You should know that sandblasting can be extremely dangerous. Seriously, when working with it, you should not be “macho” and think that safety isn’t that important. I used to be like this when I was working on cars as a teenager. Below are some safety items that you be knowledgeable about before you start sandblasting, along with details on the harm blasting can do if you don’t take these precautions:
Dust Masks
Even if the abrasive dust doesn’t seem to be harming you, it might be. What I am talking about is getting silicosis. You have to wear, at the minimum, a dust mask. The dual respirator filter mask is better, but at least wear a cheap dust mask. It’s better than nothing. When abrasive hits the surfaces of items, it creates dangerous dust which kills your lungs when inhaled. Also, this goes along with silicosis prevention: DO NOT USE PLAY SAND TO BLAST! Only use authorized blaster abrasive when operating. Play sand has a high amount of silica that can do massive damage to your lungs. It’s not worth it and I urge you to read my post about this here. You have been warned.
Safety Goggles
I recommend that you wear safety glasses or goggles and you may even want to wear them while using a sandblasting cabinet. Especially wear them when you are blasting in a room or outside. Air-supplied helmets are safer for you in these situations.
Protective Clothing
It’s best to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when using while operating. You never know when a hose will explode or blast off. In the past, my hose shot off from the bottom of my pressure pot sandblaster, and luckily the stream of high-powered abrasive didn’t hit me. This would be even worst if it got in your eyes.
If you have access to professional sandblasting suits, then I would definitely go with that. We offer affordable sandblasting hoods on Amazon here.
You have been warned. Please leave a comment or ask me any questions below.
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PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK BOARDMEMBERZS@YAHOO.COM MY HEALTH MAY BE IN JEAPORDY
AFTER A CAR HAS BEEN SANDBLASTED HOW LONG SHOULD A PERSON WAIT BEFORE GOING INTO THE BUILDING WITHOUT PROTECTIVE GEAR.
ALSO IF A PERSON GOES INTO THE BUILDING RIGHT AFTER THE SANDBLASTING AND HAS NO PROTECTION SHOULD THAT PERSON GET A CHEST XRAY
Hi, I think that depends on a few things.
First, one exposure isn’t going to kill you. But if you are inhaling it all day and through time it can cause some health issues.
The severity also depends on what type of abrasive they were using and how dusty the air was.
Play sand abrasive has a lot silica, while more professional abrasives like aluminum oxide & silicon carbide have little silica, if any at all.
I have a gravity fed home sandblaster that I am using to remove rust from an antique stove. I sandblast outside and use a 3m respirator but I am still worried that I may somehow be inhaling silica. All the respirator cartridges I can find always say “not for sandblasting” but I’m hoping that is meant for higher pressure industrial sandblasting. If a respirator isn’t enough protection what about using a scuba set-up while I sandblast?
Yes, they make these air supplied helmets that you can use but they are kind of expensive.
Trying to find information on the CORRECT respirator to use while sandblasting isn’t easy. So, while using a cabinet will a P95 half faced respirator provide the needed protection? Also, I am using a shop vac as dust control. I purchased a new filter for the vac, but is this sufficient to keep my workshop from filling with dangerous dust? I suppose I could get an extension hose and vent to the outside of the building if recommended.
Thanks
I have a portable sandblasting unit and blast inside the shed with dual respirator and gas vapor filters.
I do not believe i am completely protected as i can smell the sand in the air.
I am sandblasting parts on my car so i can rebuild and paint.
How should i sand blast if i am not able to protected myself without effecting others around me?
Take this very serious. I have been doing some craft projects with a airbrush sandblaster. Just got back from the Dr. bad infection in lungs, so much inflation in my throat and lungs. I was just doing a few things, so I didn’t take it too serious. Wore a mask sometimes, I now use a respirator, even though the idiot at the hardware storm said I wouldn’t need it.
I meant inflammation not inflation…
When I imagined someone wearing protective gear for sandblasting, I thought about how it’s important to wear safety goggles and dust masks, but I didn’t realize how important protective clothing is for working on these projects. You made a great point about how workers should wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when using a sandblaster. If there’s a chance that it’ll blast off, then it seems best to wear protective clothing just in case this happens.
I have a really good friend who works a lot with sandblasting, and has told me some scary stuff. I think its really important that people who do sandblasting wear the proper personal protective equipment. Its not smart to do a dangerous job without protecting yourself!
question:
do you have a filter that would protect you from the choronivirse? If not why not?
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