Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

This forum is for those who like to repair and restore knives, and for those who would like to learn.
Post Reply
Kase's Kutlery Plus
Posts: 109
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 3:57 am
Contact:

Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by Kase's Kutlery Plus »

Hi! I use a lot of these brass wire wheels. I've been getting them from harbor freight but they're so cheap and don't hold up well. I'm looking for better quality. Anybody got any ideas? I know they're out there because I've had some I just can't remember where I got them from. Thanks Kasey
User avatar
Twhite
Posts: 156
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2018 3:29 am
Location: Burbank CA

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by Twhite »

You can try McMaster Carr
here is a link. https://www.mcmaster.com/wire-wheels

Tom
User avatar
orvet
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 19352
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 6:23 am
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by orvet »

What type of rotary tool are you using, a Roto-Zip, Dremel tool or Foredom?

I usually buy the ones from eBay to use with my Foredom, they work okay, though I do lose a bristle once in awhile.

Due to the RPMs of the Dremel I expect these would not work as well for a Dremel.

I have a Roto-Zip and the RPMs on it is so high and I have not yet found a wire brush that will work on it. I turn it on and the bristles are gone before I ever touch the work with the tool! It is scary fast! :shock:
I don't know much about the Roto-Zip, I bought it at an estate sale with no instructions, so I don't know how fast it turns but it is very very fast, so fast that it throws the brass wires out of the Dremel tool brushes. ::undecided::
Dale
AAPK Administrator

Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet

Job 13:15

"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
User avatar
jerryd6818
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 39178
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
Location: The middle of the top of a bastion of Liberalism.

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by jerryd6818 »

I use both steel and brass in my Dermal and it works just fine. I use it on low speed. Does a fantastic job of cleaning up tang stamps.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
Kase's Kutlery Plus
Posts: 109
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 3:57 am
Contact:

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by Kase's Kutlery Plus »

orvet wrote:What type of rotary tool are you using, a Roto-Zip, Dremel tool or Foredom?

I usually buy the ones from eBay to use with my Foredom, they work okay, though I do lose a bristle once in awhile.

Due to the RPMs of the Dremel I expect these would not work as well for a Dremel.

I have a Roto-Zip and the RPMs on it is so high and I have not yet found a wire brush that will work on it. I turn it on and the bristles are gone before I ever touch the work with the tool! It is scary fast! :shock:
I don't know much about the Roto-Zip, I bought it at an estate sale with no instructions, so I don't know how fast it turns but it is very very fast, so fast that it throws the brass wires out of the Dremel tool brushes. ::undecided::
I've had a bunch of different ones. I use a rotary tool everyday. The bristles from the harbor freight wheels are always falling off. I come in the house covered with metal splinters and that's not to convenient.
SteelMyHeart85420

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by SteelMyHeart85420 »

Just try ANY other brand besides HF, should be readily available in other hardware stores, i.e., True Value, ACE Hardware, or whatever is in your AO. Big box stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, Menards) choices may or may not be better quality than HF, but, they're all inexpensive enough to give a shot til ya find what works for you
User avatar
orvet
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 19352
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 6:23 am
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by orvet »

The brass wire wheels I get from eBay all shipped from China of course, but they seem to be decent quality for use at lower speeds with a Foredom which uses lower speed and more torque. The lower speed does not seem to cause the wheels to lose an inordinate amount of wires but they can lose a few if I turn it on high speed. With a Dremel they lose a few more bristles because it relies more on the speed of rotation than on torque.

Not sure if the ones I get on eBay are any better than Harbour Freights but they are pretty inexpensive. It would be good if someone wanted to do a comparison between the brushed from different sources and see which ones hold up better.
Dale
AAPK Administrator

Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet

Job 13:15

"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
User avatar
jerryd6818
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 39178
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
Location: The middle of the top of a bastion of Liberalism.

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by jerryd6818 »

orvet wrote:The brass wire wheels I get from eBay all shipped from China of course,
Bingo
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
SteelMyHeart85420

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by SteelMyHeart85420 »

I also agree that much of the durability of those wheels will be a direct result of the speed used
Kase's Kutlery Plus
Posts: 109
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 3:57 am
Contact:

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by Kase's Kutlery Plus »

I've had others that didn't break nearly as much and we're much more durable at same speed. I think they may have come in a kit I purchased. In the town I live in there's not much to choose from. Lowe's or Walmart and there's not much to choose from. They sell 1 at a time for like $3 each.
SteelMyHeart85420

Re: Brass wire wheels for rotary tool

Post by SteelMyHeart85420 »

Check Amazon, and note customer reviews, perhaps
Post Reply

Return to “Knife Repair and Restoration”