Sandblasting media compared - GLASS - SAND and Aluminium Oxide test

The video reviews different sandblasting medium as glass beads, sand and aluminium oxide with the same grain size of 200 micron. The test is made in a 90 L benchtop mini sandblasting cabinet supplied with 70 PSi 5 bars of air pressure. Safety concerns are highlighted regarding the dangers with sandblasting to prevent injuries. Silica sandblasting poisoning is discussed. The speed of the grains from the sandblasting nozzle is shown inside the blasting cabinet. Surface roughness is demonstrated as related to the different blasting medium. An Eastwood, Arbos Amazon cabinet is used, the same as from Verktygsboden in Sweden, and Grizzly industries. Made in China and sold on Alibaba.

[@gavinoliver8074]

Amazing advice and thank you for the warning on silica too. I never knew.

[@Neur0bit]

Great info and advice. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@outboardfixer]

That is powder coating on that propeller...not paint, MUCH harder to get off. Great, helpful vid.

[@bigmotter001]

Extremely informative video. Comparison to sandpaper was genius. Thanks and take care.

[@russellledbetter3121]

Your excellent video has helped me greatly. I believe that glass beads is the media for my project. While I understand it will take considerably longer to accomplish a clean finished product, the surface looks less abused and I like the fact that it is less dangerous to my health. Thanks again for the common sense approach to these questions!😊👍👌

[@Ken_Sweden]

Thx!

[@jimpollard113]

One of the best videos about this subject on KZbin.

[@maddog2791]

great review and thanks for pointing out the silicosis risks for using the wrong kind of sand!

[@CC-tk4ik]

Very well put together educational video. Thank you.

[@Middlestepofficial]

This is more about hardness than weigh of the elements. According to the Mohs hardness scale, aluminum is 2.75, whereas glass is 6.5 and sand (depending on the stone composition) can range from 1 to 8 like soapstone to granite and quartzite. Also glass can be hard, with silicone composition glass having hardness at the Mohs scale od 7 or 7.5. In reality, the harder material eats the softer. That's why diamond has hardness of 10, being the hardest and can only be cut by a diamond itself.

[@changeisgood536]

Hi love the video what size compressor would you recommend

[@boots7859]

Appreciate the video. I'm doing my calipers and decided to unbox the blasting cabinet I got from Tractor Supply, and threw some Home Depot play sand in there..... Think I'll go find some Alu. Oxide tomorrow.

[@serkandemirhanofficial]

Aluminium : 2m13s Sand : 3m22s Glass : 8m47s

[@mrblacktrh]

People working in construction are at high risk of silicosis as well. In construction they usually use special dust traps to minimize the silica in the air.

[@rocketsurgeon1746]

Well done. Thanks

[@Rboost77]

Excellent video!!

[@DJLadyAndrogina]

this is an excellent video , well done my friend :)

[@Ken_Sweden]

+The Partyhouse Project thanks 100 👍

[@leviathantheirishman580]

Love the video. Very helpful

[@nickfree46]

Thank you, this was a very good review on media, the pros and cons. I personally use building sand at 6 pence a kilo, i wash it with detergent and pressure washer. I then take a couple of cupfuls into a metal sieve and blast with a 2000 watt hot air gun. When wet sand dry it falls thro the sieve. This gives me a very cheap and fine media. I always use ppe to be safe. Sounds a long process but its like watching the sun rise, i find it relaxing and soothing and at 60 pence per 10 kilos very very cheap.

[@Ken_Sweden]

+Big Nick good input! What OS ppe?

[@nickfree46]

@@Ken_Sweden personal protective equipment. Face mask a must so no scarring to lungs, goggles with foam around eyes to protect. A hoodie or woolie hat and gloved. Remember sand basically glass in raw state and can be hazardess.

[@Okie-Tom]

What media and size do you recommend for car bodies and trailers? Thanks, Tom

[@cubul32]

What is the hardness (moh) of that special sand?

[@IvanRodriguez-je6yp]

It truly was a good video oh, and you explain the differences in the media, you also showed how aggressive in smooth the media can be, but you didn't tell us what type of metal the propeller was made of ? Was it aluminum? Steel? But that definitely would make the difference on the aggressiveness of the media

[@Ken_Sweden]

Yes. It was aluminum. You are correct! 🙏 thanks

[@Halfstepdwn]

Hi Ken! Awesome video! I’m planning to blast a polycarbonate block for an art project to achieve a more permanent frosted look. What media do you recommend on using?

