Start with the result
Media choice should follow the result you need: cleaning, a decorative finish, controlled peening, or aggressive stock removal. Hardness, density, shape and size together decide how a media behaves.
Common media types
- Ceramic beads — round, tough and long-lasting; for cleaning, satin finishing and peening
- Zirconia beads — high density, very long life; consistent results
- Alumina-zirconia (ZA25) — tough, sharp grain for aggressive cutting
- Aluminium oxide (brown/white-fused) — angular, fast cutting for surface prep
- Glass beads — bright, smooth finish; lower life
- Plastic media — gentle; deflashing and paint stripping without damaging the base
Size and grading
Smaller media reach finer detail and give a smoother finish; larger media hit harder. Tight grading (for example ±0.1 mm) gives repeatable results, which matters especially for peening where coverage and intensity are specified.
Running cost, not price per kg
Cheaper media that breaks down quickly creates dust, consumes more and gives inconsistent finishes. Durable ceramic or zirconia media often costs less per part. Always test on your own parts — free sample trials make this easy.