What garnet abrasive to use for polishing

In the world of abrasives, garnet blast is a popular choice for polishing. But what exactly is it? Garnet blast has been used for many years in the industry as an abrasive material that can be applied to metal and other surfaces to create a glossy finish. It’s also very economical! This article will show you how to use this type of abrasive (as well as some others) on various types of materials.

When choosing the right abrasive for polishing it is important to keep in mind  the type of material that you are working with. For example, garnet blast is very effective for use on copper or other materials that have a high lead content because it has a lower melting temperature than most abrasives and does not leave marks like sandpaper would.

If you need to polish steel then garnet might be the best choice for your needs, other options include:

• Glass Beads: Glass is not as aggressive a blasting media as other materials, such as steel shot or silicon carbide. However, it is an excellent choice for softer metal surfaces that require a bright, smooth finish. It is well suited for stainless steel applications and can also be recycled multiple times.
• Aluminum Oxide: Aluminum oxide is good for polishing certain types of metals as it super hard and can strip off many imperfections. It is designed for abrasive pressure blasting of almost any type of substrate: glass, granite, marble, and steel. Due to its tendency to deeply etch it may not be the right blast media to polish fine surfaces.
• Superoxalloy: Superoxalloy blast abrasives from 10X are a good choice as they leave a truly smooth, clean substrate which can leave you with an extremely fine finished project. this blast media can also be recovered and recycled many times. Superoxalloy abrasives also create a low-dust work environment negating any health concerns that you may have. This clearer view helps you deliver higher-quality results in less time. 

While you have many options when choosing blast media for your next polishing project, choosing EpiX superoxalloy abrasive blast media from 10X Engineered Materials can save you  time, money  and frustration when preparing your metal for a new finish or bare metal look. 10X blast abrasives have been shown to be cost effective and “clean” in many blasting applications including Cerakote removal.

Currently, KinetiX and EpiX are available from 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.