Blasting Stone with Sand

Question: I am thinking of purchasing a small business doing stone engraving. My only concern is blasting with the silica sand which is what is being used right now. We plan to use a blasting room and filtered breathing system but I don't know how safe I can be using silica sand. I am curious about alternatives like silicon carbide and aluminum oxide and could use any tips and advice on how I can do this kind of work safely.

Response: Blasting with silica sand is definitely NOT recommended - even with a breathing apparatus. Both Aluminum Oxide and Silicon Carbide are more aggressive blasting media than sand and will provide quicker results and a better surface finish on stone. Both of these media can be used with standard abrasive blasting systems without modification. Of course, always minimize breathing any kind of dust when blasting.

Stone Engraving

Question: I am thinking of purchasing a small business doing stone engraving. My only concern is blasting with the silica sand which is what is being used right now. We plan to use a blasting room and filtered breathing system but I don't know how safe I can be using silica sand. I am curious about alternatives like silicon carbide and aluminum oxide and could use any tips and advice on how I can do this kind of work safely.

Response: Blasting with silica sand is definitely NOT recommended - even with a breathing apparatus. Both Aluminum Oxide and Silicon Carbide are more aggressive blasting media than sand and will provide quicker results and a better surface finish on stone. Both of these media media can be used with standard abrasive blasting systems without modification. Of course, always minimize breathing any kind of dust when blasting.

July 4th BBQ

Take a look at your wood deck or concrete or stone patio while you are grilling over the weekend. Does the surface need some attention? A few tips to begin the cleaning and restoration process:

Wood Decks -- Dry abrasive blasting with Corn Cob Grit can strip dirt, soils, stains and coatings without damaging the wood or raising the grain. Avoid harder media such as sand (don't ever blast with silica sand anyway) or glass or coal slag as these will definitely etch the wood and can cause damage. The main benefit of dry abrasive blasting versus high pressure water is that the dry surface can be re-sealed immediately - a one weekend project instead of two or three.

Concrete or Stone Patios -- Stripping paint off concrete surfaces requires a more aggressive abrasive such as Crushed Glass Grit. Stone which can be softer than concrete might demand Crushed Glass Grit but Walnut Shell Grit may be a better option since it is not as aggressive and stone is easier to clean (typically no paint or coatings to remove).

Final tip -- Enjoy the BBQ first, then start the work!