Choosing the best aluminum oxide abrasive to remove Bondo

Bondo is primarily used for automotive repairs and filling gaps in surfaces. Due to it being a strong compound, bondo can be very tough to remove without the use of abrasive blasting. Aluminum oxide is a commonly used media, but superoxalloy – discussed near the end of this article – is the best blast media to use.

Aluminum oxide blasting makes use of an air compressor to propel blast abrasive grains through a nozzle at high velocity onto your chosen project surface. It’s commonly used to remove tough coatings and corrosion.

Aluminum oxide particles are angular and sharp, making it more effective at removing tough coatings, but the trade-off is that it could damage your surfaces if the blasting pressure is too high or if the grit number is very low (coarse). 

Whenever you’re dealing with a relatively soft surface like wood, it’s best to use an abrasive media with a high grit number. The higher the grit number, the finer the abrasive is, which creates a smooth surface finish. Lower grit numbers mean the abrasives are more coarse, which is more effective at removing thick/tough layers but could easily damage the surface.

The Best Blast Media for Removing Bondo

Blast media such as aluminum oxide, garnet, coal slag, and steel grit may harm the underlying material or leave embedded particles on the surface. They can also leave a lot of dust residue, resulting in a messy workspace. 

EpiX, a superoxalloy blast abrasive from 10X Engineered Materials, is an abrasive that will efficiently remove the Bondo without damaging the underlying material. 

Beyond their high performance, EpiX and KinetiX superoxalloy abrasives contain zero free silica or leachable heavy metals, making 10X abrasives safer for both workspaces and the environment. Plus, EpiX and KinetiX are more reusable and offer lower dust than other popular abrasives. 

This superoxalloy abrasive is an engineered alloy of oxide minerals that creates non-crystalline particles. They resist breakage and can be reused, leave a virtually dust-free environment, and contain no free silica, heavy metals, crystalline structures, or beryllium.

Currently, KinetiX and EpiX are available from abrasive distributors around the US. If you don’t see a distributor near you, contact 10X and we will work with you to get you what you need. EpiX abrasive, which is best for precision applications such as powder coating and medical applications, is also available to purchase directly from the 10X Engineered Materials website.