts, it’s important to prepare the surfaces properly before applying adhesive. The way the surface is treated can affect how well the bond holds.

One method that works particularly well is wet blasting. It helps remove leftover powder, oils, and other surface contaminants while also making the surface slightly rougher. This roughness helps the adhesive stick more effectively and the process is gentle enough that it doesn’t damage delicate features or thin walls, which are common in AM parts.

From titanium in aerospace to magnesium alloys in EV components, lightweight materials are transforming how OEMs design for performance and efficiency. But these advanced materials come with a unique set of challenges when it comes to surface preparation:

- Dry blasting can cause surface pitting, warping, or embedded abrasive particles, especially in thin-walled or soft metal components — compromising both structural integrity and coating performance

- Chemical treatments can be too aggressive for reactive alloys like magnesium, risking surface degradation

When it comes to wet blasting technology, we stand apart as the original pioneers.

As the original innovators who invented the first wet blasting machine, we didn't just create the technology – we've been perfecting it for decades. While others may offer wet blasting as one of many surface finishing processes, we live and breathe it.

What makes us different?

• 100% specialised focus on wet blasting technology

• Every R&D pound we invest goes into wet blasting innovation

• Global technical leadership built on decades of experience

When premium Swiss toolmaker Vallorbe – a global leader in precision rasp and file manufacturing – encountered difficulties sourcing replacement pumps for their wet blasting machines, they approached Vapormatt for a solution.

The answer was Vapormatt Inside – our specialist upgrade service that retrofits existing wet blasting machines (from any manufacturer) with Vapormatt’s advanced technology.

Why was this upgrade such an effective solution?

Bandsaw blade failure is a costly problem that manufacturers have been tackling for decades. The solution? Wet blast peening - a targeted surface treatment that's transforming blade durability by addressing the root cause of failures - the gullet area of the blade.

The gullet (curved area between teeth) is the Achilles' heel of bandsaw blades. This high-stress region experiences intense tension during cutting operations, making it the primary location for crack initiation and catastrophic failure.

How wet blast peening works...

If you’re in the business of manufacturing end mills, drills, or taps, surface prep is a critical step. That’s where the Vapormatt Puma+ Vertical (with satellites) stands out.

Here’s why it’s outpacing other wet blasting systems in the field:

✅ Tailored for round shank tools - Designed specifically for tools from 3mm to 25.4mm diameter and up to 300mm long — up to 42 tools per cycle.