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Why is garnet such a popular abrasive? Because when used correctly, it offers superior performance, safety, and long-term cost savings. In fact, garnet is widely considered the most cost-effective abrasive for over 85% of blasting applications worldwide.
Why More Contractors Are Switching to Garnet
- Low Dust: Garnet ranks 7.5–8.0 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it durable and less prone to breaking on impact — which means far less airborne dust.
- Safer to Use: Lower dust levels and no toxic content make garnet safer for operators and nearby workers.
- Environmentally Friendly: Unlike slag, garnet is a natural, inert mineral with no heavy metal content.
- Lower Consumption: Garnet uses up to 50% less material compared to slag — reducing cleanup, disposal costs, and equipment wear.
When used correctly, GMA Garnet helps contractors reduce costs, increase blasting efficiency, and deliver cleaner, more consistent surface finishes.
The Real Cost of Blasting
It’s true — garnet abrasive has a higher upfront price than coal slag. But price per tonne doesn’t reflect total project cost. Garnet lasts longer, blasts faster, and leaves less mess — saving you money where it counts.
Think long-term: Investing in quality abrasive helps you save on labor, rework, cleanup, and downtime.
Compare abrasive costs by the square metre →
Common Questions When Choosing Your Abrasive:
- What will my abrasive delivery and disposal requirements be?
- What blasting speed can I achieve with each media?
- What is the hourly consumption rate of each abrasive type?
Think of It This Way:
- A chainsaw costs more than an axe — but it’s the tool of choice for any serious arborist.
- The military doesn’t use bows and arrows, even though they’re cheaper than modern weapons.
Cheap abrasives often come at the expense of productivity, cleanliness, and safety.
Don’t Go It Alone — Let Us Help You Succeed
Switching to garnet won’t automatically improve your profit margins. Like any modern technology, the key is correct implementation.
That’s where we come in. BlastOne’s consultants have over 500 years of combined experience across diverse blasting projects. We help your team get trained and tuned for maximum performance.
Get in touch with a blasting consultant →
Surface Profile and Cleanliness
Correct Profile = Better Coating Performance
Slag abrasives often leave overly rough profiles, causing contractors to apply extra primer just to meet specs. That’s lost time, lost money, and lower profit margins.
Garnet Leaves a Cleaner Surface
BlastOne Garnet produces smooth, even surfaces with minimal embedment. Slag media often leaves sharp residue that can protrude through coatings and compromise finish quality.
Cleaner Sites, Happier Workers
Slag = Dust Problems
Slag is brittle and shatters on impact, sending dust and debris as far as 120 feet. This affects air quality and worker comfort.
Garnet = Less Dust, Less Cleanup
Garnet’s toughness keeps particles intact longer and reduces airborne residue. What does break falls quickly to the ground, keeping the site cleaner and safer. Garnet typically drifts only 40 feet from the nozzle.
Less Hazardous Content
- Garnet: Low in heavy minerals; non-toxic and safe to use
- Slag: Can contain toxic heavy metals; often classified as hazardous waste before and after use
GMA Garnet: The World’s Premium Blasting Abrasive
BlastOne has been a proud distributor of GMA Garnet since the 1980s. Our abrasives are trusted on major projects around the world.
Garnet was originally used as a gemstone — but its strength and natural hardness made it a perfect fit for abrasive blasting. Decades later, it’s one of the most widely used media in the world.
Learn how to choose the right GMA Garnet for your application →
