Wet Burnishing Media Information and Specs
Bel Air offers wet burnishing media for polishing, brightening, cleaning, deburring, edge refinement, and pre-plate preparation. Options include stainless steel, carbon steel, magnetic pin, and high-density porcelain media, with shapes and sizes suited to different parts, equipment, and finishing objectives.
Selecting the right media depends on the part material and geometry, desired finish, equipment, and process chemistry. Compare the media types below or contact Bel Air for a process recommendation.
Available Media Types:
Available Wet Burnishing Media Types
Wet Burnishing Media Selection Guide
Different types of wet burnishing media produce different results based on their density, size, shape, and interaction with the finishing equipment. Use this guide as a starting point; process testing may be required for parts with critical finish or dimensional requirements.
| Media type | Primary action | Best suited for | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless & Carbon Steel | Burnishing, polishing, cleaning, and surface refinement | Bright finishes, pre-plate preparation, and general-purpose processing | Available in numerous shapes and sizes for different part geometries |
| Magnetic Pins | Precision burnishing and cleaning | Small parts, recesses, grooves, holes, and intricate features | Designed specifically for compatible magnetic pin finishing equipment |
| Porcelain | Burnishing, edge rounding, and light deburring | High-luster finishes on ferrous metals, brass, and aluminum | High density can help shorten processing cycles in appropriate applications |
Stainless Steel & Carbon Steel Media
Steel media provides high density and durability for polishing, cleaning, wet burnishing, pre-plate preparation, and surface refinement. Stainless steel can reduce corrosion-related maintenance, while carbon steel remains a practical option for many finishing applications.
Steel media is available in multiple shapes—including balls, ball cones, diagonals, oval balls, Eclipse balls, and double-pointed pins—to provide different levels of surface contact and access to part features.
- Best choice for: general wet burnishing, bright cosmetic finishes, pre-plate preparation, and repeatable long-term processing
- Consider another media when: very small recesses require magnetic pins or a high-density porcelain formulation is better suited to the desired finish
For complete benefits, applications, shapes, dimensions, and material availability, visit the Stainless Steel Tumbling Media page.
Magnetic Pin Media
Magnetic pin media is designed for use in Magnetic Pin Finisher systems. Rapid media movement allows the small pins to contact detailed surfaces that may be difficult to reach with larger conventional media.
Magnetic pins are commonly considered for precision cleaning, burnishing, and surface refinement of small or intricately shaped components. Pin diameter and length should be selected according to the size of the part, accessibility of its features, and the risk of media becoming lodged in holes or recesses.
- Best choice for: small parts, detailed geometries, grooves, slots, holes, recesses, and precision surface refinement
- Consider another media when: the equipment is not designed for magnetic-pin processing or broader surface contact is required
- Important considerations: part geometry, pin diameter and length, compound selection, equipment capacity, and media separation
Available Magnetic Pin Media Sizes
| Size (mm) | Diameter | Package Size |
|---|---|---|
| 0.2 x 5mm | .008 | 1kg |
| 0.3 x 5mm | .012 | 1kg |
| 0.4 x 5mm | .016 | 1kg |
| 0.5 x 5mm | .0195 | ½ lb or 1kg |
| 0.7 x 5mm | .0275 | 1kg |
| 0.8 x 5mm | .031 | 1kg |
| 1.0 x 5mm | .039 | 1kg |
| 1.2 x 5mm | .047 | 1kg |
| 1.5 x 5mm | 1kg | |
| 2.0 x 5mm | .079 | 1kg |
| 0.3 x 3mm | 1kg | |
| 0.4 x 3mm | 1kg | |
| 0.5 x 1mm | 1kg | |
| 0.5 x 3mm | 1kg | |
| 0.7 x 3mm | 1kg | |
| 0.8 x 3mm | 1kg | |
| 1.0 x 1mm | 1kg | |
| 1.0 x 3mm | 1kg | |
| 1.2 x 3mm | 2.2lb |
Porcelain Burnishing Media
Porcelain is a high-density, durable form of ceramic media primarily used for surface brightening, edge rounding, and burnishing. When paired with the appropriate compound and process conditions, it can produce a lustrous, high-color finish on ferrous metals, brass, and aluminum.
A3 porcelain can also support light burr removal, radius formation, accelerated chemical deburring, and cut-and-color operations. Its density allows it to serve as an alternative to steel media in selected burnishing applications.
