Buyer’s Guide to Abrasives for SABIX 8 & Pressure Base
Choosing the correct blasting abrasive is just as important as choosing the right blasting machine.
The abrasive determines how a blasting machine cleans, strips or finishes a surface. Its material, particle shape and grain size all matter, alongside pressure, abrasive flow and nozzle technique.
The FEVI SABIX 8 Base, SABIX 8 VR and Pressure Base have different abrasive requirements. Use the selection guide below to choose a compatible medium, then test it on the actual surface before treating the full area.
The abrasive for Sabix 8
The SABIX 8 Base and VR can use the six mineral-abrasive options listed below. Suitable grades of soda, corn cob and walnut shell can also be used with the Base; extra-fine grades require the VR. The maximum grain size for the SABIX series is 0.5 mm, or 500 microns. This is a limit on the largest particles, rather than an average size.
Garnet — Grade and size: 80 mesh, with a maximum grain size of 0.5 mm. Uses: General rust, paint and coating removal on suitable metal and robust surfaces.
Fine garnet — Grade and size: 120 mesh; the selected grade is approximately 0.08–0.18 mm. Uses: More controlled cleaning, finer surface preparation and restoration trials. Still a hard, cutting abrasive.
Fine crushed glass — Grade and size: 0.2–0.5 mm. Uses: General paint, rust and coating removal; selected cleaning on sound brick and stone after a trial.
Brown aluminium oxide — Grade and size: 70 mesh; approximately 0.18–0.25 mm. Uses: Resistant coatings, corrosion and surface preparation where a stronger cutting action is required.
Glass bead — Grade and size: 100–200 microns, equivalent to 0.10–0.20 mm. Uses: Cleaning suitable metal components and producing a uniform satin finish, particularly on aluminium and stainless steel.
Calcium carbonate — Grade and size: Fine Grade 4; quoted mean size approximately 0.235 mm. Specify a maximum grain size of 0.5 mm. Uses: Gentler cleaning of suitable stone, masonry and timber, and selected light-coating removal.
Grade names and mesh labels do not always describe an identical size range between suppliers. For garnet 80 mesh, confirm the actual upper size limit. For calcium carbonate, check the grading specification because a mean size of 0.235 mm does not establish its maximum particle size. Keep media clean, dry and free flowing.
Soda corn cob and walnut shell
These softer media can be used with the SABIX 8 Base in suitable grades. Choose the SABIX 8 VR for extra-fine grades. Machine selection depends on the actual grading and feeding requirements, rather than the abrasive material alone.
Soda blasting media or sodium bicarbonate — Size: Purpose-made granular blasting grade, maximum 0.5 mm. Confirm the grade for Base or VR before ordering; extra-fine grades require VR. Uses: Selected light coatings, deposits and sensitive component cleaning where a pronounced surface profile is not wanted.
Ground corn cob — Size: Purpose-made blasting grade, maximum 0.5 mm. Confirm the grade for Base or VR before ordering; extra-fine grades require VR. Uses: Timber, old finishes and selected restoration cleaning where a softer medium is appropriate.
Ground walnut shell — Size: Purpose-made blasting grade, maximum 0.5 mm. Confirm the grade for Base or VR before ordering; extra-fine grades require VR. Uses: Carbon deposits, suitable engine components, moulds and selected timber or component cleaning.
The VR has pneumatic tank vibration and a precision abrasive-mixing system to help control fine media. Check the full particle-size range when choosing a product: a label such as fine or extra-fine is not a consistent specification between suppliers. Clean, dry compressed air is particularly important with extra-fine media, including when using the VR. Softer media can still alter a surface, leave residue or fail to remove a resistant coating; suitability must be established by a trial.
The abrasive for Pressure Base
For the FEVI Pressure Base, use brown aluminium oxide Grade 40 only, matching the specified grading of approximately 0.4–0.5 mm. Check the supplier's actual particle-size specification when selecting the product; a grade number alone is not enough to confirm an equivalent.
This hard, angular abrasive is suitable for rust, paint, resistant coatings and localised surface preparation on compatible materials. Its durability makes it suitable for recovery and reuse while the grains remain effective and contamination is controlled.
The Pressure Base recommendation is specific to that machine. Do not substitute garnet, crushed glass, glass bead, calcium carbonate, soda, corn cob or walnut shell. In particular, the 70-mesh aluminium oxide specified for SABIX is a different grade from the grade 40 specified for Pressure Base.
Choose the abrasive for the result
For general rust and paint removal, consider garnet 80 mesh or fine crushed glass. Use garnet 120 mesh when a finer treatment is needed, while recognising that fine garnet can still cut soft materials. Brown aluminium oxide 70 mesh provides a stronger cutting option on suitable metal.
For a satin appearance on aluminium or stainless steel, consider glass bead rather than an angular cutting abrasive. Use clean media and equipment where contamination from previously treated metals would affect the result.
For delicate masonry or timber, calcium carbonate is an option for trials with the Base or VR, subject to checking the product's full grading. Soda, corn cob and walnut shell are further options for appropriate applications, using grades matched to the machine. A softer abrasive may remove a coating more slowly, and some surfaces are better cleaned by another method.
Pressure air quality and surface trials
Start at a low pressure within the machine's operating range, with a modest abrasive feed and sufficient nozzle distance. Increase the cleaning action gradually and check the surface as well as the material being removed. Fine grit and low pressure do not guarantee a damage-free result.
Dry compressed air helps prevent clumping and inconsistent abrasive delivery. Plan dust containment, suitable extraction or suppression and operator protection for both the abrasive and the material being removed. Use purpose-made blasting media; do not use builders' sand or kiln-dried paving sand.
Final Thoughts
Fine crushed glass is a useful general-purpose option for paint, rust and coating removal on suitable surfaces.
Garnet 80 mesh suits general rust removal and surface preparation; 120 mesh offers a finer treatment while retaining a hard cutting action.
Brown aluminium oxide 70 mesh suits stronger cutting and metal preparation with SABIX 8.
Glass bead 100–200 microns suits cleaning and satin finishing suitable metal components.
Fine Grade 4 calcium carbonate is an option for gentler cleaning trials on suitable masonry and timber. Its quoted 0.235 mm mean size must be checked against the full grading.
Soda blasting media can suit selected light coatings and component cleaning; corn cob can suit timber and old finishes; walnut shell can suit carbon deposits and selected restoration work.
SABIX 8 Base can use suitable grades of these abrasives. SABIX 8 VR is required for extra-fine grades and provides more precise abrasive control. Keep SABIX media within the 0.5 mm maximum and confirm the exact product grade.
Pressure Base suits localised recovery work and uses brown aluminium oxide Grade 40 only, approximately 0.4–0.5 mm to the specified grading.
👉 Not sure which abrasive to use? Contact CoolBlast with details of the material, what you need to remove and the finish you want to achieve. We can advise on the abrasive, blasting pressure and compressor required for your application.
