DUSTLESS BLASTING DB800 - Abrasive Comparison Chart

16
Aluminum Oxide
Description
Surface
Profile
Speed
Surface
Removal
Hardness Bulk Density
Crushed Glass
Glass Beads
Silicon Carbide
Plastic Abrasives
Steel Shot
Steel Grit
Corn Cob
Walnut Shells
Sharp, long lasting
media for fast etching
& profiling
Fast High Etch Yes 8 - 9
110 lbs/ft
3
Silica-Free, 100%
recycled glass;
efficient; economical
stripping
Fast
Medium-High
Etch
Slight 5 - 6
100 lbs/ft
3
Round, soda-lime
glass produces bright,
satin finish; minimizes
stress on part
Medium
Fast
No Etch
Satin Finish
Slight 5 - 6
95 lbs/ft
3
Very hard, aggressive
cutting media; ideal
for stone, glass, and
hard surfaces
Very Fast
Very High
Etch
Yes 9 - 9.5
90 lbs/ft
3
Soft media designed
for automotive &
aerospace applications
Medium
No Etch
Stripping
Slight 3 - 4
50 lbs/ft
3
Carbon Steel, round
spheres designed for
polishing and peening
Medium No Etch No
40 - 51
HRC
230 lbs/ft
3
Angular, carbon steel
for fast stripping &
aggressive cleaning
Medium
Fast
High Etch Moderate
40 - 65
HRC
260 lbs/ft
3
Organic, soft media
ideal for soft surfaces
such as wood
Slow No Etch No 4 - 4.5
40 lbs/ft
3
Angular, organic grit
for mildly aggressive
stripping without
damage to surface
Medium
Slow
Low Etch Very Slight 4.5 - 5
50 lbs/ft
3
Blast Sand
Angular, sharp edges
that cut into substrate
and leave an anchor
profile
Medium
Fast
High Etch Yes 7
100 lbs/ft
3
Sugar Sand
Round media used for
cleaning and stripping
surface
Medium
Fast
High Etch Yes 6 - 7
100 lbs/ft
3
Garnet
Angular hard abrasive
commonly used in
place of silica sand
Very Fast
Very High
Etch
Yes 7.5 - 8.5
85 lbs/ft
3
Soda Bicarbonate
Medium-sized
abrasive used to blast
smooth and strip
suraced
Slow No Etch No 2.5
61 lbs/ft
3
Coal Slag
Angular by-product of
coal; used for removal
of coatings from steel
and concrete
Medium
Fast
High Etch Yes 6 - 7
85 lbs/ft
3
COMPARISON CHART
Understanding the impact of different abrasives will help in deciding the best media for the job. The following chart will
explain the characteristics of various media types.