Did you know that when a surface is coated in paint, grease, or something similar, it can be brought back to its original condition with the help of a sandblaster? This means that you do not have to throw certain things away you can simply blast them back to better conditions.
There are many materials used for media blasting besides sand, which we are going to share with you below.
Glass Beads
This material is manufactured from lead-free, soda lime-type glass. They are made into preformed ball shapes and they produce a smooth and bright finish. It is smoother and brighter than angular abrasives.
The neat thing is that a professional company such as Surfco Restoration & Construction LLC can recycle these glass beads around 30 times. This option is great when you want to prepare metal surfaces to paint. It is also great at removing surface blemishes like rust, scale, and old paint.
Aluminum Oxide Grit
This is the most used material in blast finishing and to prepare surfaces. It is very sharp and it can be recycled over and over. This material is angular and durable, plus it is low in cost.
If you need to round off edges, aluminum oxide grit can easily take care of that for you.
Plastic Grits
Plastic grits come in a variety of sizes, hardness, and shapes. The great thing is that they can be manufactured to suit different types of needs. This grit is made from polycarbonate or polystyrene compounds.
These are popular in the marine, automobile, and aerospace world, where fiberglass is used.
Walnut Shells
Because black walnut shells are naturally occurring and not as hard as some of the other materials it is a great choice for more delicate blasting. This is a popular grit choice when cleaning and polishing surfaces that do not require something very abrasive.
Sand
Most people think of sand as the most common type of material in media blasting because it is associated with sandblasting. the truth is that nowadays sand is used the least.
The reason it has become less popular is because of the silica content it has. If you breathe it in, it can lead to serious respiratory illnesses, making this a less favored option.
Sandblasting comes in handy when you are trying to remove paint but, you have to be careful because it will also bring up the grain in your wood, giving it a rough appearance.
Feeling Like a Pro in Media Blasting?
Now that we went over the different material options when it comes to media blasting, you can make an informed decision on what you need. The final choice of the media you use will vary based on how large the job is and how you need your final product to look.
Did you find our blog post helpful today? Please feel free to bookmark our site and come back soon for some more helpful reads.