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Skülly
There are many, many different types of media that can be used for blasting.
Different types of media have different pros/cons.... you can select softer/harder media for the substrate just the same as you get coarser/finer grades of sandpaper/wet and dry. It works the same as sandpaper grades - the softer/finer the media (soda blasting is very soft and gentle for example), the longer it will take to get down to the substrate, but it is a lot less harsh on more delicate substrates.
A good media blaster will know what type of media to use depending on what the substrate is, and what the existing coating that needs to be removed. A frame that’s made of good quality thin butted tubing (853/spirit etc), but has a Powdercoat finish can be particularly tricky to deal with, as using a soft media will take forever to remove the Powdercoat, but using a harder media can damage the steel if they’re not careful. It’s a fine line.
Sometimes chemical dipping is the best option to remove certain types of coating from more delicate frames without the risk of damaging the substrate..... it’s a horrible process both for the user and the environment though, so I have always used dipping as a last option.