Compare and Buy: Dry Blasting vs Wet Blasting – Which Is Right for You?

Dry Blasting vs Wet Blasting – Which is right for you? When it comes to surface preparation, shot blasting is a go-to solution across industries — from aerospace and automotive to additive manufacturing and precision engineering. But once you’ve decided on shot blasting, the next question is just as important:

Should you go for dry blasting or wet?

Each method has its own strengths, trade-offs, and ideal applications. In this guide, we’ll break down the differences between dry shot blasting and wet shot blasting, helping you make the right decision for your parts, process, and performance needs.

What Is Shot Blasting?

At its core, shot blasting propels abrasive media at a surface to clean, prepare, or finish it. It removes rust, scale, coatings, burrs, or surface imperfections — or simply prepares a component for painting, coating, or bonding.

There are two main types:

• Dry shot blasting: uses compressed air or a mechanical wheel to blast media in a dry environment. Check out our range

• Wet shot blasting: combines abrasive media with water to create a slurry that is blasted at the part. Have you seen our AWB Blaster?

Dry Blasting: The Power Player

Advantages

• High removal rate: great for aggressive surface cleaning and heavy-duty tasks.

• Simple system: easier to maintain (no water system to manage).

• Faster cycle times: especially for large, tough parts.

• Wider media options: steel shot, grit, glass bead, aluminum oxide, etc.

Limitations

• More dust: requires efficient dust extraction and PPE for operators.

• Surface roughness: can be too aggressive for delicate or precision parts.

• Static buildup: can attract dust to parts post-processing.

Best For

• Descaling and derusting heavy steel parts

• Paint and coating removal

• Prepping surfaces for thermal spray or coating

Wet Blasting: The Gentle Finisher

Advantages

• Dust-free: water suppresses dust — safer, cleaner workspace.

• Smoother finish: ideal for cosmetic or precision parts.

• Better heat dissipation: water reduces friction and prevents distortion.

• Cleaner process: debris is flushed away with the slurry.

Limitations

• Slower material removal: not ideal for heavy-duty cleaning.

• More maintenance: requires water treatment, sludge management.

• Higher initial cost: equipment is often more complex.

Best For

• Finishing titanium, aluminium, or stainless steel

• Cosmetic finishing of consumer or medical parts

• Additive manufacturing post-processing

• Plastic or softer material components

Comparison Between Wet & Dry Blasting

So, Which One Is Right for You?

Ask yourself:

• Are you working with hard metals or removing heavy contaminants? → Dry blasting.

• Do you need a smooth, dust-free, and consistent cosmetic finish? → Wet blasting.

• Are you in additive manufacturing, aerospace, or med-tech? Wet blasting is often your best bet.

• Do you want speed and simplicity? Dry might be your winner.

Compare & Buy with Confidence

At ActOn Finishing, we offer both dry and wet shot blasting systems — and we help you choose the right setup for your materials, volume, and finish goals. Whether you need a compact machine for prototypes or a robust system for production lines, we’ve got your surface finishing needs covered.

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