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Concrete and metal are the most common surfaces to abrasive blast, but they are by no means the only ones where abrasive blasting can be done effectively – in other words so that undesirable impurities and rust are removed cleanly with no or minimal surface damage.

These days, even antiques and porcelain can be gently abrasive blasted. One of the keys here is what abrasive medium you use. Garnet, the safer alternative for sand used by many responsible abrasive blasters, is excellent for industrial type work. It comes in different grades for different levels of finish, and as it is used and reused, the grains become finer. However, for really fine work a softer medium such as crushed walnut shells may be the way to go.

If left untreated, rust not only detracts from the appearance of metal surfaces but actually weakens the bonds of the metal itself. It can render structures unsafe and machinery unusable. So it's absolutely critical to remove rust from metal and protect it to inhibit or prevent the recurrence of rust.

Awareness is the first step in the battle against rust. You need to know how rust works.

How to remove old anti-fouling from your vessel

To remove the anti-fouling, you need to get your vessel out of the water. Depending on its size, you can do this yourself or use a commercial slipway or dry dock.

Most small craft owners would first consider scraping and sanding the surface themselves. This method works well, but can be very exhausting. There is also the problem that the paint dust is actively toxic. You don't want to breathe it and you don't want to get it into the environment.

The main environmental risk with abrasive blasting lies with the abrasive material used and how it is contained.

Despite the name sand blasting, sand is actually seldom used any more, as inhaling the dust has been shown to cause the lung disease silicosis. These days, abrasive blasting uses steel grits, copper slags, walnut shells, powdered coconut and other materials. The most important environmental consideration is choosing an abrasive material that will not contaminate the area and is free from heavy metals.