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Calcimator

Steel Surface Prep Calculator

Calculate abrasive media, primer quantities, labor hours, and cost for steel surface preparation and coating per SSPC standards.

Inputs

sq ft

Results

Abrasive Quantity

35,000 lbs

≈ 11 small cars

Primer Quantity22.2 gal
Primer DFT3.5 mils
Blasting Hours25 hrs
Painting Hours12.5 hrs
Total Labor Hours37.5 hrs
Estimated Total Cost$7,126.00
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the total steel surface area in sq ft to be blasted and primed.
  2. Select the SSPC prep level: 1=SP-6 Commercial Blast, 2=SP-10 Near-White, 3=SP-5 White Metal.
  3. Choose the primer type: 1=inorganic zinc (3.5 mil DFT), 2=epoxy (5 mil), 3=alkyd (2.5 mil).
  4. Read Abrasive Quantity (lbs) and Primer Quantity (gal) to order materials.
  5. Use Blasting Hours and Painting Hours to schedule crews and coordinate with the erection sequence.
  6. Estimated Total Cost combines abrasive, primer, and labor — use for coating budget line items.

How the result changes with Surface Area

Surface AreaAbrasive Quantity
1,000,0907,000,630 lbs
3,500,06524,500,455 lbs
6,500,03545,500,245 lbs
9,000,01063,000,070 lbs

What each input means

Surface Area
Total steel surface area to be prepared and primed.
Prep Level (SSPC)
Select surface preparation standard
Primer Type
Select primer coating type

What each result means

Abrasive Quantity
Estimated blast media required (steel grit).
Primer Quantity
Primer gallons needed accounting for transfer efficiency.
Primer DFT
Dry film thickness of the primer coat.
Blasting Hours
Labor hours for abrasive blasting.
Painting Hours
Labor hours for primer application.
Total Labor Hours
Combined blasting and painting labor hours.
Estimated Total Cost
Total cost including abrasive, primer, and labor.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    Surface Area = 5000, Prep Level (SSPC) = 1, Primer Type = 1 = 3 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Abrasive Quantity
    Abrasive Quantity = surfaceArea * abrasiveRate
    35000 = 35000
  3. Calculate Primer Quantity
    Primer Quantity = surfaceArea / practicalCoverage
    22.2 = 22.2
  4. Calculate Primer DFT
    Primer DFT = primer.dft
    3.5 = 3.5

Engine last updated . Checked against 3 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

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