Shot Blasting Steel and Other Metals: Techniques, Chambers, and Applications
Shot Blasting: What It Is and How It Works
Shot blasting is a surface treatment process that involves impacting the surface of a material with shot (small, hard particles with abrasive properties). This process removes contaminants, rust, and paint, and prepares the surface for painting or coating. Depending on the material and application, it can be performed in turbine blasting chambers designed for specific processes. These turbines are made from highly durable, wear-resistant materials, ensuring continuous and reliable operation with proper filtration and ventilation.
Definition and Purpose of Shot Blasting: Why It Is Important for Surface Treatment?
Shot blasting cleans surfaces with abrasives to achieve the desired structure, improving surface properties such as paint adhesion or corrosion resistance. It also removes contaminants that affect durability and appearance, enhancing the treated material’s strength.
Differences Between Shot Blasting and Sandblasting: Comparing Techniques
Although shot blasting and sandblasting share similarities, they differ in the type of abrasive used. Shot blasting employs small, hard particles such as:
- Cast steel (sharp-edged, spherical)
- Stainless chrome-nickel steel
- Alumina
- Glass granules
- Ceramic beads
while sandblasting uses:
- Quartz sand
- Soda
- Limestone powder
- Plastic shot
- Copper slag
They also differ in the force exerted on the treated surface and the final effects, such as the resulting surface structure and appearance.

Shot Blasting Process: Steps and Degrees of Cleaning
The shot blasting process includes several stages: surface preparation, shot blasting, polishing, and quality control. Depending on the requirements, there are different cleanliness levels:
- Light treatment Sa1 (removal of surface corrosion pits, paint coatings)
- Thorough Sa2 (no pits, some residual contamination allowed)
- Very thorough Sa 2 1/2 (clean surface, visible traces of pits)
- Treatment to clean metal Sa3 (restoring the original appearance of the blasted element)
* Fun Fact: Alternative Method, Dry Ice Blasting
Dry ice blasting is a modern, eco-friendly method that uses dry ice pellets (solid carbon dioxide) as the abrasive. Compared to traditional shot blasting, dry ice blasting offers many advantages: no waste except for removed contaminants, preservation of surface structure, lower energy consumption, and suitability for elements sensitive to high temperatures. However, it may be less effective for heavily contaminated or highly corroded elements.
Shot Blasting Chamber: What It Is and How It Works
A shot blasting chamber is specialized equipment where the shot blasting process occurs. Depending on the application, shot blasting chambers can have different designs and sizes. Inside the chamber, a shot blaster generates the shot stream. There are several types of shot blasters, differing in design, application, and cleaning methods.
Pneumatic Chamber vs. Wheel Blasting: Comparing Types of Blasting Cabinets
A wheel blasting room and a pneumatic chamber are the two basic types of blasting cabinets, differing in how the shot stream is generated. In a pneumatic chamber, compressed air generates the shot stream, while in a wheel blasting room, a wheel accelerates the shot based on centrifugal force.

Applications of Shot Blasting Chambers: From Steel Details to Small-Scale Structures
Shot blasting chambers are used for surface treatment where stream cleaning is required. Examples include steel details needing rust, stain, or contaminant removal or surface preparation for painting. Other applications include shot blasting small-scale structures, such as machine or device components, requiring surface cleaning before assembly or maintenance.
Shot blasting steel structures in a chamber removes rust, contaminants, and prepares surfaces for protective coatings, increasing durability and corrosion resistance. Shot blasting chambers can be customized to the specifics of the process, allowing optimal results, e.g., ATEX – anti-explosion equipment.
Shot Blasting Techniques: Steel, Aluminium, and Other Metals
There are many shot blasting techniques used in the industry, depending on the type of metal and surface treatment requirements. This section focuses on shot blasting steel, aluminium, and stainless steel.
Steel and Steel Structure Shot Blasting: Process and Benefits
Shot blasting steel structures involves impacting the surface with a shot stream, leading to rust, contamination removal, and surface preparation for protective coatings. The benefits of steel shot blasting include:
- Improving surface appearance
- Removing rust and contaminants
- Preparing the surface for painting or protective coatings
- Increasing durability and corrosion resistance
Steel shot blasting is particularly important for steel structures exposed to atmospheric factors and corrosion.
Aluminium Shot Blasting: Specifics and Applications
Aluminium shot blasting differs from steel shot blasting due to the metal’s specifics. Aluminium is lighter and more susceptible to deformation, so the shot blasting process must be performed with greater precision. Applications of aluminium shot blasting include:
- Removing paint coatings and oxidation
- Preparing the surface for painting or protective coatings
- Improving surface appearance
- Leveling irregularities and removing scratches
Aluminium shot blasting is used in various industries, such as automotive, aerospace, and construction.
Stainless Steel Shot Blasting: How It Works and Why It Is Important
Shot blasting stainless steel involves impacting the surface with a shot stream, leading to the removal of contaminants, oxidation, and preparation of the surface for protective coatings. Stainless steel shot blasting is important because:
- It improves surface appearance
- Removes contaminants and oxidation
- Prepares the surface for painting or protective coatings
- Increases durability and corrosion resistance
Stainless steel shot blasting is used in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, where high corrosion resistance and surface hygiene are required.

