Start off with a soft medium
If you are not sure which medium are you going to choose or if the surface which you intend to blast can withstand a highly abrasive material, start out with a softer medium. Some of the mediums which are considered to be softer are corn cobs and walnut shells as they are known to prevent etching. Also, such mediums are biodegradable so you don’t have to worry about generating waste as they are eco-friendly types.
Glass for shiny finish
If you want to get a smooth and bright finish, use glass beads for your Abrasive Blast Cleaning. Using glass beads has reduced stress on the surface material since they are typically made of fine soda-lime glass. Because glass beads are made of recyclable material, they can be used over and over again thereby reducing the costs of blasting materials.
Cleaning with aluminum oxide
Aluminum oxide is sharper and harder compared to glass beads making it ideal for removing paint coatings and also for general cleaning applications. Aluminum oxide is also utilized for etching of glass.
Plastic for automobile and aerospace purposes
Because plastic material is very soft, it is usually used for the removal of paint on fiberglass and glass surfaces. Fiberglass parts are commonly used in automobiles and manufacturing marine parts and aerospace equipments. Abrasive Blast Cleaning can be done on these surfaces with the use of plastic without damaging the surface or stripping it. The use of plastic for abrasive blasting also produces just a minimal amount of dust.
Silicon carbide for speedy etching
Silicon carbide can cut hard surfaces such as stone, glass and similar materials at an impressive speed. It can also remove paint and rust without much difficulty.
Steel media for aggressive and extremely hard blasting
Carbon steel as blasting material is excellent for Abrasive Blast Cleaning as it can effectively remove heavy paint coatings, rust or scale from any surfaces made of steel. Carbon steel media is offered in shot or grit form and is used for peening or polishing applications. Steel grit is commonly sharper in texture and more angular in shape.
Do away with sand
Sand blasting is used by other companies as a blasting medium. However, more and more companies have already refrained from using this blasting medium due to a number of reasons. One of these is that sand has silica which can cause respiratory issues when inhaled by workers who are involved in the process of sandblasting. Also, sand has high moisture content which can eventually damage blasting equipment with constant exposure.