? Where is your part right now?

Not made yetOne shop: we machine it and brush it in the same order. Brushing is the last step that touches the surface, so no second supplier re-handles the cosmetic faces on the way. 38 processes run in-house.See what we make in-house →Already madeSend us the parts. Brushing takes a very small amount of material off, so it cannot rescue a part that has already lost its dimensions - but it can rescue one that is dimensionally good and cosmetically poor.Check if your parts qualify →Still comparing processesBrushing, bead blasting and polishing are the three mechanical finishes and they look quite different. The line direction is what makes brushing distinct.Compare the mechanical finishes →

SURFACE FINISHING

Brushing Service

Satin finish Directional lines 5 materials Ra 1.2 to 47 um

Abrasive brushes are drawn across the surface in one direction, so the finish is a set of fine parallel lines rather than a mirror or a matte. The lines are the finish - they hide fingerprints and light handling scratches, and they are why brushed metal reads as deliberate rather than unfinished.

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5 materialsABS, aluminium, brass, stainless steel and steel

Satin textureUniform surface with visible directional lines

Ra 1.2 to 47 umThe published roughness range for this process

No added layerA mechanical finish - the metal you send is the metal you get

A brushed metal panel being worked with an abrasive disc, showing the fine parallel lines the brush leaves — The lines run one way, all the way across. Change the direction and you have a different finish, even though the roughness is the same.

Where it fits

Brushing is a mechanical finish, and it is normally the last step

No chemistry, no coating and almost no material removed. It sits after machining and after deburring, and because it changes how the part looks it usually goes on last.

STEP 1MachineMill, turn or fabricate to drawing

STEP 2Deburr the edgesBurrs cannot be brushed away - they have to be removed first

STEP 3Set the line directionThe direction is specified, not decided in the shop

STEP 4BrushYou are here - abrasive brushes drawn one way across the surface

STEP 5Protect and packBrushed faces mark easily and are usually bagged or film-masked

Brushing follows the surface it is given: tool marks that are deeper than the brush cut will still read through the new finish. Burrs are not brushed away either - they are removed in step 2. If a face has a visible callout, state it on the drawing - see drawing notes.

A brushed metal bracket in a brass tone with an even satin sheen across the face — An even satin with the grain running one way - the standard brushed look.

A brushed metal plate with a folded tab, photographed on a dark background — The finish carries the grain the brush left - it is directional, not uniform.

Fit check

Can we brush your part? Three things decide it

Material, how the part is handled afterwards, and which direction the lines should run. The last one is specified far less often than it should be.

Material

Covered - ABS, aluminium, brass, stainless steel and steel, as published for this process
Aluminium and its alloys are the most common substrate for a brushed finish
Highly corrosive service is not advised for this finish - the published note says so

For corrosive service, look at the alternatives in the material table.

Line direction

The finish is directional, so the drawing should say which way the lines run
On a cylinder it is normally circumferential or axial - they look very different
On a panel, the grain is usually set to run with the longest edge

If the direction is not stated, the shop picks one - state it and it stops being a variable.

What happens after

Brushed faces show handling marks - a wiped fingerprint can change the sheen locally
Adhesive labels and film can leave a local change in the grain
If the part will be anodized or coated afterwards, say so: the prep changes

Tell us the next operation so the surface we hand over suits it.

Specifications

Brushing: satin texture, Ra 1.2 to 47 um published, 5 materials

Every value below is what we publish for this process, copied from our own specification. Where the shop has not confirmed a figure, the line says To confirm.

Materials

5 coveredABS, aluminium, brass, stainless steel, steel

Texture

SatinUniform surface carrying visible directional lines

Colour

Not applicableA mechanical finish - no colour is added to the metal

Thickness

Not applicableAs published: no layer is added to the part

Roughness

Ra 1.2 to 47 umThe published range for this process

Resulting roughness band

To confirmWhich band inside that range suits your application is being confirmed per material

Corrosive service

Not advisedOur published note: brushing is not advised for highly corrosive parts

The line that matters most: this is a directional finish. Two parts with the same roughness and the same material can look completely different because the lines run a different way. State the direction.

What it removes

Brushing takes almost nothing off - it is a finish, not a correction

A brush cuts a very shallow pattern into the top of the surface. That is why it cannot rescue a part that is out of tolerance, and why it does not need masking the way blasting does.

Where it acts	What changes	Why it matters	What to do
The visible face	A shallow, directional pattern is cut in	The pattern is what makes the finish read as brushed rather than unfinished.	State which faces are cosmetic - we do not brush faces you have not called out.
Sharp edges	Edges are dressed rather than blunted	Brushing is far gentler on an edge than blasting or tumbling.	If an edge has to stay dead sharp, say so; otherwise it comes back lightly dressed.
Tool marks	Fine marks are blended into the grain	A mark deeper than the brush cut remains visible in the finished surface.	Do not specify brushing as a fix for deep damage - remove it before brushing.
Dimensions	Effectively unchanged	Unlike plating or cladding, no layer is added and no measurable stock is removed.	No allowance is needed on the drawing for a brushed finish.
Corrosion behaviour	Surface is worked, not protected	The published note advises against this finish on highly corrosive parts.	For corrosive service, pair it with a protective finish or choose another process.

