Are We Partial to Airblast Peening?

Author:  Kumar Balan | Blast Cleaning and Shot Peening Specialist
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 40, Issue 1, Winter 2026
Doc ID:  2026007
Year of Publication:  2026
Abstract:  
THE OBVIOSITY OF THIS QUESTION IS STRIKING. For those of you who wish to check the existence of this unique word, “obviosity,” do not bother, I admit that it is a non-standard word, much like the sources of most useful data in our industry! My introduction to this word was through my good friend, colleague, and guide to the nuances of wheelblast machines, Ron Barrier. Ron used to manage the demo facility at Wheelabrator in LaGrange, GA, where I first met him. ’Interesting’ would be an understatement to describe every interaction I have had with him; he was a wealth of knowledge seldom found in published literature. Ron was once deputed to investigate a ’browning’ issue faced by a large aerospace prime when peening their aluminum structural members. Ron called me from the site and said, ’’I inspected everything in the machine and could not find a ***n thing wrong with it. I then quizzed the operator on the time duration of this issue when the obviosity struck me like a lightning bolt”. The customer had mothballed the process for several months but failed to empty the shot from the machine. The shot had rusted and started discoloring the parts upon impact. The simple act of descaling the shot by running the machine without parts took care of the problem. What obviosity!