Mechanical finishing & post-processing · finish comparison
Bead Blasting vs Brushed Finish
Bead Blasting and Brushed Finish are both mechanical finishing finishes; bead blast is the lower-cost option ($).
Bead Blasting
Mechanical finishing · $ · instant quote
Bead blasting propels spherical media at a surface to make a uniform satin or matte finish.
Brushed Finish
Mechanical finishing · $$ · instant quote
Brushing creates a directional grain with abrasive belts, wheels, or pads.
When to choose which
Choose Bead blast
Choose Bead blast when a non-directional matte finish is preferred.
- Hides light tool marks on aluminum
- Produces a repeatable satin appearance
- Removes essentially no bulk material in a controlled cosmetic pass
Choose Brushed
Brushed is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Bead blast's.
- Creates intentional directional grain
- Hides minor scratches along the grain
- Common 180–320 grit process window
What the numbers say
- Bead blast is the lower-cost option ($).
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Bead blast | Brushed |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 5 Minimal | 5 Minimal |
| Surface hardness / wear | — — | — — |
| Cosmetic quality | 65 Good | 75 Very good |
| Lubricity | 10 Minimal | 10 Minimal |
| Cost | 15 $ | 25 $$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Bead blast | Brushed |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0 µm | 0 µm |
| Electrical | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Relative cost | Budget ($) | Standard ($$) |
| Added lead time | 1–3 working days | 1–4 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Bead blast | Brushed |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Yes | Yes |
| Brass | Yes | Yes |
| Copper Alloy | Yes | Yes |
| DMLS / SLM | Yes | — |
| MJF | Yes | — |
| SLS | Yes | — |
| Stainless Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Titanium | Yes | Yes |
| FDM | With care | — |
| Magnesium Alloy | With care | With care |
| Polymer | With care | Limited |
| SLA | With care | — |
| Steel | With care | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
Bead blast vs Brushed — frequently asked
What is the difference between Bead blast and Brushed?
Bead Blasting and Brushed Finish are both mechanical finishing finishes; bead blast is the lower-cost option ($).
When should I use Bead blast instead of Brushed?
Choose Bead blast when a non-directional matte finish is preferred.
Is Bead blast or Brushed cheaper?
Bead blast is the lower-cost finish ($ against $$ for Brushed) among the finishes FabDigit quotes. Both are priced per part with a lot minimum; the exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.