Steel surface preparation with power tools

[BMart006]

I'm reposting this to this forum because I imagine there are quite a few people here with structural fabrication and coating experience.
Let's say a paint product data sheet calls for a surface profile of 1-3 mils (range is made up and doesn't actually matter). I know that some power tools (SSPC-SP3) can produce a surface profile in steel such as needle gunning, but is a powered wire brush (which is also part of -SP3) capable of creating a surface profile? My thought is that it would be creating long canyons, but not necessarily sporadic peaks and valleys similar to what you would see with abrasive blasting. If you have any resources/standards documenting an answer that would also be helpful. Reading SSPC-SP3 is a bit vague on whether this would get me to a surface profile. Thanks!

 

[bridgebuster]

You're correct, a wire brush won't do it. The attached USA COE document may be of some help.

 

[EdStainless]

There are rotary pin tools that allow the pins to impact the surface rather than scrape along it, they should do the job also.
I am sorry that I don't recall the correct name for them.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[Agent666]

I would have thought any paint supplier worth their salt would clearly outline the preparation requirements in terms of recognised standards (for example achieving equivalence with Sa2/St3, etc).


If not they should be asked the question as it's their product and they know what is acceptable to them in terms of achieving your warranties and performance over the life of the coating system.

 

[BMart006]

I agree. In this case, its that SP2/3 are listed as alternatives with a surface profile of a given range. Perhaps its the selection of which power tools are used that create a surface profile.

 

[12345abc6ttyui67]

We used a "Bristle Blaster" to achieve Sa2.5 on steel.