Posted by Marty [24.114.38.6] on Friday, May 09, 2014 at 18:46:33 :
In Reply to: Re: Media Blasting posted by Jeff in Buffalo [192.151.110.230] on Friday, May 09, 2014 at 15:44:45 :
I don't know any blasters still using silica. Silica left a beautiful finish but for health reasons, even with a hood it's just not used around here...even in a blast cabinet. I mean sooner or later the mess needs to be cleaned up & it's just too bad for your lungs.
Garnet does as good a job but it's more expensive. Blast shops don't get effected by the cost so much because they recycle it through filters like giant blast cabinets but it's pricey for the home guy just running it through once.
Walnut works as good or better than soda...just that you need to wash the parts thoroughly before painting to remove the oils in the shell or the paint will all fisheye.
My blast cabinet I use glass but I wouldn't want that crap out in my yard...that's for sure. I guess if you're blasting in a booth & then shoveling it up...that's be fine. It's just much slower than sand.
Follow Ups: