The Difference Between Shot Blasting and Sand Blasting

Like many people, you might be confused about the difference between sandblasting and shot blasting. The two terms appear similar but sandblasting and shot blasting are actually separate processes.

Sandblasting is the process of propelling that abrasive media using compressed air for cleaning the surface. This cleaning and preparation procedure takes compressed air as a power source and directs a high-pressure stream of abrasive media toward the part to be blasted. That surface could be welded parts being cleaned before painting, or auto part is cleaned of dirt, grease, and oil or anything that requires surface preparation before applying paint or any coating. So in the sand blasting process, sandblasting media is accelerated pneumatically by compressed air (instead of a centrifugal turbine). The sand or other abrasive passes through the tube-driven by the compressed air, allowing the user to control the direction of the blast, and is finally blasted through a nozzle onto the part.

Shot blasting is to use a high-speed rotating impeller to throw out small steel shot or small iron shot, and hit the surface of the part at high speed, so the oxide layer on the surface of the part can be removed. At the same time, the steel shot or iron shot hits the surface of the part at a high speed, causing the lattice distortion on the surface of the part to increase the surface hardness. It is a method of cleaning the surface of the part to strengthen the external.

In past, sandblasting was the main blasting process in abrasive treatment. The sand was more readily available than the other media. But sand had issues like moisture content that made it difficult to spread with compressed air. Sand also had a lot of contaminants found in natural supplies.

The biggest challenge in using sand as an abrasive media is its health hazards. Sand used in sandblasting is made of silica. When inhaled silica particles lodge into the respiratory system potentially causing severe respiratory illnesses such as silica dust is also known as lung cancer.

The difference between sandblasting and grit blasting or called shot blasting depends on the application technique. Here, the sandblasting process uses compressed air to shoot abrasive media for example sand against the product being blasted. Shot blasting employs centrifugal force from a mechanical device to propel blasting media upon the part.

Generally, shot blasting is used for regular shapes, etc., and several blasting heads are together up and down, left and right, with high efficiency and little pollution.

With sandblasting, sand is propelled against a surface. With shot blasting, on the other hand, small metal balls or beads are propelled against a surface. The balls or beads are often made of stainless steel, copper, aluminum, or zinc. Regardless, all of these metals are harder than sand, making shot blasting even more effective than its sandblasting counterpart.

To summarize, sandblasting is quick and economical. Shot blasting is a more involved treatment process and uses more advanced equipment. Therefore, shot blasting is slower and generally more expensive than sandblasting. However, there are jobs that sandblasting can’t handle. Then, your only option is to go for shot blasting.

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