SANDBLASTING MEDIA

H O W T O C H O O S E T H E R I G H T

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.

• 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.

• 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.

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/.

C O N T A C T U S

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.