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Stainless Steel Shot Pins For Magnetic Tumblers
- Description
- Features
- Application
Media for Magnetic Tumblers that specially made to work with the magnets in the tumbler. Pins are prepared and specifically designed with special Chromium Alloy Stainless Steel properties and characteristics that will be attracted to the movement of the magnets and yet not rust like steel shot media.
The large size and the small size pins are both available for magnetic tumblers. The pins with a larger diameter provide a heavier impact on the metal during the tumbling process.
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.2×3 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.2×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.3×3 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.3×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.4×4 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.4×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.4×6 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.4×7 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.4×8 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.4×10 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.5×2 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.5×3 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.5×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.5×7 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.5×8 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.5×10 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.6×4 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.6×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.6×6 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.6×7 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.6×8 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.6×10 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.7×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.7×7 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.7×8 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.7×10 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.8×4 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.8×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.8×6 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.8×7 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.8×8 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 0.8×10 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.0×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.0×8 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.0×10 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.0×12 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.2×4 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.2×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.2×6 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.2×8 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.2×10 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.5×5 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.5×7 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 1.5×10 mm |
| Magnetic Pin | Stainless steel 304 2.0×5 mm |
- Non-Rusting
- heavyweight and impact
- Small size to big size available
- Reusable
- Recyclable
- Environmental friendly
- Magnetic tumbler deburring and Polishing
- Stainless steel deburring and cleaning
- Copper deburring and polishing
- Brass deburring and polishing
Related Products
How stainless steel shot pins work in a magnetic tumbler
Shot pins are the specific media type for magnetic tumbler machines. Understanding how they interact with the machine clarifies why size selection matters.
Inside a magnetic tumbler, a rotating magnetic disc beneath the bowl creates a rotating magnetic field. The 304 stainless steel pins are attracted to this field and spin at high speed, creating thousands of micro-impacts per second against the parts loaded in the bowl. Because the pins are magnetised into motion by the field — not tumbled by gravity — they reach internal features, holes, threaded forms and filigree details that vibratory media cannot access. The pins separate easily from parts after processing using a hand magnet or magnetic separator.
This mechanism makes magnetic tumbling fundamentally different from vibratory or rotary barrel finishing: the action is much faster (20–60 minute typical cycles vs 1–4 hours for vibratory), and the energy is more focused on small precision features.
Shot pin size selection guide
Pin diameter controls contact area and impact force. Pin length controls reach into internal features. Choose by your part geometry and finishing objective.
| Pin diameter | Finishing action | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2–0.3 mm | Very gentle; light polishing, surface brightening | Filigree jewelry, very fine features, watch parts, dental components | May enter small holes in parts; check flash holes before use |
| 0.4–0.5 mm | Light to moderate; standard polishing and cleaning | Most jewelry, small brass hardware, precision machined parts, electronics contacts | Most common size range — good starting point for new applications |
| 0.6–0.8 mm | Moderate; efficient cleaning and surface improvement | Larger jewelry pieces, brass connectors, small machined parts, medical instruments | Cannot enter holes narrower than pin diameter; good for avoiding lodging in larger parts |
| 1.0–1.5 mm | Heavier impact; faster surface improvement on larger surfaces | Larger brass/copper parts, stainless steel small components, automotive small hardware | Will not enter small holes; check part geometry for pin-clearance on internal features |
| 2.0 mm | Heavy impact; maximum surface energy for tough applications | Relatively large parts, heavy surface improvement required, robust geometry only | Use only where parts can withstand heavier pin impact without deformation |
Shot pins vs stainless steel balls — which steel media should you use?
| Shot pins (this page) Cylindrical 0.2–2.0×3–12 mm | SS balls / media Balls, pins, diagonals for vibratory machines | |
|---|---|---|
| Machine type | Magnetic tumbler only | Vibratory finishing machines, rotary barrel (with watertight barrel) |
| Part size | Very small — jewelry, miniature parts, precision components | Small to medium — hardware, machined parts, housings |
| Internal features | Excellent — pins reach holes, threads, recesses | Good — vibratory reaches features but may not reach deep holes |
| Cycle time | 20–60 minutes (very fast) | 30–90 minutes for burnishing |
| Batch size | Small — limited by magnetic machine bowl size (up to ~24 kg) | Larger — vibratory machine bowls up to 820 L |
| Result | High luster, clean surface, excellent for delicate intricate parts | High shine burnishing, good for larger production volumes |
Typical results with stainless steel shot pins
| Part / material | Pin size | Cycle time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brass screws and hardware | 0.5×5 mm | 20 min | Ra 0.8 → 0.25 µm; bright surface |
| Gold / silver jewelry (fine) | 0.3×3 mm | 15–30 min | Mirror-bright; no surface alteration; reach all features |
| Stainless steel small parts | 0.6×6 mm | 30–45 min | Deburring of micro-burrs; surface brightening |
| Copper electrical contacts | 0.4×5 mm | 20–30 min | Oxidation removal; clean contact surface |
| Dental instruments (titanium) | 0.5×5 mm | 30 min | Surface smoothing; no dimensional change |
Purchasing and maintenance notes
- Quantity per cycle: 5 lbs of pins per 1-gallon load; 1–1.5 lbs per quart. Contact us if batch size is unusual.
- Lifespan: Pins last almost indefinitely — 304 stainless does not rust or corrode in normal operation. Replace only when lost or significantly deformed.
- Separation after processing: Use the hand magnet supplied with the magnetic tumbler. Pins are strongly attracted; separation takes seconds.
- Storage: No special requirements — dry or wet storage is fine; pins do not rust.
- Compatibility: Shot pins are not suitable for vibratory finishing machines (except in watertight rotary barrels). They are designed for magnetic tumblers only. See stainless steel tumbling media for vibratory machine applications.
| Need help selecting the right pin size for your parts? Send us a photo of your parts and describe the material, hole sizes and target finish. We recommend the right pin size and machine model within 24 hours. |