Best/Cheapest Alternative to Sand for Blasting?

Catamount said:

I do a lot of home blasting and powdercoating as well, and I use fine grit coal slag. AKA "Black Diamond" at Tractor Supply Company. $8 for a bag. Before I knew about that, I was buying it for $16 a bag at my local masonry supply company. Both will work great in your blaster. The stuff cuts amazingly well and leaves a perfect surface for powder. Get the fine "60-90" grit.

Hi Joey Dubs, whatever you do, avoid SAND. As mentioned in this thread, when airborne it can do permanent damage to your lungs.I do a lot of home blasting and powdercoating as well, and I use fine grit coal slag. AKA "Black Diamond" at Tractor Supply Company. $8 for a bag. Before I knew about that, I was buying it for $16 a bag at my local masonry supply company. Both will work great in your blaster. The stuff cuts amazingly well and leaves a perfect surface for powder. Get the fine "60-90" grit.

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A big x2 on this one! Glass bead and soda work all right for minor rust removal but if you're going to powder coat your motorcycle parts, you need TOOTH for the powder to adhere well and last a long time. Glass and soda leave too "soft" of a finish.

I also use Black Beauty slag in either Fine or Medium/Fine grit and use it in my cabinets and pot blaster. Though it's a little more expensive than sand ($16/100 lbs. at my semi-local masonry supply), it doesn't have the silicosis dangers outlined above by the other guys, it lasts at least four times as long as sand before it turns to useless dust, and it cuts a lot better.

Nice to see another coater on the board Catamount! Joey, good luck with the project -- keep us posted on your progress.

A big x2 on this one! Glass bead and soda work all right for minor rust removal but if you're going to powder coat your motorcycle parts, you need TOOTH for the powder to adhere well and last a long time. Glass and soda leave too "soft" of a finish.I also use Black Beauty slag in either Fine or Medium/Fine grit and use it in my cabinets and pot blaster. Though it's a little more expensive than sand ($16/100 lbs. at my semi-local masonry supply), it doesn't have the silicosis dangers outlined above by the other guys, it lasts at least four times as long as sand before it turns to useless dust, and it cuts a lot better.Nice to see another coater on the board Catamount!Joey, good luck with the project -- keep us posted on your progress.