One of the most common questions we receive is: should I use steel shot or steel grit? The answer depends on your application. Both are excellent metallic abrasives, but they serve different purposes.

Steel Shot (Round)

Steel shot is spherical in shape. When it impacts a surface, it creates a peening effect that produces a uniform, rounded anchor pattern. Steel shot is ideal for:

• Surface cleaning and descaling
• Shot peening for fatigue life improvement
• Applications requiring consistent, moderate surface profiles
• Cleaning castings and forgings

Steel Grit (Angular)

Steel grit has sharp, angular edges that create a more aggressive cutting action. It produces deeper, sharper anchor patterns. Steel grit is ideal for:

• Heavy rust and mill scale removal
• Removing thick coatings and linings
• Achieving deep surface profiles (75-150μm)
• Preparing surfaces for heavy-duty coating systems

Common Practice

Many operators use a blend of steel shot and steel grit (typically 70:30 or 60:40 ratio) to combine the cleaning efficiency of grit with the peening action of shot. This blend approach often delivers the best balance of productivity and surface quality.

We supply steel shot (S230-S780), steel grit (G12-G120), and custom blends. Free samples available — contact us today.