Sandblasting vs shot peening: the difference and when to use each

Although both processes project a material at high speed onto the surface, sandblasting and shot peening have completely different goals.

Purpose: cleaning vs hardening

Sandblasting cleans and prepares the surface — removing rust, scale and old paint and creating roughness for adhesion. Shot peening does not clean: it bombards the surface with shot to induce compressive stresses that increase fatigue resistance. See what is sandblasting and what is shot peening.

Comparison

• Goal — sandblasting: cleaning/prep; shot peening: hardening, life extension.
• Surface result — sandblasting: roughness, cleanliness; shot peening: compression layer.
• Standards — shot peening follows AMS2430/AMS2432/NADCAP.

When to use each?

Choose sandblasting for a clean, prepared surface. Choose shot peening when the part is under cyclic loads and you want to prevent fatigue cracks. Often the processes are complementary.

Conclusion

Sandblasting cleans, shot peening strengthens. VIBROBLAST offers equipment for both.