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The Finish Starts in the Tank – Blasting Media Explained

Date: 19-10-2026
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Two jewellers, same blaster, same ring – and two completely different finishes. The difference is what's in the tank.

Media choice decides whether you get a soft satin, a crisp frost or a clean surface with no texture at all. Blasting is also one-way: there's no un-blasting a shank. Here's how to choose before you start.

Quick comparison

Media Shape What it does Finish Metal loss
Glass bead Round Dents the surface Soft, even satin Minimal
Aluminium oxide Sharp, angular Cuts the surface Crisp frosted matte Yes – go light
Sodium bicarbonate Angular, shatters Cleans without texturing Unchanged Very low
Walnut shell Angular, soft Gentle clean and buff Unchanged to soft Very low

Glass bead: your go-to satin

Because the beads are spherical, they peen rather than cut. That makes glass bead the safest pick for thin shanks, open galleries and finished pieces. Around 50 micron is a common size for jewellery satins.

Aluminium oxide: when you need bite

Reach for aluminium oxide for a sharper frost, or to strip investment and firescale off a fresh casting. Fine grades (25–50 micron) suit jewellery; coarser grades will chew through detail. It removes metal, so keep the pressure and passes modest.

Soda and walnut: cleaning, not texturing

Blasting-grade sodium bicarbonate breaks apart on impact, so it lifts residue without changing the surface – and it rinses off with water. Walnut shell does a similar gentle job and suits softer materials.

Bench rules worth sticking to

  • Protect your stones. Keep opal, pearl, paua, turquoise, amber and emerald out of the blast – mask them or blast before setting
  • Trial it on scrap in the same metal before touching the real piece
  • Dedicate a tank to each media so finishes stay consistent
  • Never reload from the collector. That spent media is full of metal fines – save it for refining instead

Get set up

Warburtons carries micro sandblasters, sandblaster accessories and Vaniman dust collection for NZ workshops. Shop the full sandblasting range online or get in touch for advice on the right media.

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