Definition of the word sandblast

The term "sandblast" originated in the late 19th century, when a process called abrasive blasting became popular in various industries. This technique involved forcing a stream of abrasive material, such as sand or tiny grains of other hard materials, at high velocity onto a surface to remove unwanted material or prepare it for further processing or painting. The name "sandblasting" likely comes from the fact that sand was one of the earliest and most commonly used abrasive materials in this process. Workers would mix sand with water and oil to create a slurry, which they would then feed into a pressurized nozzle to shoot at the surface being treated. Over time, other materials such as aluminum oxide, steel grit, and glass beads have been used instead of sand, as they can offer better cleaning or smoothing results, depending on the application. Regardless of the type of abrasive used, the term "sandblast" has persisted, likely due to the familiarity and simplicity of the word. Today, sandblasting is used in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and conservation of historic buildings.