Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435

I am looking for some good quality rotary wire brushes for cleaning off rust and paint etc,from small items.
Some good quality tool suppliers do not seem to stock these anymore.

Some I have purchased from autojumbles,local tool supplies or off the internet do not last 5 minutes.
I am looking for some this size and some smaller to get into those small nooks and crannies.

Silverspur,Ching Chong,or some Chinese made German sounding names are just not good enough,some have broken up as soon as you use them..

Any thoughts please.

115mm twisted wheel wire brushes for the angle grinder wanted also,these seem to vary in quality.

Gresham Flyer

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4105 Location: South Cheshire

I have had the same problem with these "autojumble" brushes Confused

As well as bristles flying out at an alarming frequency and speed, the dam things are not balanced even when new Shocked

some of them have a really low maximum speed rating, totally impractical with most fixed speed grinders Confused

Dave

Greg · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 445 Location: Dreamland Margate

I know it maybe the other extreme but 'Snap-On' make them and also do rather handy brush sets which are very handy.
They do last as well.

geonot · Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 53 Location: edinburgh

RS Components do very good stainless wire wheels- they last for ages and the wire doesn’t fly off every were when you are using them.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/?searchTerm=wire+brushes&sra=oss&r=t

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2472 Location: South Cheshire

Can you not do the cleaning with either citric acid or an electrolytic bath? Either would minimise the amount of wire brushing required, I think the latter is more effective at lifting paint though you would have to get one bit clean first.

I've had the same experience with the twisted wire brushes, but there is a massive difference in price - I was paying about £1.50 each last time I bought some (bought a few for 'stock') but I noticed them in the Frost catalogue at silly money - nearly £20 I think. I realise they might be better, but 12x better?

All the ones I've used shed wire as they're used, so a full face mask, overalls and decent gloves are always on me before I pick one up. A mate in work was using one and did some damage to himself through inattention, and I'm queamish.

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

The best tool I found for stripping a chassis was an American bit of kit called Roto-stripper. I found 3 new ones in my Dads garage. I know find they are expensive! The only drawback was they work hardened and snapped the wire off. After a lot of use I found the front of my overalls looked like I had been sneaking up on a porcupine.
http://www.amazon.com/Special-Machine-Tool-CG-1-Stripper/dp/B00002N9E2