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BLAST MEDIA?

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paulsherman

Jedi Trainee
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Using a cheap Harbor Freight Blast Cabinet, I started out using the white silicone sand (recommended). It works OK, but lots of dust and the sand seems to cake up a bit, because of the moisture in the environment. I live in the Northwest.

Removing rust from the usual Bugey parts.

I have been told that Walnut Shell Media will work better. True or false?

Thank you
 
For rust removal, no to the walnut shells,
Plastic media will be better than the silica beads for rust. The best (opinion) is garnet; it’s inexpensive and cuts rust very well.
Garnet will still be dusty and the moisture from your air compressor will still have a negative effect on the process. Just not as bad as what you’re facing now.
Plastic media will cut down on the dust and will be less affected by the moisture however be prepared to use a poker face when you see the price for a 5gal bucket!

You most likely need to address the moisture coming from the compressor with a good in-line water filter.

Dug
 
Glass beads are a very common material for blast cabinets and work well for rust removal as well as mild enough for aluminum parts. Walnut shells are very mild and too soft for rust memoval. Aluminum oxide if much more aggressive for rust removal but will produce more dust than glass beads and leaves a rougher finish.

Silica sand (not silicone) was the original "sand blast" media and is low cost. It's only safe to use in a blast cabinet due to risks of silicosis from breathing the dust. It is one of the worst for breakdown dust and clumping.

https://www.kramerindustriesonline.com/blasting-media.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrasive_blasting

I usually use glass beads for general purpose blasting and then switch to aluminum oxide for more aggressive work. This "First Choice" material looks interesting and is quite inexpensive.
https://www.tptools.com/dg/183_Abrasive-Blasting-Media.html
 
First thing is you need a water seperator. Harbor Freight has them cheap enough. This is a must have. Regular playsand from the local Home Depot in paper bags, not plastic, works well if you filter thru plain old screen wire before using. Most any media will dust up. If you have the real cheap red plastic cabinet or even the larger steel one that doesnt have a dust collector, a shopvac can work. Punch a hole in side of cabinet somewhere high thats big enough for the shopvac hose to push snuggly thru. Make sure you have the filter installed in shopvac to reduce spreading dust everywhere else. This will eliminate the dust problems and you can see whats being blasted.
 
I'd love to blast the media, but it might seem politcal so I can't do it here.


I use play sand but be careful. It creates silica dust that causes cancer. Vent it out of the building and away from others....that you like.
 
Unless you are as old as me then you say the heck with it.
 
I have used play sand when it was the only alternative, but get real blasting sand if you want to use sand. Yes its deadly so be careful. Blasting sand comes in various grades, but it should be clean and dry. Coarse sand will last a couple of blastings.
 
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