Graffiti Blasters

In January of 2001, the City of Columbus created its first year-round Graffiti Program to address the growing problem of graffiti on public property. Its mission:

To deliver in a timely manner a comprehensive, cost-effective, environmentally sound, and technically reliable graffiti removal, education, and prevention program for residents of the City of Columbus.

A truck and equipment were purchased and a team set in place to carry out the removal of graffiti on public property. The Graffiti Blasters are committed to removing graffiti from public property within 2 working days from being reported, and 24 hours if graffiti is hateful, sexual, and/or violent. The Blasters primary role is responding to complaints from the City’s 3-1-1 web site and calls into the City Call Center at 645-3111. Each morning, depending on the complaints, we develop a route to remove graffiti.

The Graffiti Blasters operate a state-of-the-art truck equipped with an Armex Accustrip 12SX Soluble Media Blaster with 150 feet of blast hose, two 200-gallon water tanks with an air operated diaphragm pump, a side mounted pneumatic hose real with 100 feet of hose for wash down, and all the necessary chemicals and blast media (sodium bicarbonate) needed that day. The truck also pulls a 250 CFM portable air compressor to supply the air needed to operate the equipment.

The Graffiti Blasters team members are thoroughly trained in all phases of operations: graffiti-removal theory, practice, equipment operation, and safety. And once they are able to demonstrate an understanding of safety, handling, and use of graffiti removal materials and equipment, and the effects of the chemicals used, they are ready to work in the field. Throughout the day, many conditions affect the teams work: weather, temperature, access, and water drainage, nearby pedestrians and pets, plantings adjacent to the graffiti, protection of water bodies and fountains from run-off. All these factors are assessed prior to any removal.