Sand Blast Tutorial

Abrasives

• Sand blasting was traditionally done with sand that had been sieved to a uniform size. Although silica sand is still the most commonly used abrasive in sand blasting, it also has the most negative potential impact on workers' and onlooker's health because of the amount of dust it creates as it breaks up.

  The popularity of metallic and synthetic abrasives is growing as people become more aware of the health dangers of using silica sand abrasives. Metallic and synthetic abrasives don't create as much dust in the blasting process, meaning not as much gets inhaled by workers and passersby.

Location

• There are three main areas where you can perform the sand blasting process--a sand blasting cabinet, out in the open in your backyard or in a specialized sand blasting booth. A sand blasting cabinet is a box into which you place the object being sand blasted and blast it by manipulating the sand blaster with your hands in the built-in gloves in the cabinet. You are protected from the blasting by a glass window, so you won't inhale any dust or be injured by any loose particles.

  If the object you are sand blasting is very large, then a sand blasting cabinet may not be practical, and you will have to sand blast it outdoors. Although this makes it much easier to work around the object, it's also much more hazardous to your health, because there's a higher likelihood of you inhaling dust. A sand blasting booth isn't usually a viable option unless you have a sand blasting business, because they are cost-effective only for repeated, heavy-duty projects.

Reducing Health Problems

• Health problems are a particular issue in sand blasting if you are using silica sand abrasive. The inhalation of silica sand dust can cause silicosis. However, in addition to the illnesses associated with inhaling dust, other possible health hazards in sand blasting include burns and exposure to excessive noise.

  The typical safety equipment that should be worn while sandblasting include a blast helmet or hood, ear protection and eye protection. Whenever possible, sand blasting should be carried out indoors to minimize the health impact of flying particles and dust. Also, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may have regulations about where you can perform sand blasting, so you should always check before you start.