How to Sand Blast Wood

Use a sandblaster for removing paint, varnish and roughness from wood.

Removing multiple layers of paint or varnish from wood is time consuming, but sandblasting the wood removes the paint or varnish quickly, leaving a smooth surface. Sandblasting requires less elbow grease than sanding wood by hand with sandpaper. It can take hours or several days to hand sand a large surface, but sandblasting wood gets into small, inaccessible areas that sandpaper can't reach. Sandblasting is safer than using paint strippers that contain toxic chemicals, and it leaves a smooth surface that is ready for painting.

Things You'll Need

• Sandblaster electric machine system
• Course grain sand for sandblaster machine
• Fine grain sand for sandblaster machine
• Safety glasses
• Face mask
• Tarp(s)
• Work gloves

Instructions

1. Lay out tarps around the sandblasting area. This helps with clean up when you finish.

2. Put on safety glasses, face mask and work gloves. Always wear protective gear when sandblasting.

3. Fill the sandblaster sand reservoir with coarse grain sand. Read the manufacturer's instructions for the exact amount of sand for your model.

4. Move the sand-holding valve on the bottom of the reservoir to the open position. Adjust the amount of sand you blast by how wide you open the valve. This type of sand removes heavy layers of blemishes, varnish or paint.

5. Stand 7 feet away from the item you sandblast to avoid backlash from the sand. Go closer only when necessary, and always keep protective eyewear in place while working.

6. Turn the power switch on, and practice using the sandblaster on a scrap piece of wood. Aim at the wood, and pull back on the trigger of the sandblaster spray gun nozzle. This lets you get used to the way the sandblaster feels while you use it. Once you feel comfortable using the sandblaster, start working on your wood project.

7. Move the sandblaster left to right in a repeated motion. Do not blast continually in the same spot, or you will damage the wood surface.

8. Adjust the pressure using the control knob on the sandblaster. Adjusting the knob toward the "+" increases the pressure, making the sand hit the surface at a harder rate. This strips away the painted surface quickly. Adjusting the knob towards the "-" decreases the pressure, making sand hit the surface slower. This strips away the painted surface slowly.

9. Change the spray width by turning the width control knob to the right. The sprayer widens the sand spray path. Use this option to sand larger areas at once. Turn the knob to the left and the sand spray path narrows. Use this option to sand a small, detailed area.

10. Pull the lever to the closed position on the valve on the reservoir. Empty the coarse sand from the reservoir after you have roughly stripped the wood surface.

11. Fill the reservoir with fine grain sand, which produces a smoothly sanded finish. Sand the wood the same way as instructed above.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when sandblasting areas inside your house. The sand makes a mess and damages the areas close to the sandblasting area. You can easily damage floors, ceilings, sheet rock or window glass.

• Wear a long sleeved shirt and pants to avoid skin blistering from the spraying sand.

References

• Glass Guy: Getting Down to the Nuts & Bolts of Blasting
• Home Fuse: Sand Blaster