Dust-free mirror sandblasting: both contestants' first time on the Jateck

Forty minutes into EP1, Arena do Vidro reached the step that changes a glass shop's routine the most: sandblasting. The Hello Kitty mirror had a frosted band, and both contestants were about to blast on a machine they had never used, the Jateck.

Before that, the panel stopped to read the challenge. Afterward, both men described how they sandblast in their own shops and how it felt to do it there. That contrast says more than any ad, which is why I wanted to write about it.

The panel's read at 40 minutes

Pet, our "Paizão", explained what he saw: Janael started very fast and broke out first, because he has the technique. Rômulo, not used to CNC and with a more manual process, was calmer and less nimble at break-out, but steady. The table added: one was frantic, the other wasn't. Rômulo fell behind at break-out but made up time on the stencil: he'd already applied and cut his vinyl.

Result: Rômulo started blasting first. Janael got stuck on the vinyl, and stuck bad.

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How they sandblast back home

One contestant described the blasting he does every day: a fully sealed booth used only for sandblasting. Full PPE: Tyvek, the coverall that covers your whole body, and special respirators. There's a huge amount of dust. And with that much dust in the air, visibility inside the booth drops.

The other, asked how he sandblasts in his shop, answered the way any glazier who blasts will recognize: you put on that whole suit, "masks everywhere and dust that never ends".

First time on the Jateck

Both expected to struggle. One said that when he saw his rival using it, he figured he'd have a hard time with equipment he'd never touched. But no: it was easy, a really good experience. The other said he thought it would be hard to handle and it turned out simple: "awesome".

Then came the comment that, for me, sums it all up, from someone living glass shop life every day: the biggest headache today is outsourcing. Any job that leaves the shop costs you time. There, he finished edging, peeled the film and went straight to blasting, with no mess at all. Practical and clean.

Booth vs. Jateck: what changes

The Jateck is Routeck's dry sandblasting machine, the only patented one in Brazil. The compressor and abrasive are not included: the recommended abrasive is 100-grit aluminum oxide. Price and terms are on the machine page, where they're always up to date.

Can you sandblast a mirror without a booth?

In Arena do Vidro, both contestants blasted the mirror on the Jateck, which does dry sandblasting with built-in dust collection. In their own shops, both use a booth with coveralls and respirators.

What do you need to run the Jateck?

Compressed air at 5 to 7 bar with at least 15 CFM (a 200 L, 3 HP compressor), 220 V single-phase power and 100-grit aluminum oxide abrasive. The compressor and abrasive aren't included.

Why is outsourcing sandblasting a problem?

Because the piece leaves the shop and you lose time. That's what one contestant said in EP1: with the machine right there, he finished edging, peeled the film and blasted.

The clip with this part is at the top of the post, and the full EP1 is on the episode page. If you want to see the Jateck up close or have questions, reach us on WhatsApp through Routeck's site.

Full episode 1 · Cutting a sandblast stencil: by hand or by laser? · A sandblasting cabinet alternative: the Jateck

Episode 1