Sand blasters are used to scour metal or stone surfaces or to etch glass. When shopping for sand blasters you should have the option of purchasing a portable, self-contained unit or a simple blaster. Portable units generally come with their own tanks. You can find a blaster with a 10-gallon accompanying tank that is relatively easy to move.

While portable units differ depending on the manufacturer, many are constructed of steel and feature a standard media filling funnel and a 10-foot hose. PSI will vary, but an effective 10-gallon unit will usually have an operating pressure of 65-125 PSI. A sand blaster of this type can stand close to three feet tall, but it should be designed for easy mobility.

If you're not in the market for a portable tank, you can find standard handheld sand blasters with hose attachments. The best on the market allow you to use them without much physical exertion. A single piece is typically inexpensive, so these blasters can serve as effective replacements.

While sand blasters remain one of the most popular air abrasive tools on the market, there are those that find shortcomings with them. Detractors say that in some cases, sand blasters will leave behind grit that can lead to the early deterioration of equipment. Others feel as though the waste that sand blasters can leave behind is more trouble than it's worth. Despite those beliefs, sand blasters can still offer fast results for less money than many other comparable products on the market.