The band inside the published Ra 1.2 to 47 um range that suits a given application is being confirmed with the shop. The rules above hold regardless of the final figure.

Tell us which faces are cosmetic and which way the lines should run, and we will quote the brushing with the machining as one operation.

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Line direction

Straight line, circular or cross hatch - brushing is chosen by its pattern

The same process produces visibly different surfaces depending on how the brush is moved across the part. These are the three patterns we are asked for.

A brushed metal surface with fine straight parallel grain lines running across it

Straight line grain

Parallel lines

The classic brushed metal look: a single grain direction running across the face. Uniform across the part, with the lines staying parallel from edge to edge.

Best for: flat panels, enclosures, signage, decorative plate

Not for: faces that will be viewed from every angle - the grain disappears and reads as uneven.

Circular brushed metal surface showing a radial grain pattern

Circular brushing

Radial pattern

The brush is worked in a circular pattern, which produces a radial finish with no single direction. Used where the part is turned rather than flat, or where a directional grain would look wrong.

Best for: round parts, turned faces, parts viewed from all sides

Not for: flat panels where the classic straight grain is expected.

Cross hatch

Two directions

A second pass is run across the first, giving a woven appearance. It breaks up reflections more than a single direction does, and it is less prone to reading as one-sided.

Best for: large faces, hiding handling marks, breaking up reflections

Not for: fine detail areas where two passes would soften the geometry.

Tell us which face is seen and from where, and we will tell you which grain direction will look right.

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Pick or avoid

When brushing is the right call - and when it is not

Pick brushing when

You want a directional satin finish - the deliberate grain is the point.
Fingerprints and light handling scratches need to disappear into the surface.
The part is aluminium, stainless steel, brass, steel or ABS.
You need a finish that shows no added layer: dimension and weight stay as machined.
The face is large and flat, or round - both take the grain well.

Avoid brushing when

You need a mirror or reflective surface - brushing is the opposite. See polishing.
You want a uniform matte with no direction. That is bead blasting.
The part will be used in highly corrosive service - the published note advises against brushing there. See passivation or anodizing.
The surface has deep damage that brushing would only partly blend.
The face is highly detailed - a fine pattern would soften the detail.

Brushed and anodized is a common pairing on aluminium. Send one drawing and ask for both operations quoted together.

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Design constraints

What decides whether the brushed part comes back right

Three variables: the starting surface, the grain direction, and how the part is handled between brushing and packing.

Starting surface

Brushing blends fine tool marks into the grain; it does not remove deep scratches, gouges or weld repairs. Fix those before brushing, not with brushing.

Grain direction

The finish is directional. On a cylinder the grain can run around or along the axis, and the two look nothing alike. State which one the drawing expects.

Edge treatment

Brushing dresses edges lightly. If a chamfer or an edge has to stay crisp for assembly, call it out - otherwise it comes back slightly softened.

Handling and packing

A brushed face marks easily. Parts are usually film masked or bagged after brushing, because a wipe with a dirty cloth shows up as a local change in sheen.

Faces not to brush

Locating diameters, press fits and sealing faces should not be brushed. List them, or they may be treated as cosmetic surfaces.

What comes next

If the part is anodized or coated afterwards, the next operation affects how the surface has to leave us. Tell us the sequence, not only the finish.

Drawing notes

What to write on the drawing so the grain goes the way you meant

Two lines do most of the work: which faces are cosmetic, and which direction the lines run. Without them the shop decides both.

1.  BRUSH THE FOLLOWING FACES ONLY:    ____________________________________________  (SEE VIEW A)2.  GRAIN DIRECTION:  PARALLEL TO DATUM ___ /    CIRCUMFERENTIAL / AXIAL  (DELETE AS APPLICABLE)3.  FINISH: UNIFORM SATIN, NON-REFLECTIVE.    RA ______ WITHIN THE PUBLISHED RANGE FOR THIS PROCESS.4.  DO NOT BRUSH: LOCATING DIAMETERS, PRESS FITS,    SEALING FACES  (LIST ANY FACE THAT MUST STAY AS MACHINED)5.  KEEP EDGES SHARP AT: __________________6.  AFTER BRUSHING: MASK OR BAG BEFORE PACKING.    NO ADHESIVE LABELS ON BRUSHED FACES.

Examples only. The grain direction line is the one most often missing - and the one that decides whether the part looks like the sample you approved.

Materials

Which materials we brush - the published list of five

The five below are what our published specification for this process covers. Anything outside it needs a sample before we can quote.

