The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Wire wheeling rust off of brake parts

Finally broke down and bought an inexpensive bench grinder with a good brass wire wheel. Spent the rainy day today removing rust off of my various front brake parts. I show here about 1/2 that has been cleaned up and the other half still in it's "early american" stage. Afterwards I finished off all parts and started priming certain parts that will be exposed to the elements with zerorust.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/96669114/100209135bsaKum

Tomorrow, more priming and painting of these parts. It will be so nice to re-assemble this front axle with such clean parts.

Wow, that looks great, Cmayna!
What kind of brass wire wheel did you use? I've never even heard of a brass one. Is there an advantage of using a brass wheel over a steel wire wheel?

I wonder how much easier the tumbler that Lareoke uses is.

I would guess that if a tumbler can do as good, enough better, of a job than what a wire wheel can do then one would probably consider it. The only negative part regarding a tumbler is what else can you do with it, how often will you use it and how much does the media cost that wont hurt the threads of the bolts you are cleaning.

For those with limited shop space I think a small bench grinder is the way to go. While cleaning up my parts I found some goughes in some metal parts which I was able to grind down using the other spinning stone wheel. Wish I bought this grinder years ago.

I have the Eastwood tumbler. Most of the pictured parts won't fit in it. Plus watching it humm on a rainy day isn't nearly as much fun as wire brushing....

One improved approach though might be to use a blast cabinet.

Actually, my approach to these type of rusty parts that no one will see is just soaking the rust off with rust remover (from Home Depot). Plus this leaves a nice grey film that Zero Rust can bond to. But it just doesn't leave them as shiney...

Jim

Jimfred, what is the name on the label of the rust remover from Home Depot you use? I've been using some stuff made locally and the price is up to almost $30.00 a gallon. I'm thinking I should be able to find something cheaper. Thanks for your help!

It has a yellow label and says 'All Rust Remover'. They sell it in spray bottles and gallon jugs. I think the gallon is around $13? (Haven't bought it in a while - I let the rust settle out and pour it back in the jug for reuse.)

Jim

Funny thing is that I'm spending so much time wire wheeling rust off of items (brake parts) that you will never see on a normal day. I guess it's the idea that I know every thing is clean and should work perfectly. Finished painting the various items I wheeled yesterday. Next weekend, I'll assemble the brakes less drums.

Thanks for the rust remover name, Jimfred!

Cmayna-

Wow, what a difference a couple hundred hours makes !

You've done a great job on that axle. Who did the posdercoating? Yes, it is fun to assemble pristine, greas-free parts!

51,
Wire wheeling is good mental therapy. I was able to mentally resolve some computer issues in my head, while standing in front of the grinder. Actually I spent about 3+ hours total removing the rust. It was that or cleaning the gutters of my house.

Precision Powder Coating in San Mateo, CA. did the job.

Most of these items such as the spacers that go between the backplate and knuckle are zerorusted and topped with a semigloss to match the powercoating.

Cmayna, you are right, there is something intellectually soothing about that kind of work: gloves, a good face shield, the hummm of the bench grinder and somehow, the mind wanders and cerebral gears get into motion. It is satisfying, rewarding, simple, non-virtual work.
whizzerick

For smaller parts I usually either bead blast or use the electrolysis method