Does anyone else hate wire brushed tools?

[Farma11]

I've been putting together some SK Wayne socket sets and buying pieces here and on ebay. Today I received some I bought from ebay and they have been brushed.
Nothing pisses me off more than wire-brushed tools. I also collect padlocks and have seen collectable locks ruined buy old men (I say old men because my grandpa would spend hours doing this) out in the shed thinking they are doing good.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Rant off.

 

[DHS]

I like the way stuff looks after being wire wheel.

 

[Joe Mamma]

I've been putting together some SK Wayne socket sets and buying pieces here and on ebay. Today I received some I bought from ebay and they have been brushed.
Nothing pisses me off more than wire-brushed tools. I also collect padlocks and have seen collectable locks ruined buy old men (I say old men because my grandpa would spend hours doing this) out in the shed thinking they are doing good.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Rant off.

I feel the same way. I usually ask about wire brushing if I have any suspicions before I buy.

I try to trade out the ones that I have that have been wire brushed. Sometimes they are part of a big batch. A lot of people just don't care and will gladly take them off my hands.

I don't blame old men though.

 

[littlekillertoad]

It's like old guns, wire brushing ruins the value.
However, if it's an old rusty tool that I just plan on using and it doesn't have any collecting value, I'll take a brush to it.

 

[matthew]

There may be other ways to deal with rust or flaking chrome, but one way or another you can't really make them into gems. So I don't blame guys for cleaning them up on a wire wheel, but would prefer to know they'd been cleaned that way before buying...

 

[Farma11]

So I don't blame guys for cleaning them up on a wire wheel, but would prefer to know they'd been cleaned that way before buying...

This is what I mean. I do it to tools that need it. But if a person is selling a tool they should mention it.

 

[Rickster]

I have some extra SK sockets and 1/4 dr ratchets from several US manf. Let me know what you're looking for and I'll chechk if I have any available.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I shop at pawn shops alot. Some of what I buy is pretty rusted. I will wire brush them if Evap-o-rust will not make a dent in it. I generally keep what ever I buy, so it doesn't bother me. Most are truck, junkyard, or thirds, fourths , or extra loaner sets anyway

 

[Packard V8]

I've been putting together some SK Wayne socket sets and buying pieces here and on ebay. Today I received some I bought from ebay and they have been brushed.
Nothing pisses me off more than wire-brushed tools. I also collect padlocks and have seen collectable locks ruined buy old men (I say old men because my grandpa would spend hours doing this) out in the shed thinking they are doing good.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

No, there are collectors who want the grotty old original, no matter how nasty; if you're one, always ask if it has seen the wheel.

Yes, there are users and I am one who has grown old salvaging otherwise lost tools and car parts from the clutch of the one who never sleeps. I've got five different wire wheels, from 10" down to a brass 5". I literally couldn't restore cars and tools without them.

Maybe, it's just a way of looking at the world. A poor Navajo heard belecana would pay lot of money for old pots. He went onto park land, found an old pot all broken into pieces and painstakingly glued it back together. Not only did he go to jail for stealing relics, he got a tonguelashing from the anthropologists who told him he had ruined a priceless artifact. Still mystified by the whole concept, "But who would want a broken pot?" as they carried him off to jail.

jack vines

 

[woody 73]

I look at this way,if the tool looks good with very little rust I leave them alone.If the tool has rust and a good makers mark I use a soft brass wire wheel with a little pressure.If the tool has a heavy rust,and it is not a good specimen for a collection I use a wire wheel with a lot of firm pressure.

I try and leave the tools alone if the have a nice patina on them. We are learning things everyday;speaking of old men years ago coin collectors used everything in the book to clean their coins,well today you would not even think about doing that to them.

I think today we are learning to lay off the heavy wire wheels in favor of other means of preservation and conservation for future collectors.

 

[bczygan]

What about taking off the names engraved on tools by grinding? Or grinding off left on flash?

 

[nate379]

If my tools start getting rust on them I wire brush.

Granted my tools are to use, not to collect. I don't collect stuff, have enough junk as is!

 

[Danglerb]

I hate the look of wire brush, and usually not only don't buy it, but tell the seller what it was worth before he ruined it.

 

[Farma11]

What about taking off the names engraved on tools by grinding? Or grinding off left on flash?

Myself owners marks don't bother me if they are priced right ( I'm a shade- tree mechanic). I'd rather have some etchings left alone rather than grinder marks. In my mind tools with lots of different kind of markings don't look as stolen as a toolbox full with grind marks on every tool.

But if I'm trying to fill holes in what I intend to collect or resell in the future I don't want the chrome buffed off.

 

[american lockpicker]

Yeah I hate the look of something thats wirebrushed.

 

[SMKS]

I'm not sure I understand what people are referring to. Do you mean taking a tool and using a bench grinder with a wire wheel to take off all the chrome?

 

[Elroy]

Nothing pisses me off more than wire-brushed tools.

Really. Then you never seen someone use a wire brush properly as they're wonderful tools when used correctly.

Elroy wanted me to offer up these before and after shots of a restored surface obtained using a wire brush.

Would you like to take a guess as to which one Elroy prefers??

What most people don't realize is that the wire brush is only the first step in refinishing a surface. It's not the only step.

 

[Farma11]

Elroy that is a fine restoration. What I'm talking about is when too much force is applied and the stamped lettering looks smeared.

 

[Packard V8]

Really. Then you never seen someone use a wire brush properly as they're wonderful tools when used correctly.

Damn - never thought I'd be agreeing with a potted plant! However, Elroy is absolutely correct.

What I'm talking about is when too much force is applied and the stamped lettering looks smeared.

In my experience, what you are talking about is a tool so way far gone in rust that most would have tossed it. Some bottom feeder got it for scrap price, put too much time cleaning it on a wire wheel and then described it as better than it it really was. Your problem is really with your seller and not with wire wheels on tools.

Nothing pisses me off more than wire-brushed tools.

Maybe you might consider amending your title to, "Nothing pisses me off more than a seller passing off wire-brushed too-far-gone junk as a first-quality tool."

jack vines

 

[turkdc]

This is kind of off topic, but I like when you get a used tool with a name engraved on it. I end up calling the tool by the name! If I am working on the car and my son is handing me tools, I can ask for "Larry". He knows I am talking about the 3/8 drive Snap On, but it is just more fun.

 

[Krokodil]

What a awesome job elroy! Please post something on the other steps or how you did it.

 

[yjWrangler]

Elroy should do a how-to topic

 

[Packard V8]

The world is not ready for an article on "How to Elroy." However, if Elroy will just share his tool restoration procedures, that would be much appreciated.

jack vines

 

[Thumper]

Ohhhh geezzzzzzz.........

 

[snapmom]

There are several ways to restore, wire wheel is just one of the tools, you have to look at the task at hand, and chose what best method or methods to use.

 

[Elroy]

The world is not ready for an article on "How to Elroy."

Sometimes even Elroy isn't ready for Elroy

 

[Boiler]

Personally its fine steel wool and WD-40. Whatever I can clean with that is all I do. I used to evaporust but I wasn't happy with the results. If I could get them to look like elroy's when done, I'd reconsider...

 

[snapmom]

Sometimes you get a tool that someone has sandblasted, to white metal, who the heck wants that, so to restore it, you have to put that old brown finish back on, you dont want it black, nor to dark of brown, a wire wheel helps here.

 

[DHS]

I like a real fine wire wheel, does the job but not damaging anything.