Abrasive for sandblasting

[diogofcr]

What is the best abrasive to use for sandblasting?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Cheap and easily available is Kiln Dried Sand from Wickes but it powders up quite quickly so you can't recycle it much and it's frowned upon as blast media because of the dangers of Silicosis but so long as your careful with your PPE it's fine.

 

[diogofcr]

Cheap and easily available is Kiln Dried Sand from Wickes but it powders up quite quickly so you can't recycle it much and it's frowned upon as blast media because of the dangers of Silicosis but so long as your careful with your PPE it's fine.

I wanted something which wasnt sand, like Aluminum Oxide, Steel shot or Glass beads. Is any of these cheap?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

The media is relatively cheap if your buying in volume but the haulage is normally the killer.

 

[diogofcr]

The media is relatively cheap if your buying in volume but the haulage is normally the killer.

But are those that I mentioned any good? I might be good with the haulage part cause I found a abrasive supplier one hour away from my town and sometimes we go to the town where it is

 

[rtbcomp]

Glass grit for general work on steel. Not classed as re-usable, but I used it over and over until it ended up as dust in my filters, the worn stuff can be used on aluminium.

Glass grit is very cheap (at least in the UK) last lot I bought a couple of years ago was about £100 for a tonne, including delivery.

Glass beads are expensive and used to give a nice smooth finish, great on aluminium. Not the best for shifting paint & rust.

Chilled iron is expensive but the best for use in a cabinet, it can be reused a few hundred times, but goes rusty and forms lumps if you mention the word "moisture" within a hundred yards of it.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

It depends on what your blasting, steel shot and chilled iron grit are good for heavy section steels but you wouldn't use it on sheet steel, car body work etc.

 

[diogofcr]

What about aluminum oxide guys?

 

[brightspark]

It depends on what your blasting, steel shot and chilled iron grit are good for heavy section steels but you wouldn't use it on sheet steel, car body work etc.

greatif u have a 150cfm comp and a pot with a 3/8 th nozzle and blast structural steel and oil rigs that's about it

 

[brightspark]

aly oxide is good and re usable

 

[rtbcomp]

I've used chilled iron in a cabinet on small scooter parts. Get the right grade and use the correct technique it's fine. I gave up due to how easily it rusted.

 

[diogofcr]

Thank you everyone, I will try glass beads or aluminum oxide, since you say steel shot is for heavy stuff

 

[diogofcr]

What about garnet sand guys? Have you ever used it?

 

[brightspark]

beads are only any use for cleaning parts that will be damaged if using an abrasive all they do is peen the surface and take away light corrosion leaving a smooth finish

 

[diogofcr]

beads are only any use for cleaning parts that will be damaged if using an abrasive all they do is peen the surface and take away light corrosion leaving a smooth finish

WHich abrasive are u talkign about?

 

[brightspark]

u mention u were going to try glass beads that's exactly what they are round glass spheres not abrasive and are a finishing medium for putting a smooth finish on roughly machined surfaces and cleaning parts

 

[diogofcr]

u mention u were going to try glass beads that's exactly what they are round glass spheres not abrasive and are a finishing medium for putting a smooth finish on roughly machined surfaces and cleaning parts

So what do you recommend using alu oxide?? Have you ever tried garnet sand?

 

[brightspark]

i only ever use expendable abrasive in my larger blast pot and mobile comp and kiln dried sand in the smaller pot using a 28cfm comp and also use a suction gun in blast cabinet along with the blast pot . I have a smaller cabinet I use beads in for cleaning tools and smallish parts with . here is a few taps that were rusty and I bead blasted them

 

[Eastblock]

Out here in the middle of the North Atlantic it is not easy to get at hold of blasting media. Importing it would cost a fortune. It sounds like glass can be used. How fine would I need to crush it?

 

[Eastblock]

If you're going to crush your own glass aim for about 3-4 times the size of sugar - and get some good gloves

I would build some sort of crusher for it.