The Complete Handbook of Abrasive Blaster Accessories

Chapter 1: Understanding Abrasive Blaster Accessories

Abrasive blasting, commonly called sandblasting, is a method of surface preparation that uses a high-velocity stream of abrasive particles to clean, shape, or profile a surface. When most people think about this process, they picture the blasting machine, the compressor, and the abrasive itself. But the machine is only a pressure vessel. The compressor only provides the air. The media is only the raw material. The work is actually done by the system that connects these three elements and directs the stream of media at the target surface. That system is the collection of components we call abrasive blaster accessories.

These accessories form a complete chain from the air source to the point of impact. In a typical pressure blasting setup, the chain begins at the air supply line that feeds the blast machine. It continues through the machine's internal piping and the abrasive metering valve. The chain then runs through the blast hose, which is a large, reinforced, and electrically conductive rubber tube. At the end of the hose is a coupling, a short section of rigid metal pipe called a nipple, and the nozzle itself. The operator holds the hose and nozzle, using them to direct the abrasive stream. In many setups, a deadman handle or a remote control system sits somewhere along this chain to allow the operator to start and stop the abrasive flow from a safe distance. Every single component in this chain is an accessory, and every single