- Best choice for: bright finishes, edge rounding, light burr removal, and high-color burnishing
- Suitable materials: ferrous metals, brass, and aluminum
- Consider another media when: intricate or recessed features require very small magnetic pins or a particular steel shape provides better access
- Important considerations: compound chemistry, equipment compatibility, desired edge radius, and part material
Porcelain Media Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Grade | A3 |
| Composition | High-density porcelain |
| Primary actions | Burnishing, surface brightening, edge rounding, and light burr removal |
| Suitable materials | Ferrous metals, brass, and aluminum |
| Additional uses | Accelerated chemical deburring and driving loose abrasives in cut-and-color operations |
| Approximate bulk density | 140 lb/ft³ |
Available Porcelain Media Shapes & Sizes
Porcelain media is available in a range of standard and precision shapes for different part geometries and finishing objectives. Smaller or pointed shapes provide access to detailed areas, while broader and rounded shapes increase surface contact. Availability may vary by composition and size; contact Bel Air to confirm the appropriate option for your application.
| Shape | Available Sizes | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inches | mm | ||
 22–25° Angle-Cut Triangles | 3/8 × 3/16 to 1-7/8 × 5/8 in. | 9.5 × 4.8 to 47.6 × 16 mm | Broad surface contact and improved penetration into corners. |
 Straight-Cut Triangles | 3/16 × 3/16 to 2 × 2 in. | 4.8 × 4.8 to 50.8 × 50.8 mm | Maximum contact and uniform finishing on broad, flat surfaces. |
 45° Angle-Cut Triangles | 3/8 × 3/8 to 7/8 × 7/8 in. | 9.5 × 9.5 to 22.2 × 22.2 mm | Reaching remote areas while maintaining good surface contact. |
 22° Angle-Cut Ellipses | 5/16 × 3/16 × 1/2 to 1 × 7/16 × 1 in. | 7.9 × 4.8 × 12.7 to 25.4 × 11.1 × 25.4 mm | Concave surfaces and applications where reduced wedging is important. |
 22° Angle-Cut Tristars | 1/4 × 1/4 to 1-7/8 × 5/8 in. | 6.4 × 6.4 to 47.6 × 16 mm | Gear teeth, slots, sharp corners, and other detailed part features. |
 22° Angle-Cut Cylinders | 1/8 × 1/4 to 1-1/8 × 1-3/4 in. | 3.2 × 6.4 to 28.6 × 44.5 mm | Flowing action on concave surfaces, rounded areas, and holes. |
 45° Angle-Cut Cylinders | 1/4 × 5/8 to 5/8 × 3/4 in. | 6.4 × 16 to 16 × 19 mm | Greater access to recesses, holes, crevices, and narrow features. |
 Try-Cyls | 3/8 × 3/8 to 1-1/2 × 1-1/2 in. | 9.5 × 9.5 to 38.1 × 38.1 mm | Applications that benefit from a combination of curved and flat contact surfaces. |
 Spheres | 1/16 to 13/16 in. | 1.6 to 20.6 mm | Smooth rolling contact on rounded, contoured, and delicate surfaces. |
 Precision Pins | .06 × .20 to .27 × .90 in. | 1.5 × 5.1 to 6.9 × 22.9 mm | Small holes, rounded areas, narrow recesses, and detailed features. |
 Cones | 3/4 × 3/4 to 1-9/16 × 1-9/16 in. | 19 × 19 to 39.7 × 39.7 mm | Versatile contact across flat, curved, and moderately detailed surfaces. |
 Precision Triangles | From .08 × .08 in., including elongated sizes up to .16 × .31 in. | From 2 × 2 mm, including elongated sizes up to 4.1 × 7.9 mm | Small angles, corners, and intricate features requiring strong surface contact. |
Note: Additional dimensions may be available. Contact Bel Air to confirm porcelain composition, current availability, and the appropriate media-to-part size relationship for your application.
How to Choose Wet Burnishing Media
Consider the following factors when selecting a wet burnishing media:
- Desired result: Determine whether the primary objective is brightening, polishing, cleaning, edge rounding, pre-plate preparation, or light deburring.
- Part geometry: Select media that can contact the required surfaces without becoming lodged in holes, slots, or recesses.
- Part material: Confirm that the media and compound are compatible with the metal being processed.
- Equipment type: Magnetic pins require a magnetic pin finisher, while steel and porcelain media may be used in compatible tumbling or vibratory systems.
- Media size and shape: Smaller media reaches finer details, while larger or broader shapes provide more surface contact.
- Process chemistry: The correct compound and water flow help support cleaning, brightness, lubrication, and consistent processing.
- Separation requirements: Consider how easily the selected media can be separated from the finished parts.
Bel Air can evaluate your part material, geometry, equipment, and finish requirements to recommend an appropriate media and process combination.