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SANDBLASTING MEDIA
Sandblasting is the act of shooting sand, glass, or other medium at high speeds using a sandblasting machine or gun. This is generally done to remove a finish on an item, or to clean rust from a particular surface. Sandblasting is ideal to prepare a surface for a
new coat of paint, or for heavy cleanup.
The “medium,” or “media” (plural), is the material used to sandblast. The medium used to blast a surface depends on how difficult the removal or cleanup is and how much impact the object can withstand. Common
media include: sand, glass, steel, and organic materials like corn cobs or walnut shells.
If you’re uncertain how much a surface can handle, start slow using a gentle medium and work your way up. Here are some common options for less-abrasive media: •
Walnut shells - effective for adding porosity to soft materials; also works well for blasting cars, buildings, boats,
and bridges. •
Pumice - ideal for soft wood.
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Corn cob - can be used safely on wood homes or thin plastics.
Glass Beads give a soft, rounded, attractive finish to your project. Glass beads are great because they can be recycled up to 30 times. Glass offers a silica-free option for peening, honing, cleaning, and light deburring. Plastic Beads are ideal for stripping the
paint from automotives. They work well without damaging or warping the underlying material. Beads can be made from acrylic, polyester, and urea.
The hardest material available for sandblasting is silicon carbide. It’s great for quick and low-cost jobs as it has shorter blast times than other media. Silicon carbide can also be recycled more times than sand.
For a specific texture in a finished project, pick steel grit or steel shot for
use in a sandblast gun. •
Steel grit leaves an etched surface that makes it easy for paint to adhere.
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Steel shot is used for peening operations and leaves a smooth finish. Steel shot produces little dust and can be used up to 3,000 times.
A new form of sandblasting uses compact dry ice pellets. The pellets can be ideal for small-scale or
delicate projects, such as cleaning machinery, electrical installations, electromechanical equipment, or other surfaces where the residue from standard media would be detrimental.
Another relatively new form of sandblasting, sodablasting uses baking soda as the medium. It can be used to clean automotives or boats, but is even gentler than other media like pumice or walnut shells. It is also very effective for mold or smoke damage as it deodorizes as it cleans. Many sodablasters can also be used for sandblasting, giving multiple uses to just one machine.
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Big A’s Place supplies and distributes sodablasting and sandblasting parts and cabinets. Offering brands like RPB, Pirate Brand, Goodyear, Thunderblast, Kennametal, Everblast, and more, Big A’s Place specializes in parts and supplies to handle any job with any medium. For more information, call 616-741-9237 or visit http://sandblaster-parts.com/.
Summary Every sandblasting job is different, and requires the use of a special medium. Whether removing tough paint from heavy metal surfaces, or looking to polish a delicate object, it’s best to start slow and work your way up, from low-abrasive media like walnut shells to heavy-duty steel.