Sandblast equipment is almost always associated with air or water propelled sandblast media. This is not, however, always the case. Wheel blasting is a way to clean the grit and grime from hard to clean industrial surfaces, which is sometimes done to prepare a surface for secondary processes such as painting or staining, without water or air to carry the blasting media. There are a number of positive characteristics that can make a company lean towards purchasing wheel blasting equipment rather then wet sandblasting or pneumatically powered sandblast equipment.

The way wheel blasting works is it utilizes centrifugal force to power its rapid circular movement that propels blasting media that has been placed within the compartments created by the spokes of the wheel. This wheel is hooked up to a tube through which the media being propelled is directed at the object instead of flying everywhere as the rotation speed causes it to leave the spoke compartments. Blasting wheels can come in a variety of sizes, from very large models for automotive work or other large projects or small versions for detailed work. The type of media that is thrown by the blasting wheel also varies greatly and depends upon the application. Soda blasting may be done by way of a wheel blaster, and is considered one of the more gentle medias for softer materials that can not risk being scratched. Other soft medias like baking soda include corn cobs and walnut shells, while harsher sandblast media include steel abrasives and aluminum oxide.

The types of materials treated by wheel blasting and similar blasting techniques include wood, a variety of metals, glass, plastic, rubber and ceramics. Not only can they be cleaned by wheel blasters, but can also have specific etchings and carvings done by detail oriented models. Otherwise, deburring, smoothing and polishing, roughening, degreasing and deflashing are all desired outcomes that can be achieved with wheel blasting equipment and the proper media.