Cut Wire
Shot
Available in conditioned and unconditioned forms. Manufactured to SAE J441, AMS 2431, and MIL-SPEC standards for precise, repeatable shot peening intensity and surface coverage.
What is cut wire shot?
Cut wire shot is a precision abrasive media produced by cutting steel, stainless steel, zinc, or aluminium wire to specific lengths — typically equal to the wire diameter — to create short cylindrical pellets. The manufacturing process begins with high-quality wire drawn to exact diameter specification, then fed through precision cutting blades.
The resulting cut pieces retain flat ends with sharp edges — known as unconditioned cut wire shot. When subjected to a tumbling or centrifugal conditioning process, the sharp corners become rounded, producing conditioned cut wire shot. This rounded form creates more uniform peening action, reduces surface damage risk, and produces a consistent compressive residual stress profile.
Available in carbon steel, stainless steel, zinc, and aluminium. Each material is engineered for specific substrate compatibility and application requirements across automotive, aerospace, and general industrial sectors.
Hardness
45–52 HRC
Density
7.4 g/cm³
Standard
SAE J441 / AMS 2431
Shape
Cylindrical / Conditioned
Technical specifications
Standard size grades available in carbon steel. Stainless steel and specialty material options available for all sizes. Custom hardness ranges and diameters on request.
| Wire Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Hardness (HRC) | Material | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 mm | 0.3 mm | 45–52 HRC | Carbon Steel | Fine peening of thin sections, springs |
| 0.4 mm | 0.4 mm | 45–52 HRC | Carbon Steel | Light surface blasting, pre-treatment |
| 0.5 mm | 0.5 mm | 45–52 HRC | Carbon Steel / SS | General peening, automotive parts |
| 0.6 mm | 0.6 mm | 45–52 HRC | Carbon Steel / SS | Spring and valve peening |
| 0.8 mm | 0.8 mm | 45–52 HRC | Carbon Steel | Gear and shaft peening |
| 1.0 mm | 1.0 mm | 45–52 HRC | Carbon Steel | Heavy-duty peening, connecting rods |
| 1.2 mm | 1.2 mm | 45–52 HRC | Carbon Steel | Structural component peening |
| 1.5 mm | 1.5 mm | 45–52 HRC | Carbon Steel | Maximum Almen intensity applications |
SS = Stainless Steel grade available. Zinc and aluminium cut wire available on request for non-ferrous and aerospace applications.
Industry applications
Spring manufacturing
Valve springs, suspension coil springs, and torsion bars undergo shot peening to induce compressive stress, dramatically improving fatigue resistance under cyclic loading. Almen intensity 0.10–0.25 A with 0.3–0.8 mm CW.
Gear & shaft peening
Gear tooth roots and shaft fillets are peened to prevent fatigue cracking in high-torque power transmission applications. Cut wire produces consistent Hertz pressure distribution. AMS 2432 compliant processes.
Aerospace components
Turbine blades, landing gear, and structural fasteners are peened using aluminium or conditioned steel cut wire under strict Nadcap and AMS process controls. Full traceability documentation supplied.
Ready to source cut wire shot?
Our technical team will help you select the right wire material, size grade, and conditioned or unconditioned form for your specific application. Volume pricing and custom specifications available.