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Misconceptions on the Cost of Your Abrasive

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Looking Beyond Price Per Ton

When it comes to abrasive selection, one of the most common objections contractors raise is cost. At first glance, garnet may seem more expensive when compared to alternatives like copper slag on a cost-per-ton basis. But focusing only on purchase price overlooks the bigger picture: the true cost of the job.

Cost Per Ton vs. Cost Per Job

The first impression is often misleading. If you need only half the amount of abrasive to complete the same project, then the real savings emerge. Rather than looking at abrasive cost per ton, the correct measure is total project cost. Lower abrasive consumption means reduced cleanup, less disposal, less wear on equipment, and faster completion — all of which directly reduce expenses.

To help illustrate this, GMA provides tools such as a cost calculator that compares job costs across abrasives. These tools highlight just how quickly the apparent price gap between garnet and slags disappears once real-world efficiency is factored in.

How much does your blasting abrasive really cost you?

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Hidden Costs of Slag

Shipyards and heavy industry have long relied on copper slag because it was perceived as the cheapest option. However, this choice often leads to significant hidden costs:

Higher consumption — more abrasive required for the same surface prep.
Disposal challenges — larger volumes of waste material to remove.
Environmental concerns — increasing restrictions on slag use due to contamination risks.

These factors make slag less economical over the full project lifecycle, even before accounting for performance differences.

Changing Industry Perceptions

One of the biggest challenges is mindset. For industries like shipbuilding, slag has historically been the standard, and the idea of switching to garnet can feel unfamiliar. Yet when contractors step back and compare performance side by side, the benefits become clear.

GMA’s technical teams often work directly with contractors to show them how garnet enables faster blasting and better coverage. Many operators are surprised to learn they can achieve two, three, even four times the productivity simply by adjusting blasting techniques to match the abrasive’s higher performance.

“Our particles are so much harder than some alternatives that you can take a step back from the surface when you’re blasting and increase the pattern substantially. That wider coverage translates into much greater productivity.”
Scot Cummins
Sales Director GMA Americas

Expertise Makes the Difference

The right abrasive is only part of the solution. Combining high-quality garnet with expert training and support ensures contractors fully capture the cost savings. When blasting faster, using less abrasive, and producing less waste, the overall economics of the job shift dramatically in favor of garnet.

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