Wire Brushes

[evfreek]

Originally Posted by cheftjcook

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Being pelted and many time injected with the flying mini wire knives as they left the wheel. Until I saw one of the Bill Epps dvds. I was an instant convert!!! Went to "HB Freight" and bought a VS Polisher, set it up and tested with different wire wheels, works great and life is good. (Thank you, Mr Epps!!)
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Tim

Hi Tim. I saw this advice elsewhere and figured it was a good idea. I tried it out and it worked GREAT! I wore my leather apron, gloves and a face shield, and used a premium knotted cup brush. Very controllable. Keeping out of cracks and using light pressure wore the wires uniformly, and there were no flying wires.

I did worry a little about the absence of a guard. But, the HF variable speed sander is so weak and slow (on the "2" setting) that it is very controllable. Never even came close to getting away from me. But after a few minutes, I did smell that familiar "HF is working too hard" smell. If I take a lot of breaks, this tool will probably last for a good few hours, and that's a lot of safe(r) wire brushing. Do you think it's worth cobbling up a little guard out of sheet metal? They don't get in my way, but I hear they don't help much when you are going 10000 rpm.

[HWooldridge]

I had a little incident this week I'd like to pass on as a safety story about wire wheels.

Thursday night, I was power brushing some work with a 4-1/2" right angle grinder and a knotted wire wheel. The wheel was old and starting to shed strands. I always wear face and eye protection but let everything else take what comes. I kept getting stung in the belly and chest but the flying wires never penetrated my skin. I finished about 9:30, went into the house to wash up and went to bed. Next morning, I got up, showered, got dressed like every other day of the world and went to work. About lunchtime, I looked down and noticed a red spot on my left arm that had a small spot of dried blood. Felt like something was there but it did not hurt. By the time my wife and I got home Friday night, there was a hard red knot on my arm so I knew something was wrong. Out came the pointed tweezers and after a little digging, I removed a piece of wire that was just under 1-1/2" long! The worst part was that it had angled inward and driven down between the arm bones. I was lucky it didn't hit a tendon or blood vessel and that the tip was within reach or I would have been in the emergency room having surgery. IMHO, the wire wheel is the most dangerous tool in the shop and needs to be treated with the utmost care. I also went out into the shop today and tossed that wheel in the trash so I wouldn't be tempted to get just one more pass out of it.

[ThomasPowers]

I am lucky enough to have been given a slow speed, double shafted, totally contained motor "polisher" it actually has two speeds, "Slow" and "Slower". It may take longer but *MUCH* safer.

HW, I think the *smith* is by far the most dangerous tool but buffers and wire brushes are way up on the list. As a blademaker I've heard *LOTS* of buffer stories that make your blood run cold...

[agsolder]

HW-- I had almost the exact same accident happen, but with a brand new stainless wire wheel on a little grinder. Didn't notice a thing until hours later when I felt a little splinter in my forearm. Pulled on it, and out came a full-length wire. Found a few others here and there, too. I have always worn safety glasses, but from that day on it's been a face shield over them and full leathern battle armor: jacket, apron, cuffs and gauntlets. For years I suspected an evil spirit dwelt in my shop. Realized some time back that, alas, it's my stupidity in not anticipating possibilities.

[Ian]

I've had my own 'moments' with the wire wheel, we use them a lot, usually the cupped brushes that go into the 4" Angle grinder. First time was a pearler, was a 'tad' interesting trying to switch off the grinder while not allowing it to strangle me and remove my nipple at the same time. Loose T shirts are a BIG no no.
Also had to pull out a few wires from myself as well as they do eventually leave home at a rate of knots that would make any parent blush with shame. Now I use a nice thick leather apron that the wheel cant grab and a face shield and gauntlets. Picking out wires that are embedded into your knuckle bones isn't tremendous fun, nor is looking like Ghandi because one hit you right between the eyes where your glasses dont cover. Excellent tool, due serious respect.

[dimag]

I also used a wire brush on a bench grinder,similar results to most folks.Little perforations everywhere.I bought a butchers brush,which works very well and mine has also lived a long time,9 years so far.I still used the grinder with a brush until I went to visit the aforementioned Mr. Epps.It took little or no effort to convince me to get a sander polisher with a cup brush.

[Makoz]

I stopped using wire wheels on the bench grinder a few years back, mainly due to risk of those loose wires spearing around. I have too many inexperienced students in the workshop to be worrying about that, so I've opted for a 3M abrasive wheel. Its like a black open rubbery material with abrasive compound in it and removes paint and rust quite quickly. The downside: a bit expensive considering they wear away in use, and they don't form a good edge to get into corners. Basically not as effective as the wire ones, and while its possible to have something grab, they are safer to use.

Regards,
Makoz