Works Harder - Lasts Longer
Steel media's substantial weight exerts added pressure to a mass of components in vibratory and barrel finishing equipment. As workpieces force their way and vibrate through this mass, the pressure and increased resistance from steel media is especially effective in reducing finishing times.

Steel is also a non-consumable media. With proper care, it is not "used up" in the finishing process. Its durablility and increased working pressure make steel the ideal media for a variety of finishing processes. Furthermore, 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 Imparts Compressive Stress
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.

Improves Pre-Plate Finishing
Parts which 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.

Reduces Porosity on Plated Parts
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.

Financial Advantage
Steel Media is considered a capitalized investment instead of a consumable expense.