Stainless Steel Media Pins

Stainless Steel Media Pins

Stainless steel media pins are used in a magnetic tumbler machine or industrial rotary tumbler.

These stainless steel materials are magnetic for easy separation.

Steel pins are non-consumables.

Unlike corn cob media or walnut shell media, there’s no need for replacement after multiple uses.

Once you purchase them, they never wear out and can be used for a lifetime.

The most popular applications of stainless media pins are jewelry polishing and brass bullet case reloading.

Stainless steel media pins are perfect for cleaning brass.

Inovatec recommends wet tumbling brass with stainless steel media pins.

Besides, they can also be used for aluminum and steel parts polishing, brass case cleaning, etc.

The advantage of the stainless steel media pins is that they can access hard-to-reach areas and have no lodging issues.

Usually, we mix 70% of the stainless steel straight media pins with 30% of the parts.

Besides, Inovatec stainless steel media pins can effectively clean brass cases inside and out, as well as the primer pocket.

Stainless steel pellet media pins are made to the optimal size, and they have rust and corrosion resistance.

Besides, these stainless media pins are precise in size.

From the smallest size 0.2x3mm to the largest size 2x5mm, we have unlimited capabilities to customize.

The minimum order quantity of the stainless steel media pins is 1kg because we have the most standard grades ready in stock.

We put 1kg of media pins in a plastic bottle and then make a carton box outside.

Inovatec has over 20 years’ experience in tumbling media production.

We offer cost-effective, tumbling media for your parts’ surface improvement.

Contact us today and get the instant quote now!

Stainless Steel Media Pins FAQ Guide

1. What are stainless steel tumbling media pins?

Stainless steel media pins are cylindrical in shape and magnetic.

They are formulated to make workpieces come out significantly better and brighter than before, through cleaning, deburring, and burnishing.

It doesn’t matter what type of workpieces it is, stainless steel media pins are capable of delivering top-notch results.

Stainless steel media pins are made from extremely tough stainless steel materials.

This, when made to the correct dimensions, helps in fostering optimum finishing.

Created from extremely tough 302/304 stainless steel, these media pins will last for thousands of cleanings.

The pins come in varying dimensions so that they don’t get jammed sideways or side-by-side in primer pockets or flash holes.

Stainless steel media pins do not rust, fracture, or break down during the finishing process.

They are usually small, with a length of 0.255″ (tolerance ± 5%).

The only reason you’d have to buy more pins is to replenish the ones you lose (which is inevitable).

2. What are stainless steel media pins used for?

Aside from the distinct advantages that come with using stainless steel media pins on workpieces, here are the general, most popular functions of stainless steel media pins:

Blending: Similar to deburring, blending helps to evenly spread out finishes on a workpiece.

It involves the removal of leftover machine lines, during the milling and shape-cutting process of workpieces.

Deburring: Deburring refers to the removal of sharp edges, fringes, or burrs on workpieces, that are often a consequence of previous finishing processes.

For instance, deburring a workpiece could involve using the media pins to smoothen sharp corners or contours into rounded corners.

Polishing: Also called burnishing, this process improves the existing smoothness on workpieces.

It makes them attain a mirror-like look as they become shinier and glittery.

Cleaning/Degreasing: Surface cleaning is one of the most popular usages of stainless steel media pins.

They help to purify and clean workpieces of specks of filth and stains.

Such stains often come from greases, dust among other residues stuck on the workpiece, by way of previous finishing processes.

3. What are stainless steel media pins made of?

Stainless steel media pins are usually made primarily from high quality 302/304 stainless steel wire.

They are also formulated by ferromagnetic 300-series stainless steel which makes them open for easy pick up with rare earth magnets.

4. What type of workpieces are stainless steel media pins best for?

Stainless steel media pins are popularly used for mass cleaning of items, be it small or large.

However, they are also suitable for several forms of industrial applications, such as deburring, burnishing, etc.

The hardness of 302/304 stainless steel allows stainless steel media pins work well in whatever finishing application they are subjected to.

5. How do stainless steel media pins work on workpieces?

Stainless steel media pins are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves.

Therefore, it’s equally important to invest in the purchase of a good mass finishing machine.

The machine plays an important role in that it stimulates the stainless steel media pins into action.

Once stimulated, the stainless steel media pins effectively run over the several surfaces of workpieces, in a bid to make them better. Here’s how they work:

Step 1: The operator places the stainless steel pins in the machine’s drum or barrel, along with workpieces, (or compound and enough water to fill the barrel halfway).

