Wire Brush or Grinding Cleaning of Stainless Steel

Wire brushing or grinding methods generally incor- porate a power-driven wire or nonmetallic fiber-filled brush, or an abrasive wheel. These are used to remove excessive scale, weld slag, rust, oxide films, and other surface contaminants. Wire brushes may be used dry or wet. The wet condition results when the brushes are used in conjunction with alkaline cleaning solutions or cold water rinses.

These mechanical methods may imbed brush or grinding material particles in the cleaning surface. Cleaning brush selection depends on the component or system parent material. Nonmetallic brushes are suitable for most materials to be cleaned. Carbon steel brushes should not be used on aluminum, copper, and stainless steel alloys. Any wire brushes previously used on carbon steel components or systems should not be subsequently used on aluminum or stainless steel. The user should be aware that wire brushing and grinding can affect dimensions, tolerances, and surface finishes.