A Steel Shot To Suit Every Application

If the steel shot abrasive you’re using is too hard, it may disintegrate on impact or cause damage to the surface, while if it is too soft, it may disfigure in shape on impact and not be much use at all. Both extremes are a waste of time, and of course, a waste of money. Somewhere between these extremes is the optimum steel shot hardness.

What Is Steel Shot Hardness?

Hardness is a resistance of metal to plastic deformation – usually by indentation. This term may also refer to a metal’s stiffness, resistance to scratching, abrasion or cutting etc. It is the property of a metal which gives it the ability to resist being permanently deformed, bent or broken when an external load is applied.

How Is Steel Shot Hardness Measured?

The most common hardness test applied for steel shot is the Rockwell Hardness Test. This is a hardness measurement based on the overall increase in depth of impression as a pre-described load is applied to the surface of the metal.

Types Of Steel Shot

Spherical steel in the fully heat-treated condition. With a uniform structure it provides optimum resilience and resistance to fatigue. When steel shot is used for the majority of wheel blast applications, its durability and resistance to impact fatigue gives maximum cleaning efficiency at the most economical cost. Suited to shot peening applications.

Sizes Of Cast Steel Shot

There are many different grades and sizes of steel shot available and the selection of abrasive is determined by:

• type of material being blasted

• the coating being removed (e.g. mill scale, old paint)

• what profile is required

• condition of surface being blasted