Step 2: The machine is turned on and allowed to run till its pre-programmed finishing cycle lapses or the needed finishing results are achieved.

If the aim is to clean or purify the workpiece, a minimum of 45 minutes would be required for relatively clean workpieces/parts.

Heavily soiled or dirty workpieces/parts would otherwise take up to 2 hours.

Step 3: The finishing machine is turned off to check if the finishing needs have been effectively met.

If not, then additional finishing time would be needed as the workpieces are returned to the machine.

Step 4: If finished to satisfaction, the workpieces are thoroughly rinsed and dried.

Just as well, the workpieces are dried and stored in a sealed container.

Preferably, a desiccant is added to prevent oxidation or corrosion of the media pins.

6. Which finishing machine can use stainless steel media pins?

Stainless steel media pins are much suited for rotary tumblers and magnetic tumblers.

When these media are used in rotary tumblers, they are also called rotary tumbler media.

They are not recommended for industrial vibratory tumblers, although some have been able to successfully use them.

It is however not recommended. In addition, steel media pins do not work in ultrasonic cleaners.

7. Are there distinctive benefits of using stainless steel media pins over other media types?

Stainless steel media pins are a perfect choice for finishing workpieces.

Once they are made of good quality, they effectively deliver superior advantages over other vibratory tumbler media.

Here are some of them:

High Effectiveness: 

Stainless steel media pins are very good when it comes to making workpieces sparkle and shine in a gold-like manner.

Its effect on workpieces, especially in cleaning large quantities, is top grade and pretty distinctive.

As a matter of fact, the results are usually nowhere comparable with other types of finishing media.

Thorough Cleaning:

Stainless steel media pins are designed in a manner that makes them possible to finish workpieces thoroughly.

They are usually able to get into inner, smaller, and larger areas of workpieces that other media cannot reach.

This includes areas such as primer pockets, inner crevices, and hidden insides of workpieces that other media just can’t get into effectively.

This is made possible because of their light, small, and long appearance.

Time Efficiency: 

For anyone who knows his way around, the usage of stainless steel media pins in the mass finishing of items can really make the finishing process time-efficient.

Specifically, the use of stainless steel pins helps to cuts finishing time in half, faster than other available tumbling media.

Less messy: 

Using stainless steel media pins to mass finish is way less messy, in comparison to other media types.

For instance, the usage of media such as corn cob tumbling media, often demands that an operator has to scrape away glued up cornmeal from a bunch of workpieces after a finishing session.

Ease of usage:

Additionally, there is the relative ease of usage that comes with using media pins compared to other types of finishing media.

Because they are made of stainless steel and some other special compositions, it is quite easy to gather and sort them with magnets.

Long life:

Stainless steel media pins can definitely last forever!

The reason for this is none other than the use of sturdy steel in making them.

Unlike walnut shell media, corn cob media, ceramic media, and other media that wear out after long usage, there’s no need to replenish or replace stainless steel media pins.

Stainless steel media pins can withstand an unlimited number of tumbling cycles.

Even in situations where they are forgetfully soaked in water for long periods during cleaning, they won’t rust.

Although, rusting may occur when ferrous contamination happens.

This mostly arises when stainless steel media pins are used in cleaning carbon steel parts.

Additionally, the contact of the pins with carbon steel items while picking up the fallen pins from the floor may also cause ferrous contamination.

Even at that, the contamination would not affect the performance of the media pins.

8. How much tumbling media is needed for finishing?

For a 15 pound/1-gallon finishing machine, 5 pounds of stainless steel media pins should be enough to finish items quickly and efficiently.

For a 3 pound/1-quart capacity finishing machine, 1 pound should be sufficient.

Although usage of more than normal pins may often slightly speed up the finishing process, the usage of too many pins can potentially cause poor finishing performance.

Sometimes, it may or prematurely burn out a finishing machine’s motor.

If you have a custom tumbler, send us a message or call us for advice on how many pins are correct for your application.

9. What industries are stainless steel media pins most appropriate for?

Stainless steel media pins are ideal for all manufacturing sectors where there’s a fundamental need for top quality finishing of items.

Some of those industries include:

General Job Shop:

Steel media pins are popular in general machine shops.

They help to provide effective and quick improvement of surfaces of a variety of items, parts, and workpieces.

Jewelry:

Usually, neglected pieces of jewelry attract dust and other contaminations.

If nothing is done, these impurities deface and scar the jewelry’s surfaces.

