Sandblasting safety gear

[pendragon1998]

I just got a little cheap sandblaster to occasionally blast a few tiny parts (from palm size to about 1 sq ft). I was planning on wearing long sleeves, gloves, an N95 mask, goggles, and a face shield. Blasting will be done in my backyard with black diamond fine abrasive (should I use fine or medium for paint removal from cast iron?). Is that sufficent safety gear to protect my lungs while I hit one or two small pieces? I am shopping for a respirator for dust and painting, but do not have it yet and I want to clean those parts today.

 

[Monkey Milk]

do a search, it was just discussed a month or two ago about protective gear, black diamond is fine for cast iron and steel.

 

[Warrenator]

Black diamond isn't terribly harmful itself, but just breathing large quantities of dust is probably not good for you. I used to sandblast with sand, outside, no mask or gloves, (terrible stuff, sand, but nobody told me about silicosis back in 1975.) So here is what will happen if you sandblast using black diamond without safety gear: If you run the sandblast nozzle on your bare hand by accident it will hurt. But you won't bleed. If you don't wear a dust mask you will get a noseful of black boogers.

Since you have a bit of a dust mask (n95) thst should keep most of it out. I'd say go for it, try to keep upwind. You are using better PPE than most workers in the free world.

 

[jn503084]

Hi, I have dabbled in sandblasting with my little Harbor Frieght portable set up this summer behind the garage, and here is what I found. It *****. I hate sandblasting!

Aside from that, Good gloves, mask. I have a respirator for painting, which worked better than the Dixie cup masks. Maybe a clear face shield as well if you're a glasses wearer. I wear glasses and the sand still managed to scratch my "scratch-proof" lenses.. Long pants and close toe shoes are the way to go as well.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Well, how did it go?

 

[pendragon1998]

Went well, although I see why they sell a hood. Got grit everywhere, and finished with a hose off and shower, but I don't think I inhaled any dust. I wore some fully-sealed goggles and the n95 mask, which did ok for the single piece I blasted. I got 50 lbs of black diamond fine ($8 @ TSC) and it was just right for removing the paint on my cast iron. For future work, I would like to get a blasting cabinet or a hood. My little compressor worked ok. I would like to have had a bigger one, but with patience, it did the job.