SODA BLASTING VS SAND BLASTING:

What's the difference?

As we provide both sandblasting and soda blasting services, our recommendations are based on the the best option for your item. 

Some blasting companies will provide you with only one of these blasting services and as a result, they will encourage you to use one over the other. When considering what is best for your item, it is a good idea to understand the advantages and disadvantages of sandblasting and soda blasting before making your decision.

So what are the pros and cons of soda blasting & sandblasting?

Here are our non-biased views on the pros and cons of

soda blasting and sandblasting-

(and expose some myths along the way!)

SODA BLASTING PROS:

• soda blasting is non -abrasive.
• soda blasting does not warp or damage steel surfaces due to not producing any heat on impact. This is provided that there aren't  multiple layers of paint on the substrate.
• soda blasting strips painted surfaces quickly, depending on the number of layers of paint on item.
•  soda blasting media is non- abrasive and  is a very universal blasting media which can be used on lighter substrates such as aluminium, plastic, stone/ brick work, fiberglass & wood.
• soda blasting does not damage glass, rubber or chrome which makes it much more cost effective when blasting items that are still complete.
• soda blasting is environmentally friendly.
• soda blasting can be applied wet or dry. 

SODA BLASTING CONS:

• soda blasting is non-abrasive and therefore, it does not remove rust.
• soda blasting is generally more expensive than other forms of blasting as the soda blasting media is imported from the U.S.A.
• soda blasting does not strip powder coating.
• soda blasting will not remove body filler from vehicles.
• soda blasting will not remove stone guard or under body sealer.
• soda blasting can be slow to strip paint if there are multiple layers of paint on the substrate. 
• soda blasting can damage or warp panels of a vehicle if there are multiple layers of paint on the panel as most operators will increase the blasting pressure to compensate for the lack of abrasiveness of the soda.

SANDBLASTING PROS:

• sand blasting strips paint very quickly as it is very abrasive compared to soda.
• sand blasting media is available in a number of grades from light to coarse grit. 
• sand blasting removes rust and body sound deadener  effectively. 
• sand blasting can remove powder coat.
• sand blasting is ideal for industrial items that can handle high pressure and coarse media.
• sand blasting is also ideal for etching or profiling galvanised steel  to create a profiled texture for greater adhesion of paint or powder coat.
• sand blasting can be applied in either wet or dry form.
• sand blasting can  be used on almost every substrate, providing the operator is skilled and experienced.

SANDBLASTING CONS:

• Sand blasting is not suitable for directly blasting automotive vehicle roofs, bonnets, boot lids and other panels as on impact, it creates heat and  may result in warping or distortion if the operator is unskilled.
• Sand blasting is abrasive and the item being blasted will need to be treated within 24 hours of being blasted to reduce surface rust from forming, especially, if moisture is present.
• Sand blasting may pit the surface it is being applied to, and if this pitting is too coarse, powder coating and other forms of coatings may reveal imperfections in the final coat.This is  due to the coarse, rough surface left from the blasting process. This then creates the need for more priming and sanding work. 
• Sand blasting is dusty and will require additional preparation before final paint work can be applied.

THE VERDICT 

The simple answer is that they both have their pros and cons, and the operator should make the final decision on which media blasting method is most suitable for your item. We use a combination of both to achieve the best desirable result possible.