Anyone doing abrasive blasting needs to widen their horizons by learning more advanced techniques, as well as broadening their substrate offerings to include stone and wood. The combination of materials will offer a better possibility of getting jobs.
There are also hot working techniques with glass that are being used more and more these days, such as fusing and slumping, or the incorporation of cast and blown glass components.
Signage and memorials are in demand these days and would be a good addition. These will, however, depend on the size of the equipment the blaster has available, since signs could easily exceed the available blast cabinet.
-Ruth Dobbins, EtchMaster
