Learn About Sandblasting

The process of making a design of some type that shows up on a stone type of object is something that most people do not understand. It seems like it should be nearly impossible to carve a design into an object that is as hard and solid as a stone. It seems even more unlikely that the design that shows up as the final result is as smooth as they are. The process of creating this art work is by using a sandblast stencil and a sandblast resist.

If you are unfamiliar with the results that can be accomplished through sandblasting, visit the local cemetery in your area. All of the headstones were likely created through a sandblasting process. Different kinds of monuments and plaques are also sometimes created by using this process.

The process of sandblasting involves forcing very, very small pieces of material onto a surface at an extremely high velocity. The original process actually consisted of using sand, which is where the name comes from. However, many other items are now used instead of the sand. This can include steel grit, powdered abrasives, copper slag or even walnut shells. The specific thing used depends upon the surface that is being worked on and the desired result of the action. This type of action can do one of two things. It is sometimes used to clean the surface. Other times, it is done to actually wear away specific places on the surface of the stone in order to create a type of pattern.

If you are trying to create a pattern in the stone, something called a resist will be used. This is a heavy duty vinyl or rubber sheet that is placed over the top of the surface to be worked on. The pattern that will be the end result is then drawn on the resist material and cut out. The material that is being blasted will then only be able to reach the patterned pieces that were cut out. The rest of the stone that is still under the resist material will not be affected by the blasting.

This is the point that the process can turn into a bit of artwork. The final look and the feel of the pattern being created are dependent upon the type of material being blasted and the way the nozzle is handled. If you hold the nozzle in one place for an extended time, more of the stone material will be blasted away. However, you can have a pattern that is not as deep by moving the nozzle to a new area more frequently. You can also make changes to how much of the stone is impacted by moving it closer or farther away. The closer the nozzle is to the stone, the more material will be removed. This close distance will also be very concentrated on a specific area. If you pull the nozzle back farther away, it rate of removal will decrease and the removal will take place over a wider area.


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Stewart Wrighter recently worked with a sandblast resist firm as he sought quotes for an abatement project. He searched the term sandblast stencil to find a company that provided this service.