Pumice Abrasive Blast Media

WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING rusty, painted, or grime-smeared surfaces, sandblasting gets it done quickly and completely—and without having to open a bucket of elbow grease. And with the right blast media, you can go beyond simple cleaning and produce a smooth, satiny polish.

There is a welcome variety of sandblasting gear on the market, from hoppered guns you jack into your own compressor to bench-top cabinets for small parts and delicate work. But quality results are closely tied to matching the right blast media to the situation.

Sand itself is falling out of favor (high moisture and hazardous crystalline silica content), but a nice selection of blast media are available to meet every need. Along with media type, grit size is another factor to work into your choice. The key to choosing the right blast media is to focus first on the surface: how much can it handle without damage? If in doubt, start soft and fine.

The foamed-glass nature of pumice makes it an effectively mild, lightweight abrasive and a good fit for those less aggressive or delicate situations where protecting the surface is the primary consideration. Why? Pumice, even crushed to a superfine grade, holds its angular shape and myriad edges to cut quickly and aggressively, removing rust, scale, and a variety of coatings from wood, metal and plastic surfaces. Combine that excellent bite with pumice’s low, sponge-like density and you’ve got an easy-on-the-surface sand blast media with a highly effective reputation.