Brushes

Pick the right type

Brushes come in three types. A hand brush removes loose rust and dirt. A cup brush fits a drill or angle grinder. A disc brush mounts on an angle grinder. First check the connection. Cup brushes have a 6 mm shaft. Disc brushes have a 22.23 mm bore for an angle grinder. Measure the brush diameter. A disc brush that is too large will not fit under your guard.

Mind the brush material

Steel tackles rust and weld seams hard. Brass is softer and leaves no scratches on mild steel. Nylon cleans green and wood without damaging metal. For aluminium, use brass or nylon. Use steel only on steel and cast iron. This prevents damage to the workpiece.

Where ordering goes wrong

Many mechanics order a brush without checking the connection. A cup brush with a 6 mm shaft will not fit a drill with a 10 mm chuck without an adapter. A disc brush with a 22.23 mm bore will not fit an angle grinder with an M14 thread. Check the diameter too. A 150 mm disc brush will not fit a guard for 125 mm. Always measure the connection and the diameter.

Brushes belong with your hand tools, along with what you use around them. For tightening and loosening bolts and nuts you reach for spanners or ratchet wrenches. When you fasten or loosen something, you pick up screwdrivers or hex and Torx keys.