Ceramic media is generally the best choice for harder metals — such as stainless steel, titanium, tool steel, and hardened alloys — or when you need aggressive cutting power. It’s also ideal for applications like:
- Removing heavy burrs from non-ferrous metals
- Prepping surfaces for coating, anodizing, or plating
- Achieving a matte to smooth surface texture in short cycle times
- To avoid damage to edges and surfaces for all manufactured parts
Plastic tumbling media is softer and less aggressive, making it suitable for softer metals (aluminum, brass, zinc) or applications where dimensional change must be minimized. Many shops keep both types in stock, using ceramic for heavy work and plastic for gentler finishing.