Shot

Small cast iron or steel balls used in shot blasting and shot peening.

Cast iron is generally used for shot blasting because it breaks up in use and the broken shot cuts the surface contamination and removes it quicker. For heavy scale removal, pre-crushed shot can be obtained.

Steel shot is manufactured by cutting wire into short lengths and rolling it between plates to make it round. It is more-expensive than cast iron shot but it is ductile and does not break up in use giving sharp edges. Accordingly, it is ideal for shot peening which requires surface impacts without a cutting action.

After extended use, the shot does break up into very small pieces and these are then removed by the dust extractors fitted to all shot blasters.