3 common sandblasting mistakes and how to prevent them

Sandblasting has been in use for over a hundred years.  Industries have employed air-blast, wheel-blast and other methods to propel abrasive blasting media for use in paint stripping, coatings removal, strengthening surfaces, preparing surfaces for coatings, blast cleaning, mold cleaning. There are 3 common sandblasting mistakes and how to prevent them from occurring in your project.

1. Using the wrong sandblasting machine

Sandblasting machines are versatile tools, but they still come in a variety of sizes and air-pressure capabilities. This will shape your experience with them through the distance back you can (and must) stand to complete your job and the size of the area you can sandblast at once. For working on the side of a house, you will want a large spread of particles while working with smaller objects will naturally call for a smaller blaster. It is important to find the model that’s right for both you and your projects.

2. Using the wrong abrasive media

If you are new to sandblasting, the sheer number of options for what can be loaded into your blaster can be overwhelming. Despite the name, there are a lot more abrasive media than just sand and these options can range from natural grounds like corn husks and walnut shells for blasting soft materials to very hard particles like glass beads for heavier-duty tasks. It is important to choose your medium based both on the underlying material and what you are blasting off of it. Using the wrong medium can either have a minimal effect or cause serious damage.

3. Forgetting to recollect abrasive media

Most blasting material can be used over and over again. When you are working with a blasting cabinet, everything is automatically contained and can easily be collected and loaded back into the blaster for the next sandblasting task. Reusing your blasting medium can save a significant amount of money, especially if you are dealing with long project or plan on blasting through several projects in a row. The best way to recollect your medium outside is to lay down a tarp to cover the area your medium is aimed at and where it could bounce back to.