Source for good sandblast media??

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Jan 23, 06 7:48 pm

About time I renewed my blast media in my sandblast cabinet, it's grey alumium oxide which has done me proud but has now so much dust in it that it keeps clogging my filter!!
I bought that batch at an Autojumble so don't know where I got it from.

So, does anyone have any recommendations for a good (i.e. cheap!) source of a good media - aluminium oxide has worked well for me so far but if you have a better suggestion please make it.
I did find this guy on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WHITE-ALUMINA-ABR ... dZViewItem, which looks like it might be a good buy if his description is true (just the one bag mind!!)

What do you think?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jan 23, 06 7:55 pm

can't you just buy sand? available at all good builders merchants.

and if it's wet dry it in the oven

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Jan 23, 06 8:19 pm

Yes, you can, but it's nothing like as abrasive as al oxide, for example. With a home setup I think it pays to have a good abrasive so you don't use twice as much time and air. with the amount of use a hobby set up gets the extra expense is not that significant.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jan 23, 06 8:33 pm

Machine mart have some. Any good?
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.as ... 2055&g=107

Jon Benn · Post by **Jon Benn** » Mon Jan 23, 06 8:33 pm

I found the best place was Guyson, fair price and next day delivery, I'll try and remember to get you the number tommorrow, might be able to help as i have an account with them and I am going to order some more glass bead next week. Got a sack of corn cob if you want it (free).

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Jan 23, 06 9:25 pm

Thanks Guys, good suggestions. I'd forgotten about Machine Mart - with them being relatively local I could save on postage too.

I'll also check out the Guyson option, no doubt they could advise as well, thanks Jon, if you do have that number it would be good.
The Ebay guy is about the same price as M Mart, but if his ad is true his 'aerospace grade' white al oxide

lasts a lot longer and does not turn to dust. If that is true it would be well worth the ?10 postage to me to get that.
Anyway, I'l talk to Guyson, see what they have, and take it from there.

I might also take the opportunity to make a deeper sump for my cabinet - with that modification it would be perfect!! (and it's not like I have anything else to do....

)

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Jan 23, 06 9:32 pm

PS thanks for the corn cob offer Jon, but actually I already ate

......seriously though, I've found that in practice I just have not got around to changing media...so far the al oxide has done all I wanted, and I figure emptying out the cabinet and gun would quite a lot of hassle. In fact I've got some glass bead that I've never used (yet). thanks for offer though.

latil · Post by **latil** » Mon Jan 23, 06 10:51 pm

I find that most tool hire places will sell the grit at fair prices,if they hire blasters that is

On another post on here last year I warned of the dangers of using sand from builders merchants. The bags of kiln dried sand now have a large printed warning on the back, do not use for blasting. Please , anyone don't be tempted to use the stuff the dust will kill you sometime in the future when you've forgotten about the sand blasting

Jon Benn · Post by **Jon Benn** » Tue Jan 24, 06 12:24 pm

Gavin, name and number in pm

GeneralWee · Post by **GeneralWee** » Mon Feb 06, 06 10:46 am

Hi. A company called Abraclean 0161 480 8087 up here in Stockport are trade suppliers of all blasting mediums. I use Abrablast fine (about 60 grit) which is made from crushed glass. About ?4-50 a 25 kilo bag.Great stuff and atleast half the price of any where else I've found.
Hope this helps.

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Feb 06, 06 11:38 am

Thanks General - that does sound like a good deal. I'm sorted for the moment but I think I'll be giving them a call next time!!

newport100 · Post by **newport100** » Sat Feb 25, 06 2:23 pm

I sell Clarke products (same as machine Mart) and am about to order a sandblasting set up plus the medium etc. I get all this stuff at trade prices being a Clarke agent - Ill let you know how much it is - you can have it at cost if you still need some

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Sun Feb 26, 06 6:31 pm

Thanks, much appreciated. I ended up getting the white stuff ! and I'm pretty happy with it so far. I did follow up some leads given but for various reasons went to the Ebay guy I posted. I'm only using about half what I got and the last lot lasted me a year or more so I should be OK.

I also took the opportunity to make and install a 'deep sump'

on my blast cabinet. Now it is perfect, runs like a dream and no more sucking free air in the middle of a blasting session!