> What are the hazards of using glass beads compared to
>sand?

I'm not aware of any major hazards (of course you can get "clogged" by breathing inert dust of any kind), at least not compared to silica.
>
> I recently purchased a siphon feed blaster. Not cheapest
>but not the best. I plan to blast my frame and other body
>parts. What would you recommend I use for an abrasive? If I
>purchase a positive pressure respirator would sand the best
>choice?

Since you are probably going to be doing it outside on the ground, sand is definitely the cheap way to go WITH appropriate protection. Most abrasive media seem to run around $30 and up per 50 lb sack and that doesn't go very far if it's all being discarded after one use. You might try rigging some kind of spray booth with a plastic sheet floor, sweeping it up, sifting and reusing? Glass beads are good for mild rust and softer metals but aluminum oxide and silicon carbide are progressively more aggressive for severely rusted frames (if I remember right).

>Just remember to treat the waste as a real health
>threat.

Well said.

 

I have always used what is called Black Beauty Sand. Its twice as hard as regular silca sand, doesnt break up, you can reuse it, and is enviromentally safe. As with anything though i would want to suck a lot of it in?

 

What is Black Beauty sand?

How much does it cost?

Where do you get it?

Does it have the same health risks as regular sand?

Charles

 

Me thinks its made from steel slag...

 

I've used that black slag "rough cut" medium in a big firehose-sized rig and got excellent results but found that in a hobby setup the large granules would clog up the nozzle.
Eric

 

Check http://www.tptools.com for more blasting media options. Not sure if their pricing is competitive, but you can see what's out there.