How to Choose the Right Wire Brush for Home Improvement

Wire brushes are an excellent choice for the removal of rust and oxidations, paint, slag, weld splatter and other unwanted surface contaminants with angle grinders, bench grinders or drills. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right wire brush for the job? Here are three key factors to consider:

1. The type of wire

2. The diameter of the wire

3. The filament configuration

1. The type of wire

Wire brushes for home improvement are available in carbon steel, stainless steel, and brass. Brass is fairly versatile and can be used on most any project, while carbon steel and stainless steel are best paired with specific material types. Selecting the right one is as easy as matching the wire type to the material in your application. Use our handy guide.

Workpiece Material	Aluminum	Brass	Copper	Iron	Plastic	Carbon Steel/Metal	Stainless Steel	Wood
				♦		♦		♦
	♦	♦	♦				♦	♦
	♦	♦	♦	♦	♦	♦	♦	♦

2. The diameter of the wire

A good rule of thumb to follow would be to select very fine to fine wire for light-duty jobs and medium to coarse wire for heavy-duty jobs. If you need more specifics, here's a map matching wire diameter to grade.

3. The filament configuration

Wire cup, wheel and end brushes come with three options for filament configurations and each has its own benefits.

1. Crimped Wire Brushes - Individual filaments are supported only by each other, creating extra flexibility. Ideal for work on irregular surfaces, finer surface finishing, and light- to medium-duty contaminant removal.

2. Standard Twist Knot Wire Brushes - Made with straight wire filaments that are twisted together to make more rigid rope- or cable-like pieces. The choice for more aggressive applications requiring higher-impact action and a rougher surface finish.

If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to contact us.