Is it ok to use silica sand for sandblasting?
If so what saftey precatoins do i have to use?
Because i heared you can get a lung disease called silicosus or something.

 

doesn't all sand have silica in it?just wear a dust mask and it takes a long time for there to be any ill effects on you

 

When looking for "dust masks" , a person will find a wide array of them. What you want to avoid is the little paper ones that have a rubber band holding them on. I use the 3m dual canister one that Lowes carries, about 36 bucks, with replaceble filters. Each canister has two filters, one pre and one main. The best way to test a mask is to put it on, then inhale and exhale quickly. If when doing that, the mask "pops" from the suction, you have a good seal. When sandblasting that sand will go everywhere, eye and ear protection should be used also. A person just cant get good body replacement parts anymore you know,

If when inhaling the mask doesnt suck "in" a little, then it is not sealing properly. That means a person will be inhaling miniscule particles of silica, rust , paint , whatever. Once foreign particles get in to the lungs air sacs, they stay. Yes, a person may get by for a long time with minimum breathing protection, but it is the overall total accumalation of lung debris that matters, and the toxic rating of those particles that matter. Sorry for the soapbox, my father in law lived with us for two years while I watched him die a slow painful death from emphysema. So, I know what it looks like when a persons lungs slowly fail. take care, all jmo

 

The main reason i want ot use pure silica sand is because its so fine and it will feed very well into a gravity fed sand blaster.

 

Silica (SiO2) is one of the most abundant minerals on (and in) this planet. Not all silica is bad, you want to avoid excessive breathing in of crystaline silica as the tiny super sharp particles tear up and create scar tissue inside the lungs.
This link is very informative;
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/silica/index.html

An occasional sandblaster should not be scared away from silica sand. Take the normal precautions and you should be fine. Stay away from the dust masks that just have the single rubber band...they are worthless. The kinds with the dual rubber bands are actually classified as respirators and are usually labeled N95 and are good for airborne particulates.

Silicosis occurs from extensive exposures to silica.

Good luck
Bobby

 

The dual cartridge respirator from Lowes is what I used and with a good fit, it did a good job. Try to avoid re-using the sand as it will be super fine and give off a lot more dust.

 

The nice thing about a real respirator is that you can change out the filters for different types depending on what you're doing. Like painting. When I was young I did some unmasked backyard painting, and while ANY paint is bad for you, Urethane is especially rough. Pick up some filters for painting and some for dust, and you've got a "dual purpose" tool there, and a cheap investment in your future health.

 

When I sandblasted my truck's frame, and various body parts, I wore the lowes dual-cartridge respirator and it was fine. I agree the paper mask thing is not the way to go, I did that originally and it clogged up... bad!

My cousin who assisted, wore a WWII canister mask

 

Same here i went down to the local hardware store and bought a canister respirator. The filters in it were for pesticide wich i need for spraying crops, then ill buy filters for paint, and sandblasting.

 

hi 150/428/dud...I use to buy sand blast sand and used a mask/dual filters. Now I buy black beauty silca free product. used in the salt mine here to keep air cleaner than with silca.The Black beauty cutts through thick rust so fast, and i'm using a pressure pot with a 1/8 tip. I screen the blast to recycle as it does not break down like sand....Now in my dreams I use dry ice blasted that leaves no clean up and blows away grease and oils...after i win the lottery...good luck