Wet Blasting vs. Dry Blasting

Knowing the difference between wet and dry blasting and choosing the right media is crucial when blasting a surface to remove corrosion, paint, and contaminants. Using the correct method and media can impact the results and the material, improving the overall quality of the sandblasting job.

Understand the differences between wet blasting vs. sandblasting, when to use either method, and the benefits of each option.

What Is the Difference Between Wet and Dry Abrasive Blasting?

Wet and dry blasting both use compressed air to clean surfaces, but there are some distinct differences. With dry blasting, also sometimes called sandblasting, compressed air and abrasive media are propelled from a nozzle at high pressure. Wet blasting also uses sandblasting media and air with processed water under high pressure.

Both of these processes have unique advantages and require you to take specific precautions. The applications you work with will help determine which blasting methods to use.

Wet Blasting

One of wet blasting’s biggest advantages is that it does not produce a lot of dust. The mixture of water and abrasive media is propelled at high speed, removing coatings, corrosion, and contaminants, and the water helps to reduce the amount of dust. Other advantages include:

• Finer abrasive media: Water carries finer abrasive media better than air. This characteristic makes it ideal for more delicate surfaces or where fine abrasive media is needed.
• Degreasing action: Where surfaces are greasy, wet blasting suspends and helps to flush away grease and oil, and in some cases, surfactants or mild detergents are added to the water. Water blasts grease or oil better than dry media, making sandblasting oilier surfaces quicker and more productive. 
• Lower profile depth: Water blasting produces a lower depth of surface profiles. It also removes dirt and paint from surfaces that need to be preserved, such as some plastics.
• Reduces static charges: Wet blasting causes less static electricity buildup than dry blasting. Reduced static buildup makes it a better choice when sandblasting flammable materials or working in an area with dust or gas.

Dry Blasting

When comparing wet blasting vs. dry blasting, dry blasting is a popular choice because it is adaptable to various applications:

• Suitable for many blast materials: Wet blasting can cause flash rust or rust bloom formation on certain surfaces. Dry blasting does not include water, making it ideal for almost any media type. 
• Cost-efficient: Dry blasting does not require additional blasting equipment or wastewater disposal, making it a more cost-effective option for certain applications.
• Faster cleaning: Dry blasting cleans faster and more aggressively, providing efficient performance.
• Versatile: This versatile method can be used to prepare or clean surfaces for high-volume production or more bespoke projects. It is suitable for many locations, but in many applications, additional dust management or engineering controls must be put in place before blasting starts.

When to Use Wet vs. Dry Blasting

The working environment, material, and desired results will determine if wet or dry blasting is the best choice for your project.

Wet Blasting Applications

With wet blasting, the media lasts longer as the water provides some cushioning, helping to preserve media particles. It cleans using water, not force, which lubricates the material and media. Some wet blasting applications include:

• Removing small burrs
• Surface preparation
• Cleaning molds and dies
• Cleaning electrical connectors and PCBs
• Removing scale, paint, rust, and carbon
• Applications that must remain dust-free
• Elastomeric coatings

Dry Blasting Applications

For coating removal, wet blasting is significantly different from dry blasting. It delivers quick and clean results even when removing stubborn coatings, making it ideal for many applications. Dry blasting should be used for materials that shouldn’t get wet and are suitable for the following:

• Coating and corrosion removal
• Deburring and Peening
• Plastic mold retexturing, de-flashing, and cleaning
• Glass engraving, etching and decoration
• Removing rust, paint, and scale
• Large-scale industrial blasting

Choose 10X Engineered Materials as Your Go-To Sandblasting Experts

At 10X Engineered Materials, we manufacture high-quality superoxalloy blasting abrasives designed and engineered to outperform traditional media in both wet and dry blasting applications. Our products are cleaner, safer, and more efficient, delivering high-performance results without the environmental or health trade-offs.

More reasons why our superoxalloy is one of the top solutions:

• Low embedment: Most superoxalloy particles do not embed in the substrate, resulting in a better surface.
• Low dust: Work with less dust and cleanup time, keeping you productive and enhancing safety. 
• Robust composition: The amorphous particles of a superoxalloy remain durable for several applications.
• Efficient: Superoxalloy particles have different shapes, including angular, round, and sub-angular, allowing them to perform several blasting steps in one single pass for both wet and dry blasting.
• Unmatched safety: Made of mineral wool, superoxalloy clears quickly from the lungs and is environmentally friendly.

Select the Appropriate Abrasive for Your Sandblasting Needs

Whether you need wet blasting for soft surfaces or want more aggressive performance with dry blasting, 10X Engineered Materials has a solution for every need. Explore our wide range of superoxalloy products and complete our contact form for more information.