- There are several types of sand blasters to make removing paint, rust or anything else on the surface of your project much easier. A siphon sand blaster is the most commonly used sand blaster for the do-it-yourself homeowner due to its affordability. A gravity-fed sandblaster is also good for smaller jobs. Pressure blasters are mainly used for larger or commercial jobs. There is also a pressure washer sand blaster that uses water along with silica sand to clean or strip your projects. This type is a little more difficult to use because the water can mix with the sand and clog the tube or gun.
- Though called "sand" blasters, these devices use a wide range of materials besides sand, since sand, when turned into dust, can be inhaled and pose a health risk. Silica sand is used in the pressure washer type of blaster, but with less health risks because, due to the water that's also involved, there is less sand dust. However, even though the health risk may be lessened, never do any sand blasting with any medium without using a good respirator. Other materials besides sand include glass beads, aluminum oxide and black beauty: glass beads are good for removing paint and light rust; aluminum oxide works well on really thick paint and heavy rusted areas; black beauty is a coal byproduct and is good for general stripping of either paint or rust. These three materials come in different grades and grits for any particular job, and they can all be reused many times.
- All sand blasters have a pressurized gun that shoots out the media onto your project. They have a protective coating inside that protects them from the medium's damaging effects. They have a trigger release to control the blast. The guns are connected to hoses, which are connected to hoppers holding the blasting materials, with other connections to air pressure tanks or water pressure tanks, depending on which type is used. The pressurized air flows through one hose and mixes with the material from the other hose, then released through the gun blasting the paint or rust off your project. With water pressure blasters, special care must be taken so as not to allow the water to mix with the sand in the hose or gun, thus causing a clog.
