FWIW...topic already beaten to death. I use play sand from HD that I run through a window screen to remove the pebbles. I wear a respirator and hearing protection while blasting. I collect the used sand, screen it again for re-use. But, only re-use one time as after two times through the blaster the sand is mostly powder and wasted effort to collect it again.
I tried using black beauty once, but it kept clogging the nozzle of my 80 lb pressure pot...too much trouble. I tossed the stuff.
If I were to use dedicated blasting sand, I would use #4 grit blasting sand.
In my blasting cabinet, I use aluminum oxide.
