For big vertical jobs, like 100-foot storage tanks and ship hulls, more and more contractors are moving up to the NLB SRT-10 Crawler. While personnel stay safely on the ground, it crawls up, down and sideways - directed from a remote console - while rotating SPIN JET® nozzles do all the work.
The Crawler uses a vacuum system to grip the surface and to recover wastewater and debris, minimizing clean-up. A winch skid assembly with locking pulleys allows an operator to position the unit and also serves as a fall arrest system.
The SRT-10 Crawler can be used horizontally as well as vertically. It cleans over welds and plates as thick as 1/2" (12.7mm).
For "in-between" vertical surfaces (too large for manual water jetting but too small for a Crawler), try the NLB VertaJet™ SRT-6. This lightweight, hand-held system is attached to a vacuum source, so while the operator removes paint, epoxy, etc., he can collect the debris at the same time. A steel surface is left clean and dry in a single pass.
The VertaJet™ features dual-trigger operation (like our rotating lances) to dump pressure if the operator releases either trigger. Features and benefits include:
Vacuum recovery standard
Counterbalanced to minimize operator fatigue
Compact design and lightweight aluminum construction
6" (15 cm) cleaning path for high productivity ...
(8) Self-rotating seals are recommended for most applications, as they allow faster rotating speeds without any power connection. However, pneumatically or hydraulically powered seals are excellent for controlling speed when flow rates are low. Here's a quick comparison:
The NLB VacLance attachment turns any NCG8450A-3 hand lance into a vacuum recovery surface preparation tool. This kit (DM16546) provides all the required components to convert any existing NCG8450A-3 series lance into a vacuum recovery UHP hand lance. The unit requires approximately 100 CFM at 1 to 2 inches of vacuum. It will attach to a vacuum source via NLB's 2" vac hose (PM16758).
(2) Abrasive wet blasting at up to 40,000 psi (2,800 bar) is no problem for NLB's Profiler™. It profiles a 4-inch (100mm) path at rates of up to 15 feet (5m) per minute, and leaves an excellent bonding surface for new coatings. The Profiler operates at flows of 3-6 gpm (11-23 lpm).
This innovative tool works with various abrasive media, to suit specific applications. The abrasive is fed to the nozzle from an abrasive feed hopper, through metering discs that restrict the flow to a predetermined rate. A typical flow is 2 lbs. (0.9 kg) per minute.
Profiles metal and welds, for an ideal bonding surface
Pressures from 20,000 to 40,000 psi (1,400 to 2,800 bar)
With the NLB Ship Bottom Cleaner (SBC36-8300-15A), the entire bottom of a huge tanker ship can be cleaned by a single operator. The SBC is a self-propelled unit that cleans overhead as it travels, with our patented SPIN JET® nozzles. Some highlights:
Speed of up to 5 feet per minute (1.5 m/min.)
Adjustable height, from 40.5" to 70.5" (103 cm to 179 cm)
Operating pressure up to 40,000 psi (2,800 bar); flow up to 10 gpm (23 lpm)