Wire Wheels

Wire Wheels

Rust, oxidation, paint, weld splatter, and more can all be removed from surfaces with the use of wire wheels and brush attachments for drills, angle grinders, and bench grinders. This straightforward tool is easy to use, but prior to using it for a home improvement project several factors should be considered: wire type, size, and filament configuration. Wire wheels and wire cup brushes are manufactured using several alloys: carbon steel, stainless steel, and brass. Brass is the most versatile and can be used for a wide variety of projects whereas stainless steel and carbon steel have more limitations.

The diameter of the wheel/brush's wire is categorized as coarse, medium, or fine. Coarse (thick) wire should be dedicated to heavy-duty applications while fine (thin) wire is well suited for light-duty jobs. An improper match between wire diameter and job type can result in either damage to the surface or time lost trying to complete the task without enough "power." Filament configurations of wire brushes and wheels include crimped and twisted knots. Crimped filaments are slightly wavy but stand isolated making them ideal for grinding and finishing irregular surfaces. Crimped wire wheels are commonly used for medium to fine applications. Coarse wire wheels often have a twisted knot configuration in which multiple filaments are twisted together in a rope-like fashion. Twisted knot wire wheels are best suited for heavy-duty tasks or materials.