Steel shot is a spherical metal abrasive used in shot blasting and surface preparation. Shandong Haishan Industrial Technology produces steel shot from high-carbon steel through melting, atomization, heat treatment, and precise screening. The final product has a uniform spherical shape, consistent hardness, and good resistance to fracture during repeated impact cycles.
Unlike angular abrasives such as steel grit, steel shot works mainly through impact energy. It removes rust, mill scale, and light contaminants while producing a relatively smooth surface profile. This makes it suitable for applications where coating adhesion and surface uniformity are important. Steel shot is also used for shot peening to improve fatigue resistance of metal components.
| Element / Property | Typical Value |
| Carbon (C) | 0.85 - 1.20% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.60 - 1.20% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.40 - 1.20% |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.05% |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.05% |
| Hardness | HRC 40 - 50 |
| Metallographic Structure | Tempered martensite |
| Minimum Density | 7.4 g/cm³ |
Steel shot is supplied in a range of sizes to match different blasting equipment and surface requirements. Common grades include S 780, S 660, S 550, S 460, S 390, S 330, S 280, S 230, S 170, S 110, and S 70. The complete size distribution table is available on the product detail page or upon request.
For applications that require a sharper cutting action and deeper surface profile, steel grit may be more suitable. Steel grit is angular and works by cutting rather than impacting, which is effective for heavy rust and thick scale removal.
When a more controlled cutting action is needed, especially for deburring or surface preparation on softer metals, steel cut wire shot offers a balance between impact and cutting. Its cylindrical shape provides good cleaning with less embedment risk.
For non-abrasive applications such as counterweight filling or high-density ballast, counterweight sand provides a cost-effective material with consistent density. It is not intended for surface treatment but serves industrial weighting needs.
Each batch of steel shot is tested for chemical composition, hardness, particle size distribution, sphericity, and density. The laboratory uses a SPECTRO spectrometer for composition analysis and an Irwin fatigue life tester for selected performance checks. Manufacturing follows GB/T 18838 and SAE J444 standards.


Steel shot is primarily used for cleaning, descaling, and surface preparation of metal components. It is also used for shot peening to improve fatigue strength and for creating anchor profiles before coating.
Steel shot is spherical and works by impact. It leaves a smoother surface with less material removal. Steel grit is angular and cuts the surface, producing a rougher profile and faster removal of heavy contaminants.
For general steel structure cleaning, S 280 or S 330 are common starting points. The exact choice depends on the required surface profile, equipment type, and workpiece thickness. A finer size may be needed for thin materials to avoid distortion.