When I blast, I interact with the surface as little as possible. For what its worth, I am in a very warm and very humid climate, with no special moisture prevention on my air supply except for the fact that its a nice, industrial quality compressor.
So typically I was the car/component just to get the road grime off and what not with dawn and let it dry.
Then blast.
Then vaccuum vaccuum vaccuum with the shop vac. Blow compressed air to dislodge media in crooks and crannies.. Blow air with one hand while operating the vacuum with the other hand. As Strum, mentioned, maybe a little careful use with a scothbrite on tight areas like engine bays and door jambs(but they will tear).
From there, its right to epoxy. I have seen Jim for years talk about wetting and drying bare metal, but I still dont like it. I dont know if its partly due to the iron in my water, or the 95% humidity thats typical, but I have never been able to do that and not have rust the next day(and I dont mean that slight tinge of rust color that I forget the name of).