Glass Blast

GlassBlast was started with the goal of making sure the blast media user stays ahead of future industry sandblasting regulations. Manufactured glass for sandblasting was expensive and not competitive with sand and slags. Recycled glass could be used in sandblasting. A 100% post-consumer waste product processed in the local markets to assure minimal environmental impact was available. We wanted customers to have access to a product that will always be approved and available for their sandblasting needs. Using crushed glass for sandblasting meet those requirements.

The founders of GlassBlast have individually over thirty years experience each in the North American construction products and wholesale distribution business. From humble beginnings in California we have previously built nationwide operations with the primary focus on customer service. A keen understanding of the need for product quality, consistency, delivery and problem solving are the keys to satisfied customers. We are here to answer all your questions and concerns. Also, we would love to hear any ideas or suggestions on alternative uses you may have for recycled glass. 

GlassBlast is one of the largest sellers of glass for sandblasting in North America and annually recycles over 4000 tons of glass. Major markets include fillers for epoxy and concrete with a large portion that goes into abrasives for sandblasting. Our Abrasive Division markets glass abrasives which are produced from 100% recycled bottle glass.

The use of post-consumer glass directly benefits the environment by increasing landfill space, and the glass-based products are chemically non-toxic and inert, making it safe to use in many industrial and even consumer products. GlassBlast is committed to using fact based marketing and sales strategies, a devotion to product quality, national availability and superior customer service to build well known, branded product.

GlassBlast has already become a nationally recognized expendable abrasive in surface preparation. This crushed glass abrasive is used for sandblasting projects from ships and bridges to log homes. Lead paint removal and concrete texturing are other types of sandblasting projects GlassBlast is used on.

GlassBlast is safer for workers than many other abrasives on the market in the dust from blasting. Crushed Glass also does not contain unsafe levels of Crystalline Silica. Dustless Sandblasting machines use mostly GlassBlast as a abrasive media.

GlassBlast headquarters is in Tustin, California where all sales and logistics functions are coordinated through our network of distributors and glass abrasive plants throughout the United States. GlassBlast abrasives are currently manufactured and available at the following locations:

Rancho Cucamonga, CA., Chula Vista, CA, Hayward, CA., Bakersfield, CA., Wilson NC, Houston, TX., Fairfield, CA., Commerce, CA., Rocklin, CA., Las Vegas, NV., Reno, NV., Portland, OR. More locations are planned.

GlassBlast Fine, Medium, Coarse

100% Recycled Crushed Glass Blast Media Technical Data What is it? Crushed glass blasting media is an engineered “sandblasting” media manufactured from 100% Recycled Bottle Glass. Crushed glass can be used as a direct replacement for most hard abrasives, including silica-sand, Olivine, lava, coal slag (aka Black Beauty), and aluminum oxide. Crushed Glass is approved for use in numerous federal and state government agencies, and military branches. It is non-hazardous, non-toxic and completely inert, so is safe to use around water. Glass dust is classified by OSHA/NIOSH as only “nuisance” dust because it contains less than 1% free silica. Glass also does not contain virtually any of the OSHA identified Heavy/Toxic Metals associated with slags and some other mineral abrasives such as Olivine. Lastly, since glass is translucent, visibility and productivity are significantly improved when compared to a blast environment using traditional hard abrasives. How Can Glass be Silica-free? Recycled bottle glass is chemically known as Amorphous Aluminosilicate. Free-silica is commonly found in traditional blasting sand and other hard abrasive sandblasting media. Silica-sand dust in its natural state has an “open” crystalline structure that has the capability of sticking to lung tissues. When this happens, the likelihood of developing a serious respiratory disease called Silicosis increases. Because our recycled glass blast media is amorphous, its crystalline structure is “closed,” which makes it impossible to physically stick to human lung tissue. When a person is exposed to amorphous glass fines or dust, the body will expel the dust as it would any other type of natural dirt. Benefits of Glass Blasting In addition to worker safety benefits, crushed glass delivers a natural, whiter metal finish than many other sandblasting abrasives, and significantly decreases embedment issues—up to 5 times less than slag blast media. Glass works great for removing thick, tough coatings, and numerous surface preparation applications—glass can create a profile of up to 4 mils on hardened steel. Glass is versatile, and can be used as a dry blasting media or combined with water for use in slurry blasting machines. Qualified for Use Crushed glass has been added to the qualified products list by the US Navy. Crushed glass is qualified under MIL-A-22262-B, Amendment 2–Abrasive Blasting Media for ship hull blast cleaning. Based on toxicological safety evaluations by the Naval Environmental Health Center (NEHC), Crushed Glass Grit can be safely used for its intended purpose. The addition of crushed glass to QPL includes 12-30 mesh (CBM 1230); and 30-70 mesh, (CBM 3070). SAVE MONEY TOO! Crushed glass is less dense than other sandblasting media. This means greater productivity due to more blast time between pot refills AND less material will be used, which reduces both disposal and media costs.