Can You Sandblast Cast Iron?

I have watched videos and read a lot on sandblasting cast iron. They seem like they contradict each other on weather or not you can sandblast cast iron without ruining the metal. I personally have came to the conclusion that with the correct blasting material it is fine to sandblast cast iron. I used glass bead material that is used on soft metals.

[@Mike-01234]

I ran a commercial sand blasting company for years you need a mask see all that blasting dust under you face your breathing that in it can cause something call silicosis. The compressor is adding air to the box but the dust is not getting sucked into anything like a dust collector. It blows out around the door and window seal. You want to get a 3m paint mask replace the filters with dust filters cost is about $100 for a nice one don't go cheap those get hot restrict breathing. I prefer the full face with the glass I use it for spray painting also. I lost about 15% of my breathing capacity from just loading bags of glass and sand always breathing the dust in even when someone else was blasting. We used a air fed helmet but you don't want this junk in your lungs.

[@wizardofahhhs759]

I had a house fire that burned all the seasoning off my cast iron cookware (not to mention rust caused by water from the firetruck) and I carried them to work and blasted them on my lunch break over a week's time, they look just as good today as they did 20 years ago before the fire, even still has the grinding marks on the cooking surface and all of the lettering is perfect. Sandblasting does not "ruin" cast iron.

[@Racko94]

Part of my job is regularly sandblasting... With aggressive media like I use, yea it can take away a bit of material, and also leave the material with a bit of a rougher surface, but cast iron isn't exactly smooth to begin with, and you'd have to be blasting an area for a significant amount of time to do damage to it. Only time it quickly damages something is if it is thin material and/or is compromised significantly by rust. For anything with light-moderate rust, I would personally just go with electrolysis, but anything that's covered in rust/been sitting in the weather for years, straight to the blaster. Also, freshly blasted metal is very quick to start rusting, so I would clean and season the cast iron immediately after blasting

[@markstewart4894]

I just blasted a badly rusted Dutch oven. Cleaned up well. I have since seasoned it in the oven and its ready for use again.

[@michaelrobertson5207]

I use AL oxide for firearms. It will take longer for heavy areas, but not too long. Leaves all the detail lettering.

[@kimwitte6014]

Thank you! I've succesfully restored about 30 cast iron by having blasted. I think soaking in chemicals as many suggest is bad and is extremely time consuming.

[@jessicahuffman1034]

Just sand blasted my big cast iron pan! Thanks for the video!

[@EmmBeeVee]

you have to recure it I'm sure,right? I want to do mine soon basically because the bottoms so crusted from being 50 years old. let me know. did it damage it at all? did it corrode really bad after you did it?

[@kimwitte6014]

I've had alot of mine blasted. It took three to four seasonings with a thin layer of lard on the bbq to restore to perfection! A cast iron group deleted my suggestion to have it blasted,it's apparently not good and against the rules to suggest such a method 😕 best method I've used.

[@jdrs4214]

Congrats on getting those fine pieces of kitchenware sir. Now season them up, and put them to good use; ....and if you haven’t one already, get yourself a campfire waffle maker. That is my breakfast go to machine in the MacabreVirus19 era. I make my waffles and the family breakfast at 5:30AM on the outdoor patio chimney. My neighbors are literally begging me to make them a plate every friggin morning. God bless!!

[@Jack.333]

Nice job Tim I like it Thanks from Cleveland Ohio Happy New Decade

[@Ken19700]

Cast iron cookware is very high carbon. It's extremely tough. You would have to try pretty hard to damage it with sandblasting.

[@Ken19700]

It's tougher than steel.

[@hobohacker258]

I would have opt'ed for walnut media (maybe corn cob?) Season it straight away. Cast iron will start rusting right away.

[@dalenedeysel5614]

Where's your place? in south africa?

[@ASliceofWoodWorkshop]

You found me

[@lexboegen]

I've used electrolysis before to clean up cast iron skillets, and that works too. I haven't tried blasting media, but like you I'd stay away from the more agressive media (like Black Diamond). When I season in the oven, I like to use coconut oil. Most oils will work fine, but I get slightly better results with coconut oil versus some others that I've tried.

[@ASliceofWoodWorkshop]

Some of the oils will spoil though if not used regularly. Interesting that electrolysis works. I didn't want to have to go between all those little bumps haha

[@johnlorraine204]

IMO~Electrolysis is a horrible process and it only works on mildly rusted objects.

[@simonholmqvist8017]

@@ASliceofWoodWorkshop Super late reply here! The oil will not spoil after it's been used for seasoning, since it's now a hard plastic like substance!

[@perspectivex]

5:24 Do you mean crushed glass (angular particles) or glass beads?

[@nyspace1]

I have a cast iron waffle maker. I am going to sand it down and cure it because I want to make some waffles using it.

[@johncalkins429]

How to season pan to get the color back

[@ASliceofWoodWorkshop]

Oil and heating it in an oven

[@jackmiller3628]

how big of a compressor do you need to run the sand blaster?

[@ASliceofWoodWorkshop]

mine is 20 gallon. I do take breaks. a bigger compressor would be nice.

[@hobohacker258]

Bigger than big plus 30% more. It uses an obscene amount of CFM.

[@bradwells8643]

Any compressor will work 5 horse plus will work fine

[@CowboySanta]

Wait a second, he glass beaded it? That's not sand blast!

[@bradwells8643]

Sand has silica in it its very bad to breathe u can blast with sand but at your own risk

[@reallifelegend4781]

3 years later... isn't glass technically sand? 😂

[@drewledbetter526]

What coke do you drink...Pepsi. What car do you drive? Chevy I gotta get some new levis. Go to store & buy wrangler. Get the point

[@wretchedslippage3255]

Bro. Your "finished" blasted product is so awful. YOU DIDNT CLEAN THEM. Theyre still dirty. WTF lol

[@ASliceofWoodWorkshop]

After blasting the item still needs to be washed and then seasoned. This is showing that it can be sand blasted.