A centrifugal blast wheel machine comprising: a housing; and a wheel assembly (67, 68) coupled to the housing, the wheel assembly including: a first wheel disk with a first side and a first plurality of grooves in the first side; and a plurality of blades (10, 110, 210) configured to throw blast media introduced into the wheel assembly against a work piece, each blade including: a top surface (13, 140) to receiving blast media; a first side rail (19, 150) extending along a first side of the blade, the first side rail having a first recess; and a second side rail (21, 170) extending along a second side of the blade, the second side rail being opposite the first side rail; wherein each groove is configured to receive a corresponding blade of the plurality of blades, characterised in that: - each blade includes a curved portion positioned adjacent a central hub of the wheel assembly and a straight portion integrally formed with the curved portion extending radially outwardly from the wheel assembly; and in that: - the wheel assembly further includes a first grommet positioned in the first recess, the grommet of the corresponding blade being configured to create a compression fit between the corresponding blade and the first side of the first wheel disk to secure the corresponding blade in place. a housing; and a wheel assembly (67, 68) coupled to the housing, the wheel assembly including: a first wheel disk with a first side and a first plurality of grooves in the first side; and a plurality of blades (10, 110, 210) configured to throw blast media introduced into a first wheel disk with a first side and a first plurality of grooves in the first side; and a plurality of blades (10, 110, 210) configured to throw blast media introduced into the wheel assembly against a work piece, each blade including: a top surface (13, 140) to receiving blast media; a first side rail (19, 150) extending along a first side of the blade, the first side rail having a first recess; and a second side rail (21, 170) extending along a second side of the blade, the second side rail being opposite the first side rail; wherein each groove is configured to receive a corresponding blade of the plurality of blades, characterised in that: - each blade includes a curved portion positioned adjacent a central hub of the wheel assembly and a straight portion integrally formed with the curved portion extending radially outwardly from the wheel assembly; and in that: - the wheel assembly further includes a first grommet positioned in the first recess, the grommet of the corresponding blade being configured to create a compression fit between the corresponding blade and the first side of the first wheel disk to secure the corresponding blade in place. a top surface (13, 140) to receiving blast media; a first side rail (19, 150) extending along a first side of the blade, the first side rail having a first recess; and a second side rail (21, 170) extending along a second side of the blade, the second side rail being opposite the first side rail; - each blade includes a curved portion positioned adjacent a central hub of the wheel assembly and a straight portion integrally formed with the curved portion extending radially outwardly from the wheel assembly; and in that: - the wheel assembly further includes a first grommet positioned in the first recess, the grommet of the corresponding blade being configured to create a compression fit between the corresponding blade and the first side of the first wheel disk to secure the corresponding blade in place.