All the sandblasters out there what do you guys use in your blaster's. I have always used regular sand outside and wore my professional grade mask. But, everyone says it is SO BAD so I'm looking for a alternative that is cheap. I have also used Black diamond in a cabinet but someone said it should not be used in a pressurized blaster? I don't know if I can I will just use the Black Diamond.

 

#4 fine, bought from a lumber/contractor yard.

 

Just the regular sand? Or does i say for sandblasting?

 

try the play sand for like the kids sandboxes. home depot or lowes carries it. the granules are nice and fine.

 

I find that stuff is usually full of water.

I usually use Unimin #70/30. Its not the ideal sand, but it was free.

 

Play sand is not filtered and graded. The particle sizes are very uneven. They clog my blaster sometimes.

Best results are with #4 fine graded sand. #3 is too coarse.

 

The local home improvement stores carry sandblasting sand for reasonable. It's "coal slag" and it's VERY sharp and works well. No salt in it either. Safer then regular sand I think.

For a cheap and awesome blasting cabinet, go get one of those large rubbermaid or cheaper tubs with a lid. Cut a large-ish viewing window in the lid and tape some plexiglass in the hole on the inside. Cut a few circles in the sides and tape on some welding gloves or whatever and you are all set to blast away small items! And you can reuse your blasting media. Just dump out the tub and start over. Or use metal mesh raised off the bottom a few inches and funnel the media out the bottom into another bag for reuse. No more having to wear a garbage bag, helmet, mask, goggles etc. Use multiple tubs cut and attached together for large items (rims etc). Duct tape is your friend. Yeah, the plexi will get hosed over time. But it's a quick and dirty cabinet.

 

I used Silica sand and had good luck with it. I think a building material yard should have it. Why not ask a tool supply that sales sandblaster what to use.