Wire bush/wheel - stainless OK

[rossn]

I have a project where I need a wire brush/wheel for an angle grinder to texture some wood, but would like to buy a wheel I can use for various metalworking needs.

I see a lot of them come in stainless steel, as an alternative to plain steel bristles. I also understand that if brushing stainless steel, you need to use a stainless brush.

Will the stainless steel wheel work as well as the plain steel wheel for all other means, or are there places it will not work as well or last as long? Trying to buy more multi-use tools, versus single-use, though I don't have much stainless work planned.

 

[mrjaw14]

I think the most important thing is if you're going to use one on stainless projects to keep a stainless one just for that use. If it has to look really good, carbon steel bits can contaminate the stainless surface and make it look bad. Other than that, you can use whatever typically. I'd get what's cheaper, but if you get carbon just know it'll rust some potentially.

Be aware that bristles can and do fly off, so safety squints at minimum, ideally with a face shield over that. I've picked a bristle out of my face before

 

[neophyte]

Stainless has to be kept just for stainless as mrjaw14 said.
If you use the stainless wheel on ferrous steel, it gets contaminated and will then contaminate stainless if used on it.

 

[rossn]

Thanks, guys - this really helps! Yeah, I almost always use a glasses and a face shield when grinding... like my eyeballs Have definitely read about brush bristles flying off. I've heard the Weiler brushes do a little better than the cheaper ones, but that all shed.

 

[rossn]

Also, I was looking at both a crimped wire wheel and a twist knot. For the twist knots (4"), is there a wire diameter (0.014", 0.020", 0.023") or style that is the most useful (80/20 rule)? My makita grinders are 4-1/2", 5"... assuming 4-1/2" knot brushes fit in that OK (mostly they offer 4")?

 

[Tools4Me]

I personally wouldn't use a twist knot wheel for wood. They are usually way too grabby. They are more for rapid removal of paint or heavy rust from metal and they work best on hard smooth surfaces. The wire size that works best for you is going to depend on how soft the wood is that you want to texture and how deeply you want to texture it. The word "texture" also means different things to different people. We could help you better in that regard if you posted an image link to something made out of wood (found online) that has about the same surface texture you are trying to achieve.

 

[dutchgray]

I generally stick to 3" cup wire wheels on 4 1/2" grinders, unless they are the full size rear handle paddle switch type, the big ones will throw the grinder out of your hands when they grab unless your really on it. Any plain wire bristle type will do what you need.

 

[FMB4]

You could also consider a Nylon Abrasive Cup wheel. I've been using steel and stainless steel wheels and cup wheels forever. Just recently tried out a nylon abrasive wheel and am pretty happy about how well it works. The HF reviews on such wheels might give you some insight on their uses and performance (on stainless and wood, etc).

 

[dr_clyde]

I only buy stainless wire wheels and brushes. They are a consumable, so I wouldn't think too much about it. Get one for your project, and try not to think of it as a lifetime tool, because it isn't.