The key to using HoldTight® 102 efficiently is to use as little HoldTight® – treated water per square foot/meter as possible while achieving the desired result.

The cleanest surfaces (with few or no detectable contaminants, including salts), with the least likelihood of flash rusting within 48 to 96 hours, are achieved when the product is used in both the blast and wash down cycles at a 50 to one, water to HoldTight® 102, ratio. But, variations are possible and may be good economics. With some experience you will be able to dilute HoldTight® 102 considerably more than 50 to one on both blast and wash down cycles on many jobs with little, if any, loss of performance.

Experiment with higher dilutions (100 to one, up to 250 to one) in the strip cycle followed by a relatively low pressure, low volume wash down with HoldTight® 102 at the standard 50 to one dilution. Wash down as soon after stripping as feasible at 500 to 2,000 psi or higher (34 to 100+ bar) at 1 to 3 gallons (3.8 to 11.4 Liters) per minute. The lower the wash down pressure, the shorter the rust-free window might be and the more likely some small amount of contaminants will remain on the surface.

Temperature, humidity, and air quality at the blast site will also affect flash rusting. All other things being equal, low humidity and moderate temperatures will produce less flash rusting — or slower flash rusting — than hot and humid conditions, and therefore require less HoldTight® 102 to maintain a given window.

Except in UHP water blasting, the best practice is to use HoldTight® 102, even if diluted at much as 250 to one, in the strip cycle. Then dilute it 50 to 100 to one on the wash down. Again, try to use as little of the material as possible to achieve the desired result. It is usually possible to omit HoldTight® 102 in the strip cycle when using ultra high pressure (UHP) 25,000 psi+ / 2,000+ bar) equipment. Some UHP manufacturers recommend against using any additives in their equipment, so consult your UHP equipment manufacturer before using HoldTight® 102 in such machines.

Always use clean (drinkable) water in both blasting and wash down cycles. Avoid industrial or “plant” water. Water that contains a high concentration of salts, carbonates and bicarbonates (i.e., “hard water”), or other contaminants may interfere with the performance of HoldTight® 102.

Since every job presents a different set of problems, there may be other ways to save time and HoldTight® 102. We would be happy to discuss them with you. Rule of thumb: the product should cost no more than 10¢ per square foot (.305 m2 ) to apply, exclusive of labor; in most applications 5¢ or less should be achievable. (Of course quantity discounts will lower this from 12% to 40%.)

We believe that the more money you can make with HoldTight® 102 on any one job, the more likely you are to use it on the next job… and the next…