Black Smalt Source

[Site Man]

OLD FORUM POSTS

Posted by Danny Baronian on April 11, 2003

Here is the source of black smalt that I believe Rick carried at Esoteric Sign Supply.

The material is called Kleen Blast Abrasive. To find a local source in your area, call Kleen Blast headquarters in San Ramon CA at 800 356-7323.

Here are additional numbers:

California - North (Hayward) California - South (San Diego)
800 227-1134 619 239-1092

Washington (Tacoma) Oregon (Portland)
800 228-4786 800 634-8499

Canada (Grand Forks B.C.)
250 442-2260

Kleen blast comes in 50 lb sacks and costs around $ 5 for the bag. The primary use for the product is as a sandblast medium.

They have 5 grit sizes ranging from 8-12 grit to 30/60 grit. The 35 grit matches up exactly with smalts I ordered from Rick the end of last year. While I don't know the exact supplier he used, I do know that the product was manufactured in Canada, in the same area that Kleen Blast is manufactured. The Black Beauty that Jeff Lang suggested would be the best source for those on the East coast. Different name, similar type of product, but is shipped by railroad car load, then sold only by the ton.

According to Kleen Blast's customer service, the smalt/slag does not change color from the original glossy black, and have product mounted on exterior test panels that have been up for over 60 years.

Danny Baronian

Jeffrey P. Lang - Black Beauty by the Bag

Danny,
I wanted to add, the Black Beauty is available by the bag & is distributed to many outlets in the united states. The manufacturer is Reed Minerals & they can be reached at:
717-763-4200
& ask for a local distributor.
Once again, here is the link to the supplier I purchase it from in the Pittsburgh area.

Good Luck,
Jeff

Browns Hill Sand
http://www.brownshillsand.com/

Jeffrey P. Lang

Just wanted to add, Danny pointed out to me that the east side of the rockies seem to be the border for smaller shipments of Black Beauty.
We'll keep searching.
Jeff

Mike Jackson

Hi Danny,
Thanks for doing the homework on this one and thanks for posting the results. Your findings pretty much reflect the answer Rick gave me a long time ago. When I asked him if he was selling Black Beauty as smalts, he answered, "No". Without wanting to pry for more details, I was never really sure one way or the other. Apparently he found a similar product to Black Beauty, but from a different source...and much cheaper, too!

$5 for 50 lbs is CHEAP!

Great job.
Mike Jackson

Danny Baronian

Sorry, here are the numbers again. Didn't know they'd wrap:


California - North (Hayward)
800 227-1134

California - South (San Diego)
619 239-1092

Washington (Tacoma)
800 228-4786

Oregon (Portland)
800 634-8499

Canada (Grand Forks B.C.)
250 442-2260