Which metal wires are in this category?
Eleven wires, each with its own page.
| Material | Key behavior | Best suited for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AISI 304 Stainless Steel Wire | Firm to aggressive metallic wire | General industrial cleaning, weld discoloration removal, rust and scale removal, food-equipment cleaning with controlled chemistry, and wet service without severe chloride exposure | Avoid using AISI 304 as the default in marine, brine, hypochlorite, and persistent chloride environments |
| AISI 316 Stainless Steel Wire | Firm to aggressive metallic wire | Marine and salt exposure, dairy and beverage equipment, food processing, pharmaceutical and laboratory cleaning, chemical washdown, heat-exchanger tubes, and wet-process brush systems requiring improved chloride resistance | Not immune to chloride stress-corrosion cracking or severe crevice corrosion |
| Brass Coated Wire | Firm non-ferrous metallic wire | General wire-wheel and bore cleaning where a steel core is wanted with a brass-colored surface and reduced initial harshness | Avoid on stainless surfaces where copper or ferrous contamination is restricted and on delicate coatings that mark under metal contact |
| Brass Wire | Firm non-ferrous metallic wire | Gentle oxide removal, mold cleaning and surface work on brass, copper and other softer nonferrous parts | Avoid on stainless surfaces where copper contamination is restricted and on delicate coatings that mark under metal contact |
| Carbon Steel Wire | Very firm metallic wire | Fast rust, paint, scale and burr removal from carbon steel, cast iron and robust fabricated parts | Not for soft plastic, glass, PCB, coated solar glass or polished paint |
| Copper Wire | Firm non-ferrous metallic wire | Soft conductive contact, light oxide removal and polishing where steel wire would be too aggressive | Not suitable where copper contamination is unacceptable |
| Galvanized Steel Wire | Rockwell B 70–100 (Base-Material Condition) | Industrial cleaning and custom brush configurations requiring the stated material properties | Coating wear and chemical attack can expose the steel substrate |
| Inconel Wire | Firm to very firm | Furnace, turbine, heat-treatment and high-temperature scale cleaning | Use only on durable surfaces |
| Monel Wire | Material-specific | Marine, saltwater, chemical equipment and non-ferrous component cleaning | — |
| Phosphor Bronze Wire | Firm non-ferrous metallic wire | Electrical contact, resilient conductive brushing and gentle cleaning where steel contamination is undesirable | — |
| Titanium Wire | Firm with lower density than steel | Corrosion-resistant precision cleaning, aerospace and chemical-process components | — |
How do you choose a wire?
By the surface. Carbon steel for carbon steel and cast iron, where it cuts fastest. Stainless for stainless, aluminum and wet work, so no carbon steel is left to rust; 316 where chlorides are present. Brass and bronze for molds, tools and softer metals, softer than steel and low-sparking. Specialty alloys only where corrosion or heat rule out the rest.
What safety points apply to wire brushes?
Wear eye and face protection and gloves, keep guards on, run a new brush briefly before it touches the work, and never exceed its rated speed. Do not move a brush from carbon steel work to stainless.
What should you send?
The part material and deposit, the finish you need, the tool or machine and its speed, the form, crimped or knotted, and the temperature.