How to Rent a Sand Blaster

They are not uniform for every job, and getting the right one will make the job easier and cost less.

1. Determine how long you will need the machine. Most places will rent daily or weekly, and some rent hourly as well. A small job, such as a fireplace you are blasting, will take only a couple of hours to complete. Should you plan to blast plaster from an entire house, then you may want to consider the longer rental period.

2. Find out what type of material is blasted. Though few actually use sand anymore, some still do. Others use dry ice, steel beads or ground corncobs. The machine uses air, powered from your water or electric supply, to push the particles with great force through the hose and out of the nozzle. Before you rent a sand blaster, know what type of materials it will use and how much they will cost.

3. Decide on the strength of the blaster. Someone at the rental shop, probably located in a hardware store, should be able to assist with this issue. Sand blaster strength is measured by the pressure per square inch, or PSI, just as your car tires are. Greater pressure is necessary to smooth some surfaces, but too much pressure can cause damage.

4. Ask about cleaning and associated fees. Sand blasting will leave a mess in the general area where you do the work. The machine also may get messy. Ask the rental clerk how to clean the equipment and how much it costs if they have to re-do it after you are done. Look for a generous policy if you are unsure whether you will be able to clean it up completely.

5. Find out if the rental company sells drop cloths. You will need them to keep your furniture and other items free from the bits that will come from the sand blaster.