While both shot blasting and sand blasting are a mechanical surface cleaning process, the application of each is different. In shot blasting, a throwing wheel is used, and in sand blasting, compressed air is used.
Shot Blasting: In shot blasting, the throwing wheel turns rapidly, which causes the steel shots to accelerate towards the surface. Compared with sand blasting, shot blasting does not generate silicon dusts and causes less of a problem with environmental pollution. Learn more.
Sand Blasting: Sand blasting takes compressed air as its source of power and shoots a high speed abrasive sand stream towards the surface. The cutting effect of the sand helps to completely clean the surface and improve the mechanical profile, which is often helpful before painting or coating.