Sandblasting question

[Scott KY]

I have been researching sandblasting media choices on this sight and everyone seems to agree that play sand is dangerous to the lungs. So how come it can be sold for sandboxes for children to play in?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Good question. Certainly kids playing in sand don't get as much airborn as a sandblaster. Around here (NY) it's likely to be a bit damp as well.

 

[rustyfarmall]

I've never heard that about play sand. It is silica sand that is dangerous. No matter what media you use, you should wear respiratory protection.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I use silica sand in my blasting but I also have an army surplus gas mask that I wear when blasting.
Sand breaks up into a very fine dust when it hits something harder than it is when it comes out of a blaster under pressure.
True sandblast sand and play sand are two very different things, if you have a large enough nozzle you can blast with play sand. The good stuff has been washed and screened to a uniform size and will be smaller in grain size than play sand.
Kids in a sandbox dont make a fog of fine dust that you will have hanging around a blasting operation.

 

[Dave_Id]

Children don't normally snort it

 

[Walt Davies]

Its like smoking, smoke a few weeds and it won't hurt you. Use a little sandlot sand and it won't hurt you but don't do it for a living without proper gear to wear. Anyway Walnuts hulls work great so does bead blasting.

Walt

 

[48C-MAN]

Good advice from the guys here. Whatever you decide for the media wear a respirator!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Hi Rusty , I've done a lot of sandblasting at work doing semi trailers and construction equipment and that's normally what we use is sandbox sand otherwise known as washed sand "here" . It was ran through a sieve to weed out the gravel . For small or delicate pieces we used silica at a much higher price but we used sandbox sand by the ton when I was blasting rust and paint off . Look closely at sandbox sand and you will see white grains in it , that's the silica part of sand . That's what you don't want to breath . The other darker grains are not silica . Silica is what glass is made from . So ANY sand in blasting is bad for your lungs , it causes what's known as silicosis among other things . But like the others have said that's mostly due to long term exposure or if you are prone to breathing problems already . JMTCW ...Randy

 

[Anonymous-0]

all sand has some silica in it. Greenville KY. Read Materials, Black Beauty is what you need to be using. For Your Health.