Choosing the right sandblasting grit for car parts

Auto parts may be covered in old paint and rust, and a great way of treating that is through abrasive blasting. There are various blast abrasive media such as glass beads, aluminum oxide, and garnet, which we’ll focus on in this article.

Garnet blasting makes use of an air compressor to propel blast abrasive grains through a nozzle at high velocity onto your chosen project surface. It has various applications, including the treatment of auto parts.

When deciding on a grit size, remember that the lower the grit number, the more coarse the garnet particles are. High grit numbers mean that the particles are very fine. Coarse particles can strip layers quickly but also run the risk of damaging the underlying surface. It’s often best to go for a high grit size number. 

Each blast abrasive media has its shortcomings, and garnet is no exception. Wet blasting garnet can lead to flash rusting if the surface is exposed to humidity. This is due to garnet particles getting embedded in the surface , which leads to an accelerated corrosion process. 

Garnet also breaks down quicker than other abrasives because of the fracture plane present in its structure. The most durable and cost-effective blast media to use is superoxalloy, which is discussed at the end of this article. 

The Best Method for Automotive Abrasive Blasting

10X Engineered Materials has created a line of superoxalloy abrasives that will get the job done and leave the surface of your auto parts smooth and clean. Products include KinetiX (high-production grades) and EpiX (precision grades), both of which perform in finer grit sizes, as well as or better than expensive, clean, ultra-high-performance media.

These abrasives are made up of polymorphous particles, meaning they can perform multiple functions at one time, removing the layers quicker and more efficiently in just one step. Additionally, these abrasives are strong but gentle and will leave the underlying surface unharmed. 

10X abrasives have an amorphous structure that resist breakage up to 120 PSI or higher. This design structure eliminates the fracture plane that is present in other abrasive media. Because of this, they produce very little dust and the ability to be reused many times.

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.

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.