Tech Tips
Abrasives Comparison Guide
When using a Skat Blast Cabinet, a variety of dry abrasives can be used, depending on the requirements of the user. Generally, the higher the grit number, the finer the abrasive. The finer the abrasive, the smoother the finish. Coarse-grit abrasives cut fast, but the finish isn't quite as smooth as with fine-grit abrasives. Always change abrasive on a regular basis.
Most popular abrasives are Glass Beads, First Choice, and Speed Bead for a very fine finish on parts; Skat Magic™ & Skat Magic Extreme for a medium finish and faster production. In addition, Fast Cut Max provides fast cutting with less dust. Aluminum Oxide is another popular abrasive for fast cut and long life. Most of our abrasive are "virgin" material, which means they have not been processed or reused.
When abrasive blasting aluminum, brass or softer metals, use a lower air pressure (40-60 psi) for best results. The same applies to carving or etching glass. Hard metals such as fenders, bumpers, etc., can be cleaned best using 50-80 psi. We recommend a cabinet hookup kit for regulating air pressure and collecting moisture effectively.
|
Grit Size
|
Abrasive Type
|
Cleaning Time*
6" x 6" area
|
Appearance /
Texture Type
|
Abrasive Life
|
Dust Level
|
Recommended Abrasive
Use
|
|
35-60
|
Walnut Shells
|
15.7 minutes
|
Dull / No Texture
|
GOOD
|
High
|
Paint and carbon removal
|
|
60-80
|
Glass Beads†
|
5.0 minutes
|
Satin / Very Fine
|
BETTER
|
Low
|
General parts and automotive cleaning
|
|
50-60
|
Soda Media
|
2.3 minutes
|
Dull / No Texture
|
1-time use
|
Medium
|
Carbon, surface contamination, paint, grime
|
|
30-40
|
Plastic
|
1.6 minutes
|
Dull / No Texture
|
BETTER
|
Low
|
Paint and light oxidation removal
|
|
60-90
|
First Choice†
|
1.3 minutes
|
Flat / Very Fine
|
BETTER
|
Medium
|
Rust, paint, and scale removal
|
|
50
|
Fast Cut MAX†
|
1.2 minutes
|
Flat / Coarse
|
BETTER
|
Low
|
Rust, paint, and scale removal
|
|
50-80
|
Speed Bead†
|
1.0 minute
|
Satin / Very Fine
|
BEST
|
Low
|
General automotive cleaning & finishing
|
|
40-80
|
Skat Magic†
|
45 seconds
|
Flat / Medium
|
GOOD
|
Medium
|
Rust, paint, and scale removal
|
|
30-60
|
"SME"†
|
39 seconds
|
Flat / Coarse
|
GOOD
|
Medium
|
Rust, paint, scale & rubberized removal
|
|
46
|
Alum. Oxide
|
38 seconds
|
Flat / Coarse
|
BEST
|
Low
|
Glass etching and automotive cleaning
|
|
80
|
Silicon Carbide
|
38 seconds
|
Flat / Medium
|
BEST
|
Low
|
Glass etching and automotive cleaning
|
* Cleaning Time based on removing the paint finish from a mid 1980's factory fender down to bare metal.
Using a Skat Blast Abrasive Cabinet with 15-20 cfm @ 80 psi and a medium nozzle and air jet installed
in the gun. The fender consisted of a sealer coat, primer coat, and baked factory paint coat.
† Our most popular abrasives for cleaning and finishing automotive parts.
|
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