What Is Media Blasting?

Media blasting is commonly used to inscribe monuments, including most modern headstones.

Media Blasting is the process of blasting an item with small particles of various abrasive substances at an extremely high velocity in order to make changes to the surface. Common uses for media blasting include smoothing rough surfaces, roughening smooth surfaces, shaping surfaces and removing substances such as rust or paint from a surface.

Materials

The materials commonly used for media blasting include salt, sand, glass beads, water, metal, minerals, crushed nuts or fruit, corn, wheat and even dry ice. A blasting machine designed for use with the specific media is also required along with proper safety gear.

Uses

Media blasting can be used in a variety of ways such as to remove paint or rust from a vehicle, clean various substances off of surfaces, including graffiti from walls, engraving, and lettering signs and monuments.

Potential Hazards

Media blasting can be potentially hazardous. Risks include burns caused by contact with the blasting items and potentially toxic dusts created by the blasting materials or the surfaces exposed to media blasting.

References

• Low Rider Magazine: Media Blasting Rust Removal
• Composition Materials Co.
• The Soda Works
• Doug's Auto Craft: Media Blasting