[@Ken_Sweden]

I would go Aluminum oxide, it will give you a frosty surface but also a somewhat rough surface. if you want to go completely smooth but still frosty the go glass beads

[@syedahmed7454]

Just discovered your amazing Video Ken. Any ideas what media would be best for sandblasting Granite?

[@Ken_Sweden]

Sorry but that’s an interesting topic! Make a video and show us!

[@andreaslundback]

Hi, yet another good video! You did some modifications on your cabinet. Have you covered the mods in another video? I can’t find it but it would be interesting. I have a similar setup and would appreciate a walkthrough of your modifications :)

[@Ken_Sweden]

I will show in a second video next week or as son as I get to it since it’s easy to film it. Essentially I tried first what you find on internet KZbin but I wasn’t happy with the shaker stuff vibrating the cabinet and/or any fan ventilation, it just didn’t work so I ended up connecting a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner with possibility to regulate the vacuum pressure. That way I can collect the blasting media on the other side in the vacuum cleaner bag. Still when blasting rust iron oxide, then you get such a fine dust coming off, using aluminium oxide so you want to place the vacuum cleaner with the heap filter in a separate area, which I have done. For 2 min blasting jobs I sometimes avoid turning on any ventilation at all, blast the piece let it sit to avoid stirring up all dust, however the Hepa filter vacuum cleaner is the only way to go if you want it somewhat dust free.

[@andreaslundback]

Looking forward to that video 😀👍

[@Kraftika]

🌸 Resplendent

[@j.f.4765]

Hiya what media and gradient would you reccomend for a bike frame. We used glass beads with 170psi for our pressure but it wont work at all. We want the best and safest material to work with and any tips.

[@Ken_Sweden]

+Average Mtb'er Go aluminium oxide. It will do it and you wont be disappointed. I use it over the others all the time

[@Mrdubomb]

any thoughts on crushed glass? just got my first cabinet and need to buy something for doing aluminum car parts.

[@Ken_Sweden]

I would stay with the normal approved blasting medium since it is safer for your health and you work 10 times faster with aluminum oxide

[@ScrubLord92]

Just Curious if using the aluminum oxide blasting media first could be the reason your glass bead seems to have left marks?

[@Ken_Sweden]

Unsure about that, but I think the effects were there; however, as I have grounded and top-coated, the blasting media effect disappeared in almost every case.

[@IndigoChild2000]

Hi! Is there a specific reason why you didn't added soda in the comparison? Bad experiences with it or is not much used on metal and more on wood?

[@Ken_Sweden]

+IndigoChild2000 it’s even softer than the glass beads. I have for plastics and wood, it but it takes much longer for paint removal. Many thx for raising this point.

[@IndigoChild2000]

@@Ken_Sweden Thanks for the quick response :) PS: Many people talk about recovering and reusing blasting media (as you do) when you don't use a cabinet. Is it also done with Soda or is it as practice with the more abrasive media?

[@Ken_Sweden]

IndigoChild2000 I think, based on the works I have done, that the media you see in the video can be recycled about 3 times. After that, I’ve noticed they become less effective. The glass only works twice. With soda, I’ve never tried to reuse it, but I would expect it to work as well if you increase the pressure. The great benefit with soda is the possibility to wash everything off after the job is done, since it is dissolve in the water.

[@1157119973]

i belive the metal under the paint was course to start with. this is why it was so rough .im sure salt has eroded and pitted the metal and it was painted ove rwith a thick protective paint

[@goldenboyproductions7229]

Hi... I have a larger items that would not fit in a sandblast unit. I was wondering if I could use the AOxide media on my property with the right PPE equipment,

[@Ken_Sweden]

Well, probably a question on where it ends up so probably good to have some collection. ....but in reality aluminum is one of the most common material in earth crust so it’s less bad than spreading plastics

[@powerband5235]

What kind of mask do you recommend for aluminum oxide blasting? Is aluminum oxide just as dangerous as sand?

