Mechanical finishing & post-processing · finish comparison
Bead Blasting vs Shot Peening
Bead Blasting and Shot Peening are both mechanical finishing finishes; shot peening resists corrosion better.
Bead Blasting
Mechanical finishing · $ · instant quote
Bead blasting propels spherical media at a surface to make a uniform satin or matte finish.
Shot Peening
Mechanical finishing · $$$
Shot peening bombards metal with controlled shot to create compressive residual stress and improve fatigue and stress-corrosion resistance.
When to choose which
Choose Bead blast
Choose Bead blast when a matte appearance is the goal and fatigue life is not a requirement.
- Hides light tool marks on aluminum
- Produces a repeatable satin appearance
- Removes essentially no bulk material in a controlled cosmetic pass
Choose Shot peening
Shot peening is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Bead blast's.
- Introduces compressive residual stress
- Can improve fatigue life
- No deposited coating thickness
What the numbers say
- Shot peening resists corrosion better.
- Bead blast is the lower-cost option ($).
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Bead blast | Shot peening |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 5 Minimal | 10 Minimal |
| Surface hardness / wear | — — | — — |
| Cosmetic quality | 65 Good | 25 Low |
| Lubricity | 10 Minimal | 15 Low |
| Cost | 15 $ | 45 $$$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Bead blast | Shot peening |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0 µm | — |
| Electrical | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Relative cost | Budget ($) | Premium ($$$) |
| Added lead time | 1–3 working days | 3–7 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | On request |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Bead blast | Shot peening |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Yes | Yes |
| Brass | Yes | Limited |
| Copper Alloy | Yes | Limited |
| DMLS / SLM | Yes | — |
| MJF | Yes | — |
| Nickel Alloy | — | Yes |
| SLS | Yes | — |
| Stainless Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Steel | With care | Yes |
| Titanium | Yes | Yes |
| FDM | With care | — |
| Magnesium Alloy | With care | With care |
| Polymer | With care | No |
| SLA | With care | — |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
Bead blast vs Shot peening — frequently asked
What is the difference between Bead blast and Shot peening?
Bead Blasting and Shot Peening are both mechanical finishing finishes; shot peening resists corrosion better. Bead blast is the lower-cost option ($).
When should I use Bead blast instead of Shot peening?
Choose Bead blast when a matte appearance is the goal and fatigue life is not a requirement.
Is Bead blast or Shot peening cheaper?
Bead blast is the lower-cost finish ($ against $$$ for Shot peening) 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.