Old timer told me to never use a wire brush on hot steel, I didn't listen and ruined a 12-inch damascus billet.

He said the chromium in the stainless would get into the carbon steel, and sure enough after 3 passes I saw those tiny cracks forming has anyone else had this happen with a specific brush?

3 comments

3 Comments

ross.felix18d ago

Did the old timer give you the stink eye after you showed him? I learned that lesson on a tiny filet knife once, now I get nervous anytime a wire brush gets near anything with more than one layer.

willow_morgan18d ago

Oh man, "the stink eye" is the perfect way to put it. I had this old guy at the marina give me that look after I tried to clean a rusty anchor with a wire wheel on my grinder. He just stared at me, then at the little sparks flying everywhere, and shook his head. I didn't get it until later when a piece of wire went straight into my thumb and I had to dig it out with tweezers. Now I'm paranoid too, I double glove and wear safety glasses just to brush off a rusty bolt.

iris57418d ago

So did you ever go back and thank that old guy? I bet he saved you from way worse than one wire in the thumb.