Abrasive Media

Glass Beads

Glass beads are a less aggressive abrasive blasting material which creates a softer finish. It will also produce a bright satin like finish and will not damage the surface. It is also highly recyclable.

Glass beads is better for buffing and polishing stainless steel applications.

Aluminum Oxide

Superiority rigid and robust, aluminum oxide is also great for etching. This abrasive is great in preparation for paint or coated surface. Aluminum oxide is a long lasting media and also a high recyclable media.

Aluminum oxide also is a good option for almost all surface types, including aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, and steel.

Plastics

Plastic abrasive media is generally made from crushed urea, polyester, or acrylics. Each plastic type comes in a range of different sizes and surface hardness. This media is also soft and will not damage the surface.

Plastic is a good option for mold cleaning, blasting of plastic parts, or applications where the removal of underlying layers is not permitted therefore, a better choice. Automotive, marine, and electronic industries commonly use plastic media.

Silicon Carbide

The hardest blasting material available, silicon carbide, also superior choice for the toughest jobs. Challenging jobs are no match for the various sizes, colors, and forms silicon carbide can take. It is very aggressive and will deliver great etching results. Silicon Carbide is also a high recyclable media.

Silicon carbide can be used on any surface material such as glass etching, polishing, lapping, and general-purpose heavy-duty blast cutting operations.

Steel Shot and Grit

Steel shot is tough and is also recyclable. It is also highly cost-effective, making it a great alternative to more costly abrasive media types.

To be most effective, the proper size, hardness, and shape are essential to media selection.

Steel shot is also a great way to remove surface contaminants, texture a surface before coating, or preening (hardening) surfaces.

Walnut Shells

The hardest of the soft abrasives, walnut shells, come in a variety of sizes. Walnut shells are also useful for polishing soft surfaces that harder abrasive materials could damage.

Walnut shells is a great way to polish soft metals, wood, fiberglass, plastic, and stone. It is also useful for the tumbling of gems and jewelry.

Corn Cobs

Corn cobs, made from finely ground corn cob pieces, are the softest available abrasive type. This abrasive is also an ideal way for cleaning, de-burring, burnishing, and de-flashing surfaces.

Corn cobs are also used to clean and polish jewelry, cutlery, engine parts, fiberglass, and debris or graffiti removal from wood, brick, or stone.

Other media types can be used when abrasive blasting. However, these are the general types that you will most often encounter. Most types are safe to use when wearing proper protective gears.