Material	Brushing	Notes	Use instead
Aluminium and its alloys	Yes	The most common substrate for a brushed finish, and the usual pairing is anodizing afterwards.	—
Stainless steel	Yes	A brushed stainless face hides fingerprints far better than a polished one.	—
Brass	Yes	Takes an even directional grain; often left unlacquered so it patinates.	—
Steel	Yes	Named on the published list - normally paired with a protective finish.	Passivation
ABS	Yes	A plastic on the published list. Pressure and brush type have to be chosen for it.	—
Highly corrosive service	Not advised	Our published note: brushing is not advised for highly corrosive parts.	Anodizing
Other materials	Send a sample	Soft plastics and very thin sections behave differently under a brush.	As machined

Material not on the list? Send a sample and we will run a test brush before quoting the batch.

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Applications

Where brushing is used

Brushed finishes turn up wherever a metal surface has to look deliberate without being reflective - which is most places a customer sees the part.

A brushed stainless steel door sign reading Executive Conference Room

Signage and architectural panels

A brushed face reads evenly at distance and does not flare under directional lighting, which is why it is common on signage and interior metalwork.

A stainless steel appliance control panel with a brushed finish

Appliance and equipment fronts

The grain hides fingerprints and light scratches - the everyday handling that a polished front would show immediately.

An abrasive brush wheel in contact with an aluminium component during brushing

Hand tools and hardware

Brushing removes the sharp brightness of a machined finish and leaves a working surface that does not show every touch.

QA and documentation

What you get back with the parts

Purchasing usually needs paper as well as parts. Here is what we can state today and what is still being confirmed.

Available

Visual uniformity

Brushed faces are checked for an even, non-reflective grain across the specified area.

Available

Direction check

The grain is verified against the direction stated on the drawing.

To confirm

Roughness measurement

Measured Ra per material inside the published 1.2 to 47 um range is being confirmed.

To confirm

Grain consistency between batches

Whether a roughness/gloss record can be issued to hold repeat batches to the same look is being confirmed.

Brushed finishes, satin and grain direction

Longer answers on the questions this page only has room to state.

Brushing finish: steps and trade-offs

What brushing does, what it cannot fix, and how the finish is specified.

Complete guide to brushed aluminium

The grain directions in detail, and how brushed aluminium behaves under anodizing.

Bead blasting service

The non-directional matte counterpart - pick this when the lines are not wanted.

Polishing service

The other end of the scale: a reflective surface rather than a satin one.

Types of surface finishes for CNC machining

The full list of finishes we run, with what each one is for.

All surface finishing options

Compare all 20 finishes by roughness, thickness, corrosion and cost.

FAQ

Brushing FAQ: the questions engineers ask us

What is a brushed finish?

Abrasive brushes are applied to the surface in one direction, which cuts a shallow, uniform pattern of fine parallel lines. The surface is even, but the lines remain visible - and our published description notes that those lines are often part of the appeal rather than a defect.

What roughness does brushing give?

Our published range for this process is Ra 1.2 to 47 um. Which band you actually need depends on the brush and the material, so state your Ra on the drawing rather than assuming a single value. See specifications.

Will brushing remove scratches or tool marks?

Only ones shallower than the brush cut. The finish follows the surface it is given, so a deep scratch or a gouge will still read through afterwards. Remove the damage before brushing, not with brushing.

Which direction should the grain run?

Whatever the drawing says - and if the drawing does not say, the shop chooses. On a cylinder, circumferential and axial grain look completely different, so this is worth specifying. See line direction.

Can you brush aluminium and then anodize it?

Yes, and it is a common sequence: anodizing preserves the grain and adds corrosion resistance. Tell us both steps when you quote, because the sequence changes how the surface has to leave us. See anodizing.

Which materials can be brushed?

The published list is ABS, aluminium, brass, stainless steel and steel. Aluminium and its alloys are the substrate it is most often applied to. See the material table.

Is brushing suitable for corrosive environments?

Our published note advises against brushing for highly corrosive parts - the finish works the surface rather than protecting it. For that service, pair it with a protective finish or choose one of the coating processes.

Does brushing change the part dimensions?

Effectively no. The published thickness for this process is not applicable, because no layer is added and no measurable stock is removed. That is why it needs no masking or allowance. See what it removes.

How do I get a brushing quote?

Send the drawing with the faces to be brushed and the grain direction. Contact the team with the part details and we will come back with a quotation for your parts.

Get your brushing quote

Upload a STEP, IGES or PDF drawing. Tell us which faces are cosmetic, which direction the grain should run, and whether the part is anodized or coated afterwards.

Get a quote Machine it first

What to send us

Drawing - 2D and 3D files (STEP, IGES or PDF).
Material - one of the five published materials, or send a sample if it is not.
Cosmetic faces - which surfaces the customer will actually see.
Grain direction - straight, circumferential, axial or cross hatch.
Target roughness - your Ra inside the published 1.2 to 47 um range.
Next operation - anodizing, coating or assembly, so the prep matches it.

All uploads are secure and confidential. Engineers review and reply with a quotation and lead time.