Choosing the Right Abrasive Media for Sandblasting

1. CHOOSING THE RIGHT ABRASIVE MEDIA FOR SANDBLASTING What are the different forms of abrasive media for sandblasting? Which abrasive media to use for paint removal? Is garnet sand a good abrasive? What is the best blast media for rust removal? Which abrasive media is best for polishing? What size abrasive media should be used for sandblasting? SURFACE PROPERTIES/CHARACTERISTICS A hard surface such as steel would generally require a harder abrasive such as garnet, steel shots, aluminium oxide etc whereas a softer surface such as wood or concrete is better blasted with a softer abrasive such as crushed glass that is also inexpensive. It is also worth considering the risk of embedment in the surface. Tougher abrasives reduce the risk of breaking down and getting embedded in the surface and provide a cleaner surface. REQUIRED SURFACE PROFILE Cleaning a surface is a very different application to preparing a surface for coating. In a cleaning application, the goal is to simply clean the surface without changing the substrate. Abrasive media such as glass beads, walnut shell, soda bicarbonate or plastic grit can be used for cleaning a surface. BLAST MEDIA PROPERTIES Particle sizes are commonly classified by mesh sizes and based on the particle distribution, are given a range eg: 30-60 mesh. This indicates that 95% of the mix will fall through a 30 mesh but not pass through the 60. The mesh size number indicates the number of mesh lines per square inch in a sieve. Some abrasive manufacturers prefer to term their media with their brands and do not readily disclose the mesh size leaving customers in the dark about the actual mesh size. CONTACT US Address : 1K/18 Beafield Road, Para Hills West SA 5096 Australia Phone : 1300 822 569 Email : sales@quantumblast.com.au Website : www.quantumblast.com.au