What is Sand Blast in Surface Treatment?
Sand blasting is a surface treatment process that involves forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive materials against a surface under high pressure to smooth out rough surfaces, remove contaminants, or shape a surface.
<>The process removes contaminants such as rust, paint, scale, grease, or old coatings and can also alter the surface texture. Depending on the abrasive and process settings, sand blasting can achieve:
- Surface cleaning – removing rust, scale, and residues.
- Surface roughening – creating an anchor profile to improve paint or coating adhesion.
- Surface finishing – achieving a matte or uniform appearance.
- Deburring – eliminating sharp edges or burrs.
It is widely applied in industries such as automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, and metal fabrication for preparing parts before painting, anodizing, plating, or powder coating.
Main Feature
Optimize your designs for manufacturability with our expert guidelines and feedback, ensuring the best results for your product.
Advantages
- Effective Cleaning – Removes rust, paint, scale, oil, and dirt quickly and thoroughly.
- Surface Preparation – Creates a roughened texture that improves paint, coating, or adhesive bonding.
- Versatility – Works on metals, glass, wood, concrete, and plastics (with the right media).
- Time-Saving – Much faster than manual cleaning methods (grinding, wire brushing).
- Uniform Finish – Provides consistent surface roughness across large areas.
- Eco-Friendly (with correct media) – Many abrasives (e.g., garnet, glass beads) are reusable and dust can be collected with proper equipment.
- Can Reach Complex Areas – Cleans small crevices, corners, and irregular shapes where tools can’t reach.
Disadvantages
- Health Hazards – Traditional silica sand can cause silicosis (a severe lung disease) if dust is inhaled; strict PPE and dust collection systems are required.
- Surface Damage – If pressure or abrasive type is not controlled, it may warp thin metals, scratch glass, or damage delicate surfaces.
- High Noise & Dust – Generates loud noise and airborne dust, requiring protective gear and proper ventilation.
- Equipment Cost – Professional blasting machines and dust collectors are expensive.
- Environmental Concerns – If not contained, abrasive media and dust may contaminate the environment.
- Not Precise – It’s a bulk process, not ideal for highly detailed or precision-required areas.
- Material Loss – Can remove base material if overdone, especially on softer substrates.
Design Considerations for Sand Blast Parts
Our CNC systems offer precision specifications that conform to market standards, securing uniform exactness and seamless piece alignment.
Material Selection
Wall Thickness & Part Strength
Surface Roughness Requirement
Tolerance & Dimensional Accuracy
Feature Geometry
Masking Areas
Surface Coating Preparation
Part Size & Accessibility
Residual Stress & Fatigue
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FAQ about Sand Blast
Get to know our Sand Blast Services better through these frequently asked questions and answers.
Sandblasting, also called abrasive blasting, is a process where high-speed abrasive particles are propelled against a material’s surface to clean, smooth, or roughen it. It is widely used for rust removal, paint stripping, and preparing surfaces for coatings.
Sandblasting provides fast and effective cleaning, creates excellent surface adhesion for coatings, reaches complex geometries, and delivers a uniform finish. It is also versatile, working on metals, concrete, wood, and plastics.
The main drawbacks include potential health risks from dust exposure, possible damage to delicate surfaces, high noise levels, and additional costs for equipment and dust control. Proper safety measures and media selection are essential.
Sandblasting is suitable for steel, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, concrete, wood, and even glass (using softer abrasives). Material hardness and thickness should always be considered to avoid damage.
Common abrasives include silica sand, aluminum oxide, garnet, glass beads, walnut shells, and steel grit. The choice depends on the desired surface finish, material hardness, and environmental considerations.
Sandblasting increases surface roughness (Ra), which enhances coating adhesion. However, the finish can range from matte to highly textured depending on abrasive type, size, and blasting pressure.
Modern sandblasting can be eco-friendly if reusable abrasives (like glass beads or garnet) and dust collection systems are used. Traditional silica sand is less safe and should be avoided due to silicosis risks.
Operators must wear protective clothing, respirators, gloves, and ear protection. Enclosures, dust collectors, and ventilation systems should be in place to control airborne particles and ensure workplace safety.
Parts should be designed with adequate wall thickness, accessible surfaces, and non-critical tolerances in blasted areas. Masking may be required for precision surfaces, sealing areas, or threaded holes.
Sandblasting is widely used in automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, construction, oil & gas, and manufacturing. It plays a critical role in rust removal, surface preparation, and extending the life of protective coatings.