Question on Sandblasting

[Furu]

First I take very seriously the risk involved in sand blasting/abrasive blasting and the problem of silicosis.

I am certain there are many/some on this forum that have had formal OSHA training course on this subject and this question was bound to have been brought up.

Recently acquired an abrasive blaster. The warnings say not to use sand containing crystalline silica.

Since sand is made of silica in various sizes/grains, does not all sand contain silica thus crystalline silica or is crystalline silica something different?

Having lived in too many deserts in my life in too many sandstorms (and I am not being glib here) what is the difference between using sand to abrasive blast and a sandstorm which I have seen way too many of.

Thanks

 

[Gator6x4]

First I take very seriously the risk involved in sand blasting/abrasive blasting and the problem of silicosis.

I am certain there are many/some on this forum that have had formal OSHA training course on this subject and this question was bound to have been brought up.

Recently acquired an abrasive blaster. The warnings say not to use sand containing crystalline silica.

Since sand is made of silica in various sizes/grains, does not all sand contain silica thus crystalline silica or is crystalline silica something different?

Having lived in too many deserts in my life in too many sandstorms (and I am not being glib here) what is the difference between using sand to abrasive blast and a sandstorm which I have seen way too many of.

Thanks

THE DANGEROUS DUST IS INVISIBLE. The really dangerous stuff is so fine you can't see it. I have never seen an invisible Sand Storm. So Sand Storms must not contain the same silica materials created by a Sandblaster.

You must always wear a helmet when sandblasting and there is only one type of helmet that will protect you. The type of helmet you must use is a helmet that is supplied with clear air. The helmet must be a good fit and in good working condition. The air supplied to your helmet must be clean and free of dangerous dust. To be sure that the air is clean a filter must be fitted in the line between the compressor supplying the air and the helmet.

I had a friend who had a very successful sand blasting business for years. One would think he was preparing for a space trip when he was dressing prior to using the huge sand blaster he used.

 

[Western]

THE DANGEROUS DUST IS INVISIBLE. The really dangerous stuff is so fine you can't see it. I have never seen an invisible Sand Storm. So Sand Storms must not contain the same silica materials created by a Sandblaster.

You must always wear a helmet when sandblasting and there is only one type of helmet that will protect you. The type of helmet you must use is a helmet that is supplied with clear air. The helmet must be a good fit and in good working condition. The air supplied to your helmet must be clean and free of dangerous dust. To be sure that the air is clean a filter must be fitted in the line between the compressor supplying the air and the helmet.

I had a friend who had a very successful sand blasting business for years. One would think he was preparing for a space trip when he was dressing prior to using the huge sand blaster he used.

:thumbsup: Spot on!
We use as setup the same way. Hood has a half body cover that latches with a loop around the waste and also has a elastic thick cloth (like a sweater type material) that closes up the neck (under the hood). The hood has an air chuck for incoming filtered air. The air has to be filtered to keep out dust and air compressor by products. Under the hood is the cleanest place to be when blasting too!

As far as know, silicons are everywhere in sands and I wouldn't chance it. Even with using other mediums such as walnut hulls,glass beads, metal beads or even talc type mediums, where and respirator, best you can afford.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Sounds like you've already bought equipment, but if you're not too heavily invested already, you might consider a power washer sand blasting attachment. I have one and love it. The pressure washer siphons up the sand and blasts the surface with both sand and water, abrading and cleaning all at once and eliminating dust. The only downside is that you have to dry diligently after you're through.

 

[Furu]

THE DANGEROUS DUST IS INVISIBLE. The really dangerous stuff is so fine you can't see it. I have never seen an invisible Sand Storm. So Sand Storms must not contain the same silica materials created by a Sandblaster.

I am certain that there is a lot of invisible stuff in a sand storm as well as the stuff you see; just as there is a lot of visible stuff in sand blasting as well as the invisible fine silica.

I am not and have never been planning on using sand but a glass bead product which is clearly marked as containing no silica products. The only things that seem to be available are walnut shells, an oxide product and the glass beads. The coal slag product is only available if i want to buy a whole pallet 1000 lbs. Still looking to see if I can find it normally.

Just was trying to get an understanding of the questions that I asked. Seems no one knows anymore than I do on the subject. Hopefully someone will chime in that has the more technical answer that I am looking for. Just trying to be better educated.

 

[ray66v]

You should be able to get coal slag from an auto body supply store.

Personally, I don't like the coal slag. But, many do.

Even if the abrasive does not contain silica, it is still unhealthy to breathe the dust from sand blasting, and the same precautions should be used.

 

[Western]

Here are 2 sites that popped up on Google, I would say your answer is YES, it's the same.

http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/crystalline-factsheet.pdf
1.5. Is respirable crystalline silica the same as fine silica dust? | crystallinesilica

Blasting with anything for to long will cause you problems, so your splitting hairs. Use the right protection and use the material that gets the job done.

 

[PA318Guy]

As nice as having pressurized sandblasting suit would be, most cannot afford one. I use a 3M NIOSH facepiece like this when I sandblast and it does a very good job of protecting me from particles. If you adjust it correctly it seals completely around the nose and mouth. I change filters about two or three times every summer.

 

[bigtiller]

Sounds like you've already bought equipment, but if you're not too heavily invested already, you might consider a power washer sand blasting attachment. I have one and love it. The pressure washer siphons up the sand and blasts the surface with both sand and water, abrading and cleaning all at once and eliminating dust. The only downside is that you have to dry diligently after you're through.

From the web...

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