With the usage of steel media pins in finishing machines, these dirty jewelry can be restored to their past glory.

Automotive:

Vehicle manufacturers are one of the prominent adopters of stainless steel media pins in finishing items.

Whether in the production of plastic or metal parts for cars, or trains, motorcycles, etc., these pins play huge roles.

Also, they come in handy in refurbishing parts or components for automobiles, be it cast or forged.

Defense & Aerospace:

In these two special industries, metal smoothness and strength are non-negotiable.

Manufacturers in these two industries therefore use and rely on stainless steel media pins for optimizing and strengthening their workpieces.

Medical:

Users of medical devices expect consistent, high-quality finishes.

Stainless steel media pins help to deliver assorted types of surface enhancement on medical devices.

Whether they are made of stainless steel, titanium, cobalt chrome, etc., steel media pins would get the job done.

Textile:

Due to the fragile nature of textiles, stainless steel media pins can also be used for finishing and enhancing them.

10. Is there any difference between the 0.041″/0.042″ pins and 0.047″ pins?

Yes, there’s an important difference.

The 0.047″ pins are specifically designed so that they do not get stuck in most primer pockets or flash holes.

Pins of a different diameter — such as the inferior 0.041″/0.042″ pins — usually get jammed in primer pockets and/or flash holes.

The consequence of such includes a waste of lots of precious time to remove stuck pins.

Don’t make the mistake of purchasing inferior stainless media pins.

11. Do stainless steel media pins damage workpieces?

No. Steel media pins do not scratch or damage workpieces.

12. What are the common factors/tips to bear in mind about stainless steel media pins?

In determining how much media pins to purchase for a finishing machine, certain calculations need to be made.

The standard way to go is to use a 5-pound quantity of media pins per 1 gallon of work bowl volume.

For quart-size work barrels, 1 to 1.5 pounds of media pins should be sufficient.

The usage of steel pins in industrial vibratory tumblers is a no-go area, except such vibrator has an industrial-grade motor with a water-tight drum.

Even at that, the amount of media can vary greatly from normal. So, it’s important to make various experiments and tests.

It’s important for stainless steel tumbling media to exceed –or at least meet- the tight tolerance requirement inscribed on the work bowl.

If not, efficiency issues might occur.

13. How can a tumbling machine be maintained?

Like every other man-made and nature-made entity, maintenance and regular checking of tumbling machines are necessary.

This is of utmost importance if one desires to get the most out of their mass finishing machine.

To be able to do this, it’s usually recommended to start from the maintenance instructions contained in the machine manufacturer’s guide.

The reason for this being that the mass finishing machines vary from one another.

That is, they vary in terms of functionality, build, components, among others.

This, therefore, creates differences in maintenance processes from machine to machine.

It’s important to check through and comprehend before implementing such recommendations.

However, general machine maintenance tips include:

Ensuring the machine is in good working condition before intense use.

Habitual checks for internal and exterior damages prior to use would be helpful in the long run.

More so, doing these checks helps to protect the workplace from accidents, such as outbursts, spillings, among others.

These include:

1. Regular checks for the condition of the electric control system
2. Letting the machine run idly for a period of time, for the detection of strange noises, if any.

If any abnormal or strange noise is noticed any, it’s a hint that there’s something wrong with the machine.

The best thing to do is to turn the machine off and proceed to troubleshoot it.

Check out the manufacturer’s guide for troubleshooting tips. Some common troubleshooting tips include lubrication of some components, replacement of bearings, among others.

If the noise persists after all troubleshooting steps are taken, get a professional to take a look at it.

Some other general care recommendations include:

• Ensure to wipe off excess water from the machine’s components after cleaning. This is to prevent the rusting of exposed metallic components.
• Strive to ensure that the machine’s weight limits – as stipulated by the manufacturers- are carefully adhered to. Overloading of mass finishing machines often causes excessive wear and tear of components, leading to reductions in the expected lifespan of the machine.

14. What are the cons, if any, for stainless steel media pins?

Just as nothing in this life is exclusively advantageous, stainless steel media pins have their disadvantages, in spite of their numerous advantages. They are:

Price:

When it comes to the price of stainless steel media pins, eyebrows definitely raise.

They are more costly than other types of media.

But since they last a lifetime, one can say that their high price is justified.

Technicality in usage:

When it comes to using stainless steel pins, there are quite a few extra steps to take.

This definitely consumes some extra time and effort than other regular processes.

But when one looks at the finished result, one forgets all the extra steps.