Tumbling Media | McMaster-Carr

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DFARS Specialty Metals

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168 Products

Tumbling Media for Steel, Stainless Steel, and Hard Metals


V-Cylinder	Cylinder

Triangle	Ball

Made of a hard material, this tumbling media is tough enough to finish steel, stainless steel, and other hard metal parts. Choose the shape that best matches the contours of your part and a size that’s large enough not to get stuck in recesses and holes. You can also mix shapes and sizes to tailor the finish to your part. Use with liquid compounds in tumbling and vibrating machines.

For Smooth Finish—Aggressively remove burrs and blend grind lines. This media leaves a matte finish and typically needs a follow-up for final smoothing.

For Extra-Smooth Finish—Common for general use, this media deburrs and rounds edges while preserving surface details. It removes a moderate amount of material to leave behind a matte finish.

For Ultra Smooth Finish—Gently deburr and blend with minimal edge rounding. This media lightly removes material for a sleek, satin finish.

For Polished Finish—Rub your parts without wearing them down—this media creates a shiny finish. It doesn’t remove surface material, so your parts retain their shape and sharp edges.

For Mirror Finish—Use this media as the final step in your finishing process to create a reflective finish. Ideal for fragile parts, it rubs the surface without removing material.

								5 lb.		10 lb.		25 lb.		50 lb.
	Lg.	Wd.	Dia., mm	Density, lb/ft³	Recommended Media to Parts Ratio	Abrasion Type	Material		Pkg.		Pkg.		Pkg.		Pkg.
For Smooth Finish







				V-Cylinder

				7/16"	7/16"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	000000	00000000	000000	0000000	0000000	0000000	0000000


				5/8"	5/8"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
				1"	1"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000




						Cylinder

						3/8"	3/16"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


						5/8"	5/16"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
						5/8"	3/8"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000




								Triangle

								1/4"	3/8"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


								5/16"	7/8"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
								3/8"	3/8"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
								3/8"	5/8"	—	90	3:1	Heavy	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


								For Extra-Smooth Finish







												V-Cylinder

												7/16"	7/16"	—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


												5/8"	5/8"	—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
												1"	1"	—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000




														Cylinder

														3/8"	3/16"	—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


														5/8"	5/16"	—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
5/8"														3/8"	—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000




		Triangle

		1/4"	3/8"											—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


		5/16"	7/8"											—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
		3/8"	3/8"											—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
		3/8"	5/8"											—	90	3:1	Medium	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


		For Ultra Smooth Finish







														V-Cylinder

														7/16"	7/16"	—	90	3:1	Light	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	00000000	000000


														5/8"	5/8"	—	90	3:1	Light	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	00000000	000000




														Triangle

														1/4"	1/4"	—	90	3:1	Light	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	00000000	000000


														5/16"	7/8"	—	90	3:1	Light	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	00000000	000000


														For Polished Finish







														V-Cylinder

														7/16"	7/16"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


														5/8"	5/8"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
														1"	1"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000




														Cylinder

														3/8"	3/16"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


														5/8"	5/16"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
														5/8"	3/8"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000




														Triangle

														1/4"	3/8"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


														5/16"	7/8"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
														3/8"	3/8"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000
														3/8"	5/8"	—	90	3:1	None	Ceramic	00000000	00000	00000000	00000	0000000	000000	0000000	000000


		For Mirror Finish







														Ball

														—	—	1	125	3:1	None	Porcelain	0000000	00000	———	0	———	0	———	0


														—	—	2	125	3:1	None	Porcelain	0000000	00000	———	0	———	0	———	0
														—	—	3	125	3:1	None	Porcelain	0000000	00000	———	0	———	0	———	0
						—								—	4	125	3:1	None	Porcelain	0000000	00000	———	0	———	0	———	0
						—	—							6	125	3:1	None	Porcelain	0000000	00000	———	0	———	0	———	0

Tumbling Media for Aluminum, Brass, and Soft Metals


V-Cylinder	Triangle

Pyramid	Granule

Made of soft material, this tumbling media gently finishes aluminum, brass, and other soft metal parts without distorting them. Choose the shape that best matches the contours of your part and a size that’s large enough not to get stuck in recesses and holes. You can also mix shapes and sizes to tailor the finish to your part.

For Extra-Smooth Finish—Common for general use, this media deburrs and rounds edges while preserving surface details. It removes a moderate amount of material to leave behind a matte finish.

For Ultra Smooth Finish—Remove tarnish, oxidation, and light scratches to make your parts shine. Ideal for detailed or engraved parts, this media rubs the surface without wearing it down to preserve the shape and sharp edges.

For Polished Finish—Often used as the final step in finishing, this media brightens your part’s surface with an extremely shiny finish. It rubs the surface without wearing it down to preserve the shape and sharp edges.

Plastic—Use with liquid compounds in tumbling and vibrating machines.

							5 lb.		10 lb.		15 lb.		25 lb.		50 lb.
	Lg.	Wd.	Density, lb/ft³	Recommended Media to Parts Ratio	Abrasion Type	Material		Pkg.		Pkg.		Pkg.		Pkg.		Pkg.
For Extra-Smooth Finish







				V-Cylinder

				5/8"	1/2"	60	3:1	Medium	Plastic	00000000	000000	00000000	0000000	———	0	00000000	0000000	00000000	0000000


				3/4"	3/4"	60	3:1	Medium	Plastic	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	———	0	00000000	000000	00000000	000000




						Triangle

						5/8"	1/2"	60	3:1	Medium	Plastic	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	———	0	00000000	000000	00000000	000000




								Pyramid

								1/4"	1/4"	60	3:1	Medium	Plastic	00000000	00000	00000000	000000	———	0	00000000	000000	00000000	000000


								For Ultra Smooth Finish







												Granule

												—	—	40	4:1	None	Walnut Shell	———	0	0000000	00000	———	0	———	0	———	0


												For Polished Finish







																Granule

																—	—	32	4:1	None	Corn Cob	———	0	———	0	00000000	000000	———	0	———	0

Cleaners for Tumbling


Bottle	Jug	Pail

Control media residue so it isn’t transferred to your parts. Mix 1 to 4 oz. of compound with 1 gallon of water and then add the solution to your media.

		1 qt. Bottle		1 gal. Jug		5 gal. Pail
For Use On	For Media Material		Each		Each		Each
Steel, Stainless Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Iron, Nickel, Gold	Ceramic, Plastic, Porcelain	00000000	000000	00000000	000000	00000000	0000000

Rust Removers for Tumbling


Bottle	Jug	Pail

Remove scale and surface rust on parts and stored steel media. Mix 1 to 4 oz. of compound with 1 gallon of water and then add the solution to your media. To prevent future rust buildup, protect parts from oxygen by coating with a cleaner (not included).

		1 qt. Bottle		1 gal. Jug		5 gal. Pail
For Use On	For Media Material		Each		Each		Each
Steel, Stainless Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Iron, Nickel, Gold	Ceramic, Plastic, Porcelain, Steel	0000000	000000	0000000	000000	0000000	0000000

Degreasers for Tumbling


Bottle	Jug	Pail

Clean grease and oil from parts. Mix 1 to 4 oz. of compound with 1 gallon of water and then add the solution to your media.

		1 qt. Bottle		1 gal. Jug		5 gal. Pail
For Use On	For Media Material		Each		Each		Each
Stainless Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Nickel, Gold	Ceramic, Plastic, Porcelain, Steel	0000000	000000	0000000	000000	0000000	0000000