Get the right amount of sandblasting abrasives for your needs

Many sandblasting abrasives can be used over and over, great if you're a glass artisan on a tight budget. But if you make your living in the sandblasting business, you need lots of abrasives. Some companies accommodate both needs equally well.

I recommend: Abrasive Depot carries a full line of artisan, commercial and industrial sandblasting abrasives, with sandblaster media available in 32- and 64-ounce containers, as well as containers ranging from 3 to 50 pounds.

Deal with sellers who know the sandblasting business

Knowledgeable sellers of sandblasting abrasives offer a wide selection of sandblast media and help their customers select the right equipment.

I recommend: ToolsUSA offers a selection of sandblasting media–walnut shells, glass beads, garnet, aluminum oxide and silicon carbide–from 12 to 325 grit and a media separator to recover your abrasive after blasting. MetFin provides an extensive line of sandblasting abrasives for cleaning and other purposes, along with blasting equipment and the ability to customize systems for customer needs.

Strip for less with plastic sandblasting abrasives

Media for sandblasters isn't limited to metals, minerals or glass. Plastic abrasives provide a cheap, non-toxic alternative that's easy on both the blasted surface and the person running the blaster.

I recommend: Composition Materials makes five varieties of Plasti-Grit sandblasting abrasives for cleaning and coatings removal. Plasti-Grit is a custom-engineered, recyclable plastic sandblast abrasive that won’t damage finished surfaces.

Let the dust settle into a dust and fume collector

Sandblasting abrasives create a lot of dust, both from the abrasives themselves and the particles they abrade from the blasted surface. Unchecked, this dust can be anything from a minor irritant to a potential carcinogen.

I recommend: Farr Air Pollution Control’s Gold Series® cartridge dust and fume collector features high-entry cross-flow and specially treated, vertically arranged high-efficiency filters designed to trap dust particles as small as half a micron.