Yes, you can sand blast with a pressure washer, but it requires a specific accessory.
Understanding Pressure Washer Sandblasting
Sandblasting with a pressure washer is typically done using a method called wet sandblasting or abrasive blasting. Unlike traditional dry sandblasting which creates a lot of dust, wet sandblasting mixes the abrasive material (like sand, glass beads, or other media) with water from the pressure washer.
This process is effective for various cleaning and surface preparation tasks.
How it Works
To perform wet sandblasting with a pressure washer, you need a specialized attachment:
- Wet Sandblasting Kit: This kit is designed to draw abrasive material from a separate source (like a hopper or bag) and mix it into the high-pressure water stream from the pressure washer lance.
- Attachment: The kit usually attaches directly to the end of your pressure washer lance, replacing the standard nozzle. The powerful water flow creates a vacuum effect that pulls the abrasive media into the stream.
Reference Insight: As stated by STIHL regarding their pressure washers, Sandblasting with a pressure washer can be performed with the appropriate wet sandblasting set. This is available as an accessory for all STIHL pressure washers and is attached to the spray lance in place of the nozzle.
This confirms that the capability exists through the use of a dedicated accessory kit that connects to the standard lance.
Benefits of Wet Sandblasting
Using a pressure washer for sandblasting offers several advantages:
- Reduced Dust: The water suppresses dust, making it safer and cleaner than dry blasting.
- Simultaneous Cleaning & Blasting: The high-pressure water also helps wash away loosened debris and abrasive material.
- Versatility: Suitable for removing rust, paint, graffiti, and preparing surfaces for coating.
What You Need
To start wet sandblasting with your pressure washer, ensure you have:
- A pressure washer suitable for the task (check the pressure and flow rate requirements of the sandblasting kit).
- A compatible wet sandblasting accessory kit for your specific pressure washer model.
- Appropriate abrasive media (sand, slag, glass, etc.) suitable for wet blasting and your project.
- Safety gear, including heavy-duty gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, and potentially a respirator, even though dust is reduced.
In summary, while a standard pressure washer out of the box is not equipped for sandblasting, adding the correct wet sandblasting accessory kit makes it possible and effective for various cleaning and surface preparation projects.