[@Ken_Sweden]

I would run the same mask for aluminum oxide as for sand because in the long run you will see that none of these dusts are good for your health. I have 3m masks and I’m very happy with how they fit. www.zoro.com/3m-half-mask-respirator-size-m-6502/i/G5376752/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9qiTBhBbEiwAp-GE0WYROEl7OhxA6HE-zZBXd1qUdadjpZYN4aaMxLtEy5UiyFWfoQZJgRoCN4IQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[@kiersanjuan7810]

What is the psi setting sir ?

[@Ken_Sweden]

About 70 psi. Cheers !

[@medicineman1202]

Does crushes glass have the same health hazard as sand?

[@Ken_Sweden]

+victor gamez No, that glass is amorphous silica with different structure inside the material. The nasty one is the one with crystalline structure.

[@medicineman1202]

@@Ken_Sweden I still wear a respirator...thanks for the information

[@orsoncart9441]

Godd video. That is on steel. Can you do a comparison like this using aluminum.

[@stevepottle4357]

Hi I’ve just started using the aluminium oxide media, what do you find is the best air pressure to run at please ? I’m mainly stripping bike frames and some cast cylinders and heads

[@Ken_Sweden]

+Steve Pottle You can’t go wrong here, just raise it until you see good results. Mine is 100 psi, which is because my pump doesn’t run higher. Works good at 100 and don’t need more.

[@v2creationvishalvyas444]

i want to apply in glass sit . so what kind of matiriyal best for me ?

[@Ken_Sweden]

You can always go with the aluminium oxide. If you want to have a softer feeling surface then you go finer grain and lower pressure. Rougher feeling surface, bigger grains and more air pressure. So, whichever you use, you can always also adjust the outcome of your sandblasting by regulating the pressure, ...and for one given pressure the grain size also affects your results. In summary, you need to test yourself and see what suits you. It’s trial and error work. There is no table that can be used to envision the results although it would have been nice if it existed. In my video all the surfaces came out as 1000-2000 grit sandpaper feeling but the glass beads made a more smooth and soft surface.

[@v2creationvishalvyas444]

@@Ken_Sweden thanks for your advice sir...

[@v2creationvishalvyas444]

Can I mix river sand & Aluminum oxide for glass sandblasting ?

[@ayonkrhyno8347]

Why u have different position when u use your gun?

[@Ken_Sweden]

+Ayonk Rhyno I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Do you mean that I am sometimes closer or far away from the blades?

[@ayonkrhyno8347]

No, u was flip over your gun, when u use it

[@Ken_Sweden]

Ayonk Rhyno ok, I see. I’m holding it upside down only because the cabinet is a bit small and the hose sometimes gets kinked when holding it straight. It doesn’t make any difference on the results. Thanks for commenting so it’s cleared out! Cheers

[@ayonkrhyno8347]

Ohh i see... I was thinking there is different during operation. Thanks man

[@evangelizacionvirtual2020]

What is the number of the sand? Please

[@Ken_Sweden]

What? Number?

[@sigmarkr]

This video is quite informative thank you for the warning about silica Also this is comment number 69

[@cihangurpnar9340]

Why are those dust dangerous?

[@Ken_Sweden]

When small silica dust particles are inhaled, they can embed themselves deeply into the tiny alveolar sacs and ducts in the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide gases are exchanged. There, the lungs cannot clear out the dust by mucous or coughing.

[@Ken_Sweden]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis

[@cihangurpnar9340]

Oh I see. Is it also valid for alumina and glass ?

[@Ken_Sweden]

@@cihangurpnar9340 probably to some extent, but neither alumina or glass is as sharp edged particles.

[@landroamingandy2397]

what about soda blasting??

[@Ken_Sweden]

It is even less abrasive than the glass. it’s in my mind best for cleaning paint on for example glass, or other sensitive materials like motor covers or clutch covers in shiny aluminum. It has a big benefit that it is possible clean off easily as dissolves in water although the negative side is that it takes hours to blast bigger parts...

[@tnasituning8173]

Glass is made from sand/silica as well though... And Aluminum Oxide micron dust particles in your lungs is VERY problematic as well... Any of these will need a dust mask

[@ahmedkhan9174]

wasting time come to the point