OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

273439 Kirk Eppler 2021‑04‑15 Radial Bristle Brushes
Hey there all you gathered galoots

I hate to come in after a period of quiet and shill a new product, but this
may appeal to some of you. Since BK broke the silence, I feel slightly less
bad.

I found this on another forum, where they are more focused on mechanic's
tools, but it might work for certain things in the WW environment.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/Scotch-Brite-Radial-
Bristle-Brush/?N=5002385+3293242167&preselect=3293786499&rt=rud

3M radial bristle brush, 220 grit, reddish color.

I've been playing with it on a few things where rust is just gross, the
originally highly polished tool was reduced to rust.  Prior to this, I
cleaned it with a razor blade and Simichrome or Blue Magic.  You can see
the pre in the bottom of the image, center drawer here
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Tools/Union-Tool-Case/i-FqxK6tM

Here are a pair of Starrett hole gages.  One is completely rusted on the
front, the other has splotches from past rust that I've tried to clean
before.  The splotches made it hard to read unless the light was right.
 (RH unit is the one from above, in case it wasn't obvious.

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Measuring/i-ttGDKBB

Here you can see them both after a few minutes of playing, in the same
light, as best I could duplicate the angle they were held at.

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Measuring/i-csFfHDS

On the other forum, there are some caveats, they take time to break in for
the best finish, they prefer slow speed.  You have to do some pre work, get
rid of the gross stuff by other method, or thrash your disc, and they are a
bit pricey. The bonus points, you aren't picking metal slivers out of
various body parts.  You can get higher grits too, if you really want to
polish things shiny like jewelry, or Mr Happy Camper's work, which are
jewels of tools.

I've got my 6" disc, linked above, mounted on an old 1/4 hp, 1/2" spindle,
1725 rpm motor, and it is working sweet so far.  I've also got a package of
48 for my dremel, and will stack 3-4 discs together to actually do work
with it one day soon.

I have not gone much further than these two hole gauges.  I think for
sockets, wrenches things people like shiny, it will be great. I tried a
gross rusty wrench that I had knocked the big crud off, and it didn't help
with the rust that was left, I needed to use an intermediate technique.

I doubt I would ever take it to a saw blade or a moulding plane.  Maybe to
a crusty pair of dividers, or a lever cap on a plane where that is it's
only flaw.  I do have this horribly rusted square I posted a while back.
This thing will never be a collector's item,as the blade is sooooo gross.
Might be a test piece, start with a fine wire wheel, then step up to the
radial bristle brush.

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Measuring/i-6FSP4fS

Hope this helps someone.

-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, giving up on work for the evening, might get
some garage time in.

Recent Bios FAQ