With a registered capital of 280 million, strive to sell 10000 tons of products last month
The choice of more than 3000 domestic enterprises
Industry information
Steel Shot for Foundry Applications: Sand Removal, Descaling and Cleaning of Castings
2026-08-31 15:08:19Source: horsepower steel sandClick：50
[Guide reading]： Foundries put steel shot abrasives to the test: hot castings, stubborn foundry sand and hard oxide scale all have to come off without damaging the casting surface. This article explains how to choose the right steel shot size and hardness for sand removal
[Guide reading]: Foundries put steel shot abrasives to the test: hot castings, stubborn foundry sand and hard oxide scale all have to come off without damaging the casting surface. This article explains how to choose the right steel shot size and hardness for sand removal, descaling and general cleaning of iron, steel and aluminum castings — and how to keep abrasive consumption low.<strong>Why Foundry Cleaning Is Different</strong>
Castings leave the molding line carrying bonded sand, burnt-on residues and thick oxide scale formed during pouring and cooling. Unlike cold-rolled steel plate, casting surfaces are rough and dimensional tolerances can be tight, so the abrasive must clean aggressively without eroding edges or changing dimensions. Many castings are also blasted while still warm from shakeout, which adds thermal considerations to abrasive selection.
<strong>The Main Cleaning Operations in a Foundry</strong>
Operation | Purpose | Typical steel abrasive
Sand removal (shakeout cleaning) | Remove bonded foundry sand from cast iron and steel castings | Steel shot S280-S390 or blended grit, HRC 40-50
Descaling | Remove heat-treatment and casting oxide scale | Steel grit G25-G40, HRC 40-50 or higher
General cleaning and finishing | Uniform matte finish before inspection or machining | Steel shot S230-S330, HRC 40-45
Aluminum and magnesium castings | Gentle cleaning without embedding iron | Stainless steel shot or aluminum-safe media, low hardness
For gray iron and ductile iron castings, a medium-hard mix around HRC 40-50 removes sand and scale efficiently while resisting rapid breakdown. For steel castings with heavier scale, adding angular grit improves cutting speed, and many foundries run a blended operating mix of shot and grit rather than a single size.
<strong>Choosing Size and Hardness</strong>
- Larger castings with thick scale: coarser grit G16-G25 delivers deeper impact; keep blast time controlled to avoid over-cleaning thin sections;
- Medium castings (the most common case): S280-S330 shot or G25-G40 grit gives a clean, uniform surface in one pass;
- Small precision castings: fine shot S170-S230 cleans without rounding off sharp details;
- Aluminum castings: never use carbon steel media — embedded iron particles cause later corrosion staining; use stainless steel shot or dedicated soft media at reduced pressure.
<strong>Temperature and Process Discipline</strong>
Blasting castings at 100-200°C after shakeout is common practice and helps dry residual moisture, but very hot surfaces accelerate abrasive breakdown. A few habits keep quality stable:
- Check the mix regularly: foundry blasting generates more fines than steel plate work, so separator tuning and regular replenishment matter more;
- Track consumption per ton of castings cleaned — a rising number usually signals a worn mix or a separator losing usable grit;
- Protect thin walls and machined faces with fixtures or masking when cleaning precision castings;
- Verify cleanliness against the customer standard (many specify visual comparison or ISO 8501 Sa2.5-equivalent surfaces before coating).
A well-maintained abrasive mix is the difference between a foundry line that cleans every casting in one pass and one that re-blasts, reworks and burns energy.
<strong>Talk to Our Technical Team</strong>
We supply cast steel shot, steel grit, alloy steel shot, stainless steel shot and cut wire shot conforming to GB/T 18838 and SAE specifications for foundry cleaning lines. Contact us for free samples and technical consultation on abrasive selection for your casting production.
Disclaimer: horsepower steel sand part of the article information from the network reprint is for the purpose of transmitting more information, does not mean to agree with its views or confirm the authenticity of its content. If the article involves copyright and other issues, please contact our online customer service immediately, and we will deal with them as soon as possible to ensure your rights and interests.
Without permission, it is forbidden to collect and mirror all the graphic content of the website in any form, otherwise, you will be responsible for the consequences!
Last article：Shot Peening vs. Shot Blasting: How Steel Shot Improves Metal Fatigue Life
Next article：Steel Shot for Container Manufacturing: Surface Preparation for Container Coating Lines
Relevantinformation
"Internet + steel" has become a new trend of China's steel industry development
China's iron and steel industry is suffering serious losses. As it enters the "cold winter" of the industry, more and more iron and steel enterprises are leveraging the Internet economy to promote the operation coordination and overall optimization of the
2020-01-16- Steel Shot vs Steel Grit: Key Differences and How to Choose
- Steel Abrasives for Petrochemical Maintenance: Blast Cleaning Storage Tanks, Pipelines and Pressure Vessels
- Steel Shot for Container Manufacturing: Surface Preparation for Container Coating Lines
- Price of pig iron, coal, steel and scrap in some markets of China today
- The Influence of Hardness and Density on Steel Shot
News
Contact us
Contacts： Manager Chen
Tel： 010-82388888
Mobile phone： 13810471933
Company address：No.126-3, building 1, shangfengyuan, Baijiatuan, Haidian District, Beijing
