In-Hole Accessories

BLASTBALL™

Air-operated, robust plugging device for optimal underground mining.
· SKU 05-004

The BLASTBALL™ is a reinforced blasthole plug engineered for underground development and production drilling, creating a reliable seal that helps crews block breakthroughs, control explosive gases, and maintain consistent column pressure. Built with a hermetic bladder, patented valve system, and tire-strength webbing, this advanced drill hole plug grips securely inside wet or variable boreholes for dependable retention. By preventing pressure loss and directing more explosive energy into the rock, the BLASTBALL™ enhances fragmentation and boosts safety, giving underground teams a durable, repeatable plugging solution that outperforms basic rubber or foam blast hole plug alternatives.

Size · Mercury 2 1/2" - 4 1/2"
Size guide
Not sure which size? Use the size guide →
Ships same-day from Stanton, KY
Same-day shipping Stocked in Stanton, KY
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BLASTBALL™
BLASTBALL™
Mercury 2 1/2" - 4 1/2"
Get trade pricing
REINFORCED FOR DEVELOPMENT WORK.
Underground · One-shot plug
Why this product

Why BLASTBALL™

Hermetic bladder

Sealed inner bladder holds air indefinitely once inflated. No slow leaks.

Why it matters: Your air deck stays at pressure through the entire sleep time. Reliable from inflation to detonation.

Patented valve system

One-way valve inflates quickly and locks air in without back-flow.

Why it matters: Fast inflation, zero loss. The deck pressure you set is the pressure you keep.

Car tire-strength webbing

Outer shell reinforced with tire-grade nylon webbing for extreme durability.

Why it matters: Handles the sharpest hole conditions without puncture. Tough enough for broken, rough ground.

Extreme pressure resistance

Withstands the hydrostatic and stemming pressures of deep, wet blast holes.

Why it matters: Stays inflated under real-world loading conditions. No collapse, no compromised decks.

Textured for grip

Surface texture grips the blast hole wall and resists migration.

Why it matters: The ball stays where you place it. No slippage from stemming weight or vibration.

Printed plug information

Size, hole-range, and inflation data printed directly on each unit.

Why it matters: Crews pick the right ball from the box without referencing a chart. Fewer deployment errors.

Benefits

Built for the bench.

Reinforced sphere

Built for the abuse of underground development work — tunnel drives, drift rounds, raise heading.

One-shot deployment

Drop in, charge above, fire. No staged inflation, no second visit.

Holds in wet ground

The reinforced shell sheds water at the seal — appropriate for the wet floors of development headings.

Built for every condition

Built for every condition.

Development drives

Drift, ramp, and raise development where you need a fast, disposable plug that holds the charge column.

High-cycle workings

When you're firing multiple rounds per shift, the BLASTBALL™ is the simplest plug you can pick up.

Wet floors

Underground floors with seepage — the BLASTBALL™ holds its position and the seal.

Product details

Specs, storage & more.

Size chart
05-003 4.5" - 5" / 89 - 140mm — 50/box
05-004 2.5" - 4.5" / 64 - 115mm — 50/box
05-008 5.5" - 8" / 140 - 203mm — 25/box
General specifications
globally and reconciles with AS 2187.2 2008 Explosives -
Length 18"
Width 9"
Height 16"
Weight 29lbs
Compliance
Non-flammable Yes
Non-toxic Yes
Non-sparking Yes
Packaging
Pack size 50/box

Yes. Its patented valve system provides fast, reliable inflation, and the printed sizing makes it easy for crews to identify and place the correct plug quickly.

No. Explosives don’t break the plug down. The BLASTBALL™ is built with a sealed bladder and reinforced outer webbing, so it holds up well in standard blasting conditions. It’s made to handle pressure, heat, cold, and fumes without slowly wearing out from the explosives themselves. BLASTBALLS™ have been used for sleeping shots for up to a month, sometimes longer.

Absolutely. A secure blast hole plug creates better retention, keeping energy confined in the column, reducing airblast and it ensures more predictable blasting performance across demanding underground environments.

It is ideal for production drilling, blocking cracks and voids, uphole retention, energy control setups, and air-decking configurations in small-diameter holes. It's primary use is plugging cracks/voids, but more specifically used in long-hole stoping to plug breakthroughs in downholes and the collars of upholes.

Yes. Its textured exterior grips the borehole wall securely, helping it stay in place even in wet, fractured, or inconsistent ground. With the weighted coupling,, the BLASTBALL™ can be lowered through water, then inflated at designed depth.

By preventing pressure loss and sealing the drill hole properly, the BLASTBALL™ directs more explosive energy into the rock, improving fragmentation and reducing wasted explosives.

Unlike basic rubber or foam options, the BLASTBALL™ uses a hermetic bladder, tire-strength webbing, and a reinforced body to deliver reliable sealing performance in tough underground conditions. BLASTBALL™ is inflated with an external air source, giving you the option to lower it to depth, and then inflate it. Other plugs are typically initiated at the collar, making it more difficult to lower them very deep into the the borehole.

Size guide

Step 1 · Measure your hole diameter at the collar
Drag the slider or type a diameter. Between two sizes? Go up.
Recommended
INCHES
2"
3"
4"
5"
6"
7"
8"
9"
ModelNominalMetricRangeQty/BoxSKU
Mercury 2 1/2" – 4 1/2" 64 – 115 mm 2.5–4.5" 50 05-004
Mars 4 1/2" – 5 1/2" 115 – 140 mm 4.5–5.5" 50 05-003
Venus 5 1/2" – 8" 140 – 203 mm 5.5–8" 25 05-008
Detailed comparison
Side-by-side

Pick the right one.
Every time.

