[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Technology with blasting has really changed where most people would say that "sandblasting" or Sandblasters are obsolete now.

Depending on the surface finish desired, -and what you are blasting, most blasting for rust removal is either done with crushed glass or aluminum oxide. We use aluminum oxide in our blast cabinet, and we use stainless shot in our Rotoblaster. If we outsource the blasting work, we use a local blaster that uses plastic to strip the paint and substrates, and aluminum oxide to remove remaining rust. If we have a dustless blasting company come to the shop to do the work, they use finely crushed (pulverized) glass that has been recycled mixed with water to blast the surface. The water keeps the sheetmetal temps lower and there is no dust looming. The downside is the glass media typically does not leave a smooth surface finish on the metal. For items like a Frame or Axles, it is fine. Again, silica sand is not used by most due to environmental issues with it airborne, -and breathing the silica can be very damaging to your lungs.

Another FWIW is plastic media is shot at about 30-35 psi, and the aluminum oxide is at about 40 psi. At those pressures, it does not take a large compressor to generate those small pressures whereas bigger compressors are required with the older Blasters which generally must produce 120+ psi.