Media Blasting Chart
With some surfaces, a simple cleaning solution just won’t do. Media blasting has a variety of uses, from removing a layer of paint to deodorizing a countertop to eliminating fire damage. With a high-pressured system and the right abrasive, this process can produce both a cleaning and finishing action for your surfaces. It’s important to understand the different advantages and disadvantages of abrasive types. Check out our blast media chart to find the right one for the task at hand.
| Media Type | Description Best/Use | Grit Size Range | Hardness | Shape | Surface Profile | Speed | Recyclability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum oxide | Extremely sharp and long-lasting, best used for etching and profiling | Very coarse to extra fine | 8-9 Mohs | Angular | High etch | Fast | High |
| Crushed glass grit | Aggressive grit, best used for surface profiling and removal of coatings and surface contamination | Coarse to extra fine | 5-6 Mohs | Angular | Medium- high etch | Fast | None, consumable |
| Glass beads | Lead-free, soda lime-type glass, containing no free silica best used to produce a smooth and bright finish | Coarse to super fine | 5-6 Mohs | Round | No etch, satin finish | Medium-fast | High |
| Garnet | Industrial gemstone mineral best used for coating adhesion or where grit transfer is needed | Very Coarse to Fine | 7-8 Mohs | Varies | Virtually none | Fast | Medium |
| Silicone Carbide | Hard, aggressive cutting media, best used on hard surfaces | Very coarse to extra fine | 9-9.5 Mohs | Angular | Very high etch | Very fast | High |
| Plastic Abrasive | Soft media, best used for coatings and paint, ideal for automotive and aerospace applications | Very coarse | 3-4 Mohs | Angular | No etch, stripping | Medium | High |
| Pumice | Light, natural mineral used as a mild abrasive where surface protection is necessary | Super coarse to super fine | 6-7 Mohs | Various | Low etch | Medium-slow | Low |
| Steel Shot | Carbon steel best for polishing and smoothing surfaces | Medium to ultra-fine | 40-51 HRC | Sphere | No etch | Medium | Very high |
| Steel Grit | Carbon steel best for aggressive cleaning and fast stripping | Super coarse to medium | 40-65 HRC | Angular | High etch | Medium-fast | Very high |
| Corn Cob | Organic, soft media best used on soft surfaces like wood for non-damaging cleaning and stripping | Extra Coarse to Extra Fine | 4.5-5 Mohs | Angular | None | Slow | Low |
| Walnut Shell | Organic, durable grit best used for mildly aggressive stripping without damage | Extra Coarse to Extra Fine | 4.5-5 Mohs | Angular | Low etch | Medium-slow | Low |