1/4" and +8

+8 Grade is also known as 1/4" Grade and it is the largest particle offered.  +8 usually indicates an industrial application where the particles are used as a mass-finishing media in a tumbling or vibratory finishing application.  1/4" usually indicates an animal bedding or bird litter application.  For +8 grade, the vast majority of particles pass through a 5/16” screen and are retained on a # 8 screen.

1/8" and 814

814 Grade is also known as 1/8” Grade.  814 designates an industrial application and 1/8” indicates an animal bedding or bird litter application.  Industrial applications include tumbling and vibratory finishing. 

1014

1014 Grade is the largest of the three most common industrial grades (1014, 1420, 2040).  It is commonly used in tumbling and vibratory finishing.  Polishing brass bullet casings is a common application.  It is also used as a blasting media, but usually for hard substrates such as steel and concrete.  In general it would be too aggressive for wood. 

1020

1020 Grade is most commonly used in the lawn-care industry as a “carrier” for fertilizers or pesticides.  The particles absorb the active ingredients of those products and serve as the “carrier.”  Once the particles are dispersed or spread, they naturally biodegrade and leave the active ingredients to work on the pest population.

1420

1420 Grade is the medium-sized particles for the three common industrial grades (1014, 1420, 2040).  It is used in the same applications as 1014.  The selected grade is usually determined by evaluating the likelihood of particles passing through or getting caught in cavities or holes in the parts being mass-finished.  It can also be used as a blasting media, and like 1014, it is probably too aggressive for most wood substrates.

2040

2040 Grade is the finest of the three common industrial grades (1014, 1420, 2040).  Tumbling and vibratory finishing are typical applications. It is often used as a blasting media for restoring the natural color of logs in log homes.  2040 is also used as a “carrier” of animal nutrients or feed flavors.  In general, 2040 would be the largest particle used as an ingredient in animal feed and it would be about the smallest particle used as a pesticide carrier. 

3080

3080 Grade is most often used as a “carrier” for animal health and nutrition products.  However, it is the preferred blasting media for log homes when there is a desire for a smoother appearance to the grit-blasted logs than would be the case if 2040 was used.

-40

-40 Grade is typically used as a “carrier” for flavors, nutrients, or medications for animal feed.  The minus sign used to describe this grade indicates that the vast majority of particles pass through, or are below, a #40 test sieve.  The particles are like powder in appearance.