Cut wire shot

Cut wire shot is a metal shot used for shot peening,[2] where small particles are fired at a
workpiece by a compressed air jet. It is a low-cost manufacturing process, as the basic feedstock
is inexpensive. As-cut particles are an effective abrasive due to the sharp edges created in the
cutting process; however, as-cut shot is not a desirable shot peening medium, as its sharp edges
are not suitable to the process.
Cut shot is manufactured from high quality wire in which each particle is cut to a length about
equal to its diameter. If required, the particles are conditioned (rounded) to remove the sharp
corners produced during the cutting process. Depending on application, various hardness ranges
are available, with the higher the hardness of the media the lower its durability.
Other cut-wire shot applications include tumbling and vibratory finishing.