Carbon Steel Polishing

Steel shot is a polishing and burnishing media that produces a bright shine. It is available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Its substantial weight, with a density of approximately 320 pounds per cubic foot (three times the density of ceramic media), exerts added pressure to a mass of components and is especially effective in reducing finishing times.

As steel media impinges on a part, its surface is work-hardened. The working action imparts compressive stress as a beneficial byproduct of the finishing process. In many instances, the process can replace steel shot blasting as a work-hardening step. Parts processed with steel media have longer cycle lives and greater resistance to wear as a result of this compressive stress action. Most steel shot does not remove metal from parts, though our Abcut™ shape is designed for metal removal.

Parts that appear smooth are actually characterized by micro-imperfections, which cause plating problems. The weight of steel media flattens these minute irregularities and prepares a surface for more satisfactory plating. This action is especially critical during the deposition of nickel or other solutions that typically do not fill the depressions, but follow the higher contours of the metal.

When plated parts are finished with steel media, a compacting action rolls down and spreads the surface of the softer plate to fill any "pin-point" holes. This process helps eliminate porosity and increases the corrosion resistance created by the plating process.

Steel shot is a non-consumable media, so wastewater treatment is limited to removal of the soils from your parts only, because steel does not create or absorb soils from wear, as do other media. Steel Media is considered a capitalized investment instead of a consumable expense.

Jewelry Mix:
40% ⁵/32" Eclipse Balls, 40% ¹/8" Diagonals, 20% ¹/16" x ¹/2" Pins