Gentle blasting media for soft and thin-wall parts
Aluminium cut wire (also called aluminum shot or aluminum grit) is made from aluminum ingot of over 99% Al by repeated wire drawing, cutting and conditioning, giving bright cylindrical particles. Sizes include 1 × 1 mm (about 10–30 mesh) and 3 mm diameter × 3–5 mm long; purity Al ≈ 99.5%.
Unlike spherical aluminum beads, cut wire is cylindrical, so its impact angle and surface contact differ from round media. It is used for finishing aluminum, zinc and copper castings and for deburring blades and cast products, and can be mixed with stainless steel grit or shot for a whiter, brighter surface. A JIAHON affiliated company supplies customers throughout Taiwan; COA purity analysis is available on request.
Specifications (typical ranges)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Shape | Cylindrical (drawn, cut and conditioned; not spherical) |
| Sizes | e.g. 3 mm dia. × 3–5 mm long; 1 × 1 mm (about 10–30 mesh); other sizes on request |
| Composition | Al ≈ 99.5%, Si < 0.2%, Cu < 0.04%, Zn < 0.04% |
| Specific gravity | 2.7 g/cm³ |
| Appearance | Silvery-white metallic, bright cylinders |
| Packing | 25 kg paper or plastic drums (standard); bulk on request |
| Unit on this page | Industrial grade, per kg |
Values are typical ranges; actual size, purity and configuration depend on the base material, blasting machine, finishing requirement and downstream purity limits, confirmed case by case.
Applications
- Finishing aluminum, zinc and copper castings: removing burrs and flash and blasting metal surfaces for a flat, clean, bright and whiter finish.
- Blades and cast products: blasting surfaces without excessive damage to the base material.
- Aluminum, zinc and thin-wall parts: avoiding deformation from excessive impact; can be mixed with stainless steel grit or shot for a whiter, brighter surface.
How to choose
| Use | Purity | Mix with stainless grit / shot? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deburring castings | Industrial (Al ≈ 99.5%) | Yes | Whitening, clean finish |
| Blasting blades and cast products | Industrial (Al ≈ 99.5%) | Yes | Adjust to required luster |
| Aluminum / zinc / thin-wall parts | Industrial (Al ≈ 99.5%) | Yes | Avoids deformation from impact |
| Cleanroom environments | High purity (strict impurity control) | Not recommended | Avoids process contamination (this page is industrial grade; high purity on request) |
Aluminum cut wire vs steel shot vs glass beads vs ceramic beads
| Media | Hardness (HV) | Density | Shape | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum cut wire | — | 2.7 g/cm³ | Cylindrical | Aluminum and zinc thin-wall parts, mold polishing surfaces |
| Glass beads | 500 | 2.5 g/cm³ | Spherical | Matte stainless steel, pharmaceutical and food equipment, uniform matte finish |
| Steel shot | 600–800 | 7.8 g/cm³ | Spherical | Rust removal, shot peening, heavy-duty finishing |
| Ceramic beads | 700–900 | 3.8 g/cm³ | Spherical | Peening gears, bearings and springs; long continuous use |
In practice: soft base material that must not be damaged → aluminum cut wire; hard base material with rust → steel shot; uniform matte look → glass beads; long life in continuous use → ceramic beads. An injection mold shop typically switches media by mold condition — steel shot for rough pre-cleaning, aluminum cut wire for gentle cleaning of polished surfaces.
Size and pressure
| Size (mm) | Pressure (bar) | Surface effect | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3–0.5 | 1–2 | Very fine matte, light cleaning | Pre-cleaning PCB drill bits |
| 1 × 1 (about 10–30 mesh) | 2–3 | Fine matte, keeps polished surface | Injection mold polished surfaces, aluminum / zinc thin-wall parts, IC programming fixtures |
| 1.0–3.0 | 3–4 | Uniform matte, Ra 1.5–3 µm | SMT fixtures, jig matte finish |
| 3.0–5.0 | 4–5 | Rough blasting, rust removal, pre-treatment | Large metal parts, mold pre-cleaning |
Values are general experience; the manufacturer’s specifications and actual conditions apply.
A common mistake is using one size for the whole job. Large media at high pressure for a fine matte leaves uneven craters; small media at low pressure for rust removal is too slow. Use two passes: for example, 3 mm at high pressure for 30 s to remove rust, then 1 × 1 mm at medium pressure for 60 s to even the surface (general experience). Sizes other than those on this page on request.
Industrial vs high-purity grade
| Grade | Typical impurities | Metal-ion contamination risk | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial (Al ≈ 99.5%, Si < 0.2%, Cu < 0.04%, Zn < 0.04%) | Traces of Si, Cu, Zn | Medium | General machinery, automotive, molds |
| High purity (strict impurity control) | Very few metal ions | Very low | Cleanroom environments |
High-purity aluminum evaporation material for LED and semiconductor deposition is a different product from blasting media; please ask about it separately. This page is industrial grade; high purity on request.
Selection, recycling and safety
- Selection: assess the base material (hardness, surface Ra) → can it be damaged? (no → aluminum cut wire) → size by required finish → grade → recycling plan (screen fines, top up regularly).
- Recycling: low pressure 2–3 bar on soft parts, 10–20 cycles; medium 3–5 bar on general molds, 5–10 cycles; high 5–7 bar on hard parts, 2–5 cycles (case by case). Replace when particle shape degrades, fines increase, results become uneven or residue increases.
- Safety: fine aluminum dust can explode (high concentration plus a spark); use static grounding and explosion-protected dust collection; keep waste away from water (aluminum reacts with water to release hydrogen); operators should wear P100 dust respirators and anti-static workwear. Choose dust collection according to safety regulations and equipment supplier advice.
- Equipment: tungsten carbide or ceramic nozzles (low wear with soft aluminum media); pressure-type blasters for large flow, suction-type for small to medium flow; enclosed or cabinet blasting to keep aluminum dust in; ground the dust ducts.
- For formal purchases, ask for: size and mesh distribution report, COA (Al / Si / Cu / Zn), hardness test report and SDS. Packing is mainly 25 kg drums; bulk on request.
When you request a quote, please tell us: size, base material, blasting equipment and quantity (kg).
Email us for a quote: [email protected]