Source for sand/beadblasting media?

I have had zero luck in my area (22630) finding a source for beadblasting media, or black beauty for sandblasting work. I called all the Yellow Page listed places that do sandblasting, and they only perform the service, they don't sell products. Nor will they say they get theirs. The hardware stores are a no go as well. Is there a mail order place that specializes in selling glass beads or black beauty that I can deal with?

try www.tptools.com they are a big sandblast cabinit company and have 4-6 tyrps of blast media and I've seen some on Ebay.
hope this helps

Mc Master has it too.

Try a contractors or building supply store. I think I even saw it in Home Depo. I think shipping would kill you for less than a truck load. You could try play sand if you can't find anything else.

Fastenal
Winchester, Virginia
http://www.fastenal.com/web/storeInfo.ex?branch=VAWIN

If you need a fastener, they have it or will get it. They’ve got abrasives as well.

How much do you need? Also what grit are you looking for? Shipping will be expensive for this stuff. Grainger is a good source as you can pick-up at the store, but they only do business-to-business sales. They often allow individuals to buy under a company's account if you pay upfront. If so you can probably pick up from them. If they don't have a store in your area then there is one I know of just inside of 495 off of route 5 in northern Va.

there are several hundred pounds of glass beads on GSA auctions in Missouri right now, I'd buy, but currently have about 200 pounds of it in the garage already, will last me quite a long time

Eastwood Company sells quite a few different types of abrasives. I'm not sure how they compare price-wise. Here's the link to the abrasives page: http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1313&itemType=CATEGORY&path=1,2,1310&KickerID=243&KICKER

I just called two builders supply stores. One had a silica sand in 80# bags for$8 a bag. The other one had Black Beauty for $11.70/100# bag. Cash and carry. It would be hard to ship the sand for $10/100, I think. If you have a blast cabnet or a spark plug cleaner mail order might work for you.

Trust me, Grainger will sell for cash. If they didn’t they would cut out about 65% of the contractors in the DC area that do not have credit good enough to get an account. If all else fails, I’ll go with you and use my account, but pay with cash. I’d do Fastenal, they’re closer. If you need help with them, I think we have an account. If we do not, I’ll get one.

Yeah Grainger will "work with you" on making a business to sell to. I suspect that if you made a business card with crayon and colored paper they would happily take it.

Be aware that any grit larger than 80 will need about a 3/16th orifiace and 20+CFM @90psi to cut metal.

Any media at 80 or higher will work through the smaller 1/8th nozzels and work well with less than 15CFM.

I bought $20 of black beauty at 50 grit and it will not go through my nozzle without clogging after 30 seconds or less.

I rather like the star blast that I use.

Have you looked at Abrasives or similar categories in the yellow pages? I just tried "Abrasives near Tucker, Ga" and got the place I bought my blasting media from as the first hit.

Pfarber, I have found that if you sift the black beauty before you use it, ytou will have MUCH less cloggs. I think its the best available/price wise.

Agri-Supply and Northern Tool also sell blasting media... Agri has it in the maxi bags (2000lb bags...).
Maddawg, since your signature doesn't say exactly where you are, I can't be more precise, but I can tell you that Luck Stone (as well as Vulcan Materials and Martin Marietta) also sell blasting sand although availablity at any given plants varies widely and most likely will be in the larger sizes at VMC and MM (bridge/structural steel blasters) although I know that Luck ships a lot of it around in maxibags and has it in finer sizes... Keep in mind that this would be sand, and not a slag or other "manufactured" media. I don't purchase any blasting media in VA, but I do have a good relationship with the three companies and could enquire about availabitly of materials if you needed...

Tractor Supply sells a version of Black Beauty but I have gotten better at a supplier about4 35 miles away.I have ALWAYS had great service and results with TP Tools!!

Take that big ole truck of yours and head to the beach!

Mike, try a local concrete block manufacturer. I got 80# bags in my choice of three grits for $ 6.50/bag. Dave.

You might also want to try harbor freight,

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=glass+beads

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95546