Metabo Burnishing Tool

[ToolFanGeoff]

Guys,
I have a Metabo burnishing tool. So far I have only used it with sanding drums and flap wheels. Has anyone used a wire brush with their burnishing tool?
Any suggestions for removing mill scale and light rust?

Thank you,
Geoff

 

[kaymccampbell]

A 24 grit drum?

 

[ToolFanGeoff]

I worded my question poorly. How about: Has anyone used their burnishing tool with a wire wheel to remove light rust and mill scale? If so, has it worked well for you? Could you share any suggestions for wire brushes that work well?
Thank you,
Geoff

 

[dnschmidt]

A wire brush doesn't work very well at removing mill scale. (Unless you buy the diamond covered Pferd one for $400.) Sort of just pushes it around. For what you want you want to do a stripping wheel (ultra coarse Scotchbrite) which can be obtained from Harbor Freight as they make a copy of the Eastwood SCT which is a copy of the Metabo you have. Look up Eastwood SCT and see if these drums fit your machine as I think they do.

 

[dr_clyde]

That’s not what that tool was meant for, it will struggle to remove mill scale. I have one and it doesn’t like to remove the light mill scale on stainless flat bar, much less on a hot rolled mild plate.

Mill scale is one of the hardest things to remove mechanically, it clogs abrasives, dulls cutters and makes a huge mess.

It’s best removed with specific grinding tools or chemically with pickling solutions or a mild acid bath for a long time like vinegar.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Even a knotted wire brush struggles with mill scale. Coarse grinding wheels, super coarse abrasive papers, big sand blasting, and chemical methods are the preferred ways you deal with it.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I forgot to add, 16 grit carbide, hit n miss sandpaper, the one with the huge gaps between rocks, is pretty effective on mill scale. It chips it up enough to allow the lighter grits to be effective.

 

[tarmy]

They make flap wheels for them…I use those to clean metal…works great. I used one to clean up this 1/2” sheet.

 

[dr_clyde]

They make flap wheels for them…I use those to clean metal…works great. I used one to clean up this 1/2” sheet.

Looks like you polished your mill scale

 

[dnschmidt]

Walter makes a grinding wheel which they market as being specifically for mill scale. It works great but leaves a fairly rough surface.

 

[Indexmill]

If you need a steel plate that is polished; then don't buy it with mill scale on it...