The True Cost of Garnet Abrasive: Why Price Isn’t the Full Picture

Many blasting contractors assume that abrasive cost is all about the price per tonne or bag. And on paper, low-cost alternatives like slag may appear far cheaper sometimes up to 6x less than premium garnet. But this comparison is misleading.

The real cost of abrasive blasting includes far more than what you pay per bag. It includes:

• How much abrasive you consume
• How much dust it generates
• How often you need to stop to clean up
• How many times it can be recycled
• And how cleanly it prepares the surface

In nearly every category, GMA Garnet performs better — leading to lower overall project cost despite the higher upfront price.

What Impacts Your Project Budget

The US Navy developed an accurate costing formula which is based on the fact that the true cost of any blasting operation is the finished cost per square foot. This allows them to accurately cost projects and compare abrasive performances at any of their Naval Dockyards.

Based on US Navy Cost Formula

True cost per square foot = A (B+C) + D + E / X

A = Abrasive consumed per nozzle per hour (in pounds)
B = Abrasive cost delivered per pound
C = Clean up and disposal costs per pound
D = Labour cost per nozzle per hour
E = Equipment running cost per nozzle per hour
X = Square feet blast cleaned per nozzle per hour To assist you to calculate your actual blasting costs, we have developed a tool to assist you calculate your true cost of blasting

Result: Even if an abrasive is cheaper per bag, it can still cost more per square foot if it performs poorly.

Try It Out!:  Do your own calculations using the Navy Cost Formula

Compare the Real Numbers

✅ GMA Garnet reduces waste, increases efficiency, and results in a cleaner, faster job — all contributing to project savings.

Try It Yourself — Estimate Your Real Costs

We’ve developed a simple tool to help you calculate the true cost of your blasting project based on your real conditions.

Try It Out!: Do your own calculations using the Navy Cost Formula

Case Study Example

“A BlastOne customer switched to GMA Garnet and reduced abrasive consumption by nearly 50%. The job was completed two days faster, saving on labor, abrasive, and cleanup.”

Read the full case study here:  Reduced Consumption by 48%

Read more case studies here:  Case Studies

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