Vapor blasting (often called wet abrasive blasting) uses a controlled mix of water, compressed air, and abrasive to clean and profile surfaces with dramatically reduced dust. It’s ideal for public, indoor, and sensitive environments where traditional dry blasting may not be practical.

What Is Vapor Blasting?

In a vapor blast system, water is introduced to the abrasive stream to suppress dust and improve cutting efficiency. The water encapsulates fine particles so they fall out of the air quickly, improving visibility and helping you meet exposure limits—without sacrificing productivity.

Vapor vs. Other “Wet” Methods (In Plain Terms)

• Vapor Blasting: Water is mixed into the blast stream to reduce dust and heat while maintaining efficient coating removal and profiling.
• Water-Injection at the Nozzle: Water is added right at the nozzle primarily for dust knockdown; media inside the pot stays dry (useful, but typically less efficient than a true vapor system).
• Flooded/Wet Blasting: Media is fully saturated with water for maximum dust reduction; can be excellent for highly sensitive environments but may reduce feed flexibility.

Why Choose Vapor Blasting

• Dust Control: Significantly reduces airborne dust for safer, cleaner jobsites and better visibility.
• Lower Heat: Water moderates surface temperature to help prevent warping thin metals or soft substrates.
• Tough Coating Removal: Added mass from water improves impact energy for stubborn coatings and corrosion.
• Clean + Profile in One Step: Removes contamination while producing a uniform surface profile for coatings.
• Easier Containment: Moist media is simpler to control and collect versus dry dust plumes.

Typical Vapor Blasting Applications

• Public or occupied facilities where dust must be minimized
• Food, pharma, and water/wastewater environments
• Interior work, shipyards, and marinas with strict containment
• Automotive panels and thin metals prone to heat distortion
• Coating removal + surface prep where a single-pass solution saves time

Equipment You’ll Need

• Vapor-Capable Blast Pot: A unit designed for water/abrasive mixing and precise metering. Browse our options here: vapor blasters.
• Water Supply and Control: Stable water source with proper injection/atomization controls.
• Air Compressor: Sized to your nozzle CFM plus headroom for moisture management and hose runs.
• Moisture Management: Air dryers/aftercoolers help keep controls responsive and media flow consistent.
• PPE: Blast helmet with supplied air, gloves, suit, and hearing protection appropriate to the task.

Abrasive Media Selection

Vapor systems work well with common industrial media such as garnet and crushed glass. Avoid media that absorb excessive water or break down quickly in wet conditions. Match mesh size to your target profile and coating specification, and verify recovery/cleanup requirements for the site.

FAQs: Vapor Blasting

Is vapor blasting the same as wet blasting?

The terms are often used interchangeably. Practically, “vapor” usually means water and media are combined to reduce dust and heat, while other “wet” setups may inject water at the nozzle only. Both suppress dust; true vapor systems typically offer more consistent mixing and control.

Do I need special media?

Not necessarily. Garnet and crushed glass are common. Choose a mesh that meets your profile spec and avoid media that saturate or degrade excessively when wet.

What air pressure do I run?

Most systems operate in the 90–120 PSI range, but size your compressor to the nozzle’s CFM requirements and account for hose length, dryers, and multiple tools.

Where is vapor blasting most useful?

Anywhere dust control, visibility, or heat management are priorities—occupied buildings, public-facing work, thin metals, or indoor industrial maintenance.

Bottom Line

Vapor blasting delivers efficient coating removal and consistent profiles with far less dust and heat than dry blasting. If you need performance plus control in sensitive environments, it’s a proven choice.

Get a Quote or Build a System

We rent and sell vapor blast equipment, supply media and PPE, and can help you size the right compressor, hoses, and moisture control for your application.

Request a Quote  |  888-774-8993  |  info@sandblastinc.com | Shop Vapor Blasters