Detailed Comparison

BLASTBAG SOLO self-inflating blast hole plug with dual aerosol cartridgesBLASTBAG™ SOLO BLASTBAG™ EVO - BLASTBAGS™ - MTi USABLASTBAG™ EVO BLASTBAG™ ACE II - BLASTBAGS™ - MTi USABLASTBAG™ ACE II BLASTBAG™ AERO - BLASTBAGS™ - MTi USABLASTBAG™ AERO BLASTBALL™ - Stemming Plugs - MTi USABLASTBALL™ MITIPLUG - Stemming Plugs - MTi USAMITIPLUG ROCKRIVETS - Stemming Plugs - MTi USAROCKRIVETS SLUMPSTOPPA™ - In-Hole Accessories - MTi USASLUMPSTOPPA™
TypeInflatable bagInflatable bagInflatable bagInflatable bagInflatable plugMechanical plugRetention plugRetention device
Inflation / MechanismAerosol, 2-speed actuator (non-flammable, non-toxic)Aerosol, variable pressure sleeveChemical reaction (non-DG, no metal)Compressed air (service air lines)Compressed air via drop line, hermetic bladder + nylon webbingFlexible pilgrim-hat fins (no inflation)Collet-fin friction (rigid or semi-rigid)Polymer bristles + stainless spine (gas-permeable)
Hole Size Range4.5" – 12.25" / 114 – 311 mm4" – 9⅞" / 100 – 250 mm3" – 10⅝" / 76 – 270 mm2.5" – 12.25" / 64 – 311 mm2.5" – 8" / 64 – 203 mm2.5" – 4" / 64 – 102 mm3" – 9" / 76 – 230 mm2.5" – 4.5" / 64 – 115 mm
Surface / UGBothSurfaceBothUG specialist - bothBoth, wet-hole ratedUGBothUG
DG ClassClass 9Class 9Non-DGNon-DGNon-DGNon-DGNon-DGNon-DG
Best For Air DeckingThe most-used aerosol bag worldwide — single-operator, ~30 seconds per holeTwo SKUs cover most hole sizes — simpler stocking, fewer decisionsSites with strict storage rules or metal-detector conveyorsUnderground sites running service air — snap-on couplingWet holes, breakthroughs, cracks/voids — the only wet-hole-rated inflatableUnderground emulsion or ANFO upholes — column retention + air deck in oneRetains the charge column and creates a controlled air deck on trim and pre-split rowsEmulsion uphole loading — holds the column while letting gas through

Swipe to see all columns →

When to pick each
BLASTBAG™ SOLO

Pick BLASTBAG™ SOLO when you're running surface benches and want the most-used aerosol gas bag on the market. Self-contained, single-operator deploy, no extra gear — ~30 seconds per hole. Two-speed actuator lets you inflate slow or fast depending on the situation. Sizes from 4.5" to 12.25" (114 – 311 mm) cover every standard production hole. Class 9 DG — stores and ships under aerosol rules.

BLASTBAG™ EVO

Pick BLASTBAG™ EVO when you want aerosol convenience without the SKU sprawl. Two sizes — Hawk (4" – 6") and Eagle (6" – 9⅞") — cover most surface holes, so you stock less and make one decision on the bench instead of four. Single bladder seals against the hole wall; pressure sleeve controls inflation speed. Class 9 DG.

BLASTBAG™ ACE II

Pick BLASTBAG™ ACE II when storage or transport rules make aerosol products a hassle, or when you're running metal-detector conveyors that throw false trips. Chemical reaction inflation — no aerosol, no metal components, non-DG. Same air-deck performance as SOLO and EVO, just delivered through a controlled chemical reaction instead of pressurized gas. Sizes 3" through 10⅝" (76 – 270 mm).

BLASTBAG™ AERO

Pick BLASTBAG™ AERO when you're underground with service air lines available. Compressed-air operated, dual-bladder construction, snap-on coupling for fast connect/disconnect. Works in any direction — up holes, down holes, even underwater. Sizes 2.5" through 12.25" (64 – 311 mm). Best-seller in underground and the cleanest install when air is already on site. Non-DG.

BLASTBALL™

Pick BLASTBALL™ when the hole is wet or you've got breakthroughs and cracks to seal. The only inflatable in this collection rated for wet-hole deployment — lower it through water on a drop line, then inflate with compressed air. Reinforced rubber bladder with nylon webbing handles -58°F to 185°F (-50°C to 85°C). Sizes 2.5" to 8" (64 – 203 mm). Underground development specialist.

MITIPLUG

Pick MITIPLUG™ when you're loading emulsion or ANFO into underground upholes and need a mechanical plug that creates an air deck AND retains the column. Flexible pilgrim-hat fins fold back on insertion, then lock in place — and the fins let gas through. Revised design includes downline protection. Fits 2.5" to 4" (64 – 102 mm). The most popular plug for underground emulsion upholes.

ROCKRIVETS

Pick ROCKRIVET™ when you need to create a controlled air deck on a trim or pre-split row, or hold the charge column with maximum retention and downline pass-through. Collet-style fins bite the hole wall and don't walk, twist, or shift. Iron ore case study: 38% smaller P80 fragment size with ROCKRIVETS installed. Sizes 3" to 9" (76 – 230 mm), rigid for heavier loads, semi-rigid for tighter holes.

SLUMPSTOPPA™

Pick SLUMPSTOPPA™ when you're loading emulsion in underground upholes and need a gas-permeable retention device to hold the column without compromising the gassing reaction. Polymer bristles with a stainless steel spine hold the column while letting emulsion gas through. Fits 2.5" to 4.5" (64 – 115 mm). The dedicated emulsion-slump solution for underground upholes.

Field reviews

What shotfirers actually say.