Shot and Abrasive in the Shot Blasting Process
Steel shot and abrasive play a key role in the shot blasting process. Shot are small hard particles that are accelerated and impact the material’s surface, removing contaminants, rust, and preparing the surface for protective coatings. Abrasive is a material used with shot to increase the effectiveness of the shot blasting process.
Types of Shot: From Steel Shot to Beads
Various types of shot can be used in the shot blasting process, depending on the surface treatment requirements and the type of metal. The most popular types of shot are:
- Steel shot – made of carbon or low-alloy steel, is the most commonly used shot due to its hardness and durability. Ideal for shot blasting steel and steel structures.
- Stainless steel shot – made of stainless steel, corrosion-resistant, ideal for shot blasting stainless steel and other metals requiring high surface cleanliness.
- Aluminium shot – made of aluminium, lighter and less aggressive than steel shot, ideal for shot blasting aluminium and other delicate materials.
- Bead blasting – using glass beads as shot, which are less aggressive than steel shot but effective in removing contaminants and preparing the surface. Useful for delicate materials, such as aluminium or plastic.
The choice of the appropriate type of shot depends on the type of metal and the surface treatment requirements.
Shot Blasting Abrasives: What Materials Are Used and Why?
Abrasive and other materials used in the shot blasting process increase effectiveness by adding an abrasive effect. The most popular materials are:
- Abrasive granules – made of alumina, silicon carbide, or other hard materials, used in combination with shot to increase shot blasting effectiveness, especially for hard and difficult-to-remove contaminants.
- Abrasive powder – fine-grained powder made of hard materials, such as alumina, silicon carbide, or diamond, used in combination with shot to achieve precise and delicate shot blasting effects, especially for delicate materials and precise applications.
The choice of the appropriate abrasive depends on the type of metal, surface treatment requirements, and the type of shot used in the shot blasting process.

Shot Blasting Services: What You Should Know?
Shot blasting services are essential in many industries, such as construction, automotive, and metalworking. Choosing the right service provider can be crucial for achieving optimal results. In this section, we discuss what to look for when choosing shot blasting services, such as contamination removal, surface cleaning, and anti-corrosion protection.
Choosing a Shot Blasting Service: What to Look For?
When choosing a service provider for shot blasting services, consider several key aspects:
- Contamination removal – check if the provider has experience in effectively removing various types of contaminants, such as rust, paint, or greasy stains.
- Surface cleaning – ensure the provider can properly clean the surface to prepare it for further treatment, such as painting or coating.
- Shot blasting technique – consider if the provider offers various shot blasting techniques, such as steel, aluminium, or bead blasting, to match specific applications.
- Lead time – check if the provider can complete the job within the required timeframe.
- Price – compare prices from different providers to find the most advantageous offer. [More]
Choosing a shot blasting service provider also involves checking their experience and customer reviews. This ensures the shot blasting process will be carried out correctly and that entrusted elements will not be damaged during the treatment.
Anti-Corrosion Protection: Additional Benefits of Shot Blasting
In addition to removing contaminants and cleaning surfaces, shot blasting services can enhance the durability and corrosion resistance of metal components. Proper surface preparation before applying protective coatings, such as paints or anti-corrosion layers, can significantly extend the lifespan of metal structures.
Anti-corrosion protection is especially important for elements exposed to moisture, salt, and other corrosive factors. Therefore, it is essential to check if the shot blasting service provider also offers anti-corrosion protection as an additional surface treatment service.
Summary
Shot blasting is a cleaning technique that offers numerous benefits and has many industrial applications. It removes contaminants, rust, and paint, preparing surfaces for further processing, which increases durability and corrosion resistance. It also improves appearance and adhesion of protective coatings. Various shot blasting techniques, including the use of different hardness shots, allow the process to be tailored to specific materials, enhancing efficiency and precision.
We encourage you to explore the extensive offerings of CPP “PREMA” S.A. Our many years of experience in metalworking and our comprehensive machinery support processes and advanced production projects.