The Eco-Blaster™ is a powerful and precise air tool that is excellent for cleaning minerals and fossils.  It propels a fine abrasive powder at high pressure and velocity to quickly etch away crust and matrix rock from your prized specimens.  Also known as a "bead blaster", this unit can accomodate various types of abrasive media from 12 to 165 microns in particle size.  For mineral cleaning, glass beads (44 micron) are the most commonly used media.  Other media are available for softer or harder minerals.

THE BLASTER IN ACTION!

Below are photos of a large demantoid garnet specimen from Val Malenco, Italy.  When we bought the piece on eBay (for way less than it's worth), we knew it needed cleaning - but we did not realize just how tenacious the stringy, waxy asbestos matrix would be.  However, after a session with the bead blaster, it turned out to be a truly gorgeous specimen.  Total cleaning time: about 20 minutes.  There is no other tool I'm aware of that could have done this.   

Before Micro-Abrasion		After Micro-Abrasion

Click to see the blaster at work!

Eco-Blaster™ features:

•  Carbide lined handset for long wear.
•  Replaceable 0.032" carbide nozzle tip.
•  Heavy-duty, machined stainless steel mixing chamber.
•  Adjustable internal mixing jet to vary the air/powder ratio.
•  Handy foot pedal switch for hands-free flow control and ease of operation.
•  One-way check valve to prevent media blowing back from unit.
•  Operates with a standard air compressor at 45-125 PSI (1.5 SCFM @ 100 PSI).
•  Recommend use in sealed blasting cabinet with dust collector, or outdoors with eye/face shield and respirator.

Eco-Blaster™ System and Parts: