Flame CleaningFlame cleaning is a method of removing paint, scale and rust from steel in preparation for painting or coating. Whether the steel is new or has been in service, the conditions needed for a satisfactory protective coat is that the surface must be absolutely clean and free from moisture. When paint is applied to a correctly prepared surface it makes an efficient bond with the steel, extending the life of both the paint and the surface of the steel it is protecting. An adapted welding torch is used with a special cleaning nozzle to direct a multi jet flame onto the surface of the construction to be cleaned. Oxygen and acetylene are the preferred gases as they provide sufficient local heat to clean the surface of the steel by causing the mill scale to break off and the rust and paint to burn off, leaving a clean, dry surface suitable for painting. The process is all positional, making it ideal for use on large structures. Structures that have been in service for some time are likely to have lost some of their protective paint and so the surface will be covered in a mixture of paint and rust. Some pitting may also have occurred. Flame cleaning will remove the rust and paint more efficiently than chipping, wire brushing or most other methods. The equipment used is basically that found in a typical maintenance department, making the process very cost and time efficient.
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