Empire Abrasives Wire Wheels
Achieve the perfect surface finish with Empire Abrasives' wire wheels. These essential abrasive tools, crafted from carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, or synthetic filaments, are designed for superior surface preparation. Ideal for cleaning, stripping, deburring, and finishing, our versatile wire wheels mount easily on common power tools, making them indispensable for any professional fabrication, maintenance, or repair task
Abrasive Wire Wheel Selection Guide
Step 1: Select the Wire Wheel Brush Filament Material
The choice of wire filament material determines the types of workpieces the wheel is suitable for.
| Filament Material | Use On | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Steel | Ferrous metals like steel, iron | The most common and economical choice for general-purpose applications |
| Stainless Steel | Aluminum, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals | Prevents "after-rust" or contamination on corrosion-resistant materials |
| Brass-Coated | Softer metals, decorative finishing | Softer than steel, reduces the risk of sparking. Creates a satin finish |
| Nylon | Wood, plastic, composites, and all metals | Non-marring and chemical-resistant. Provides a gentle, consistent finish |
Step 2: Choose Your Wire Wheel Type
The way the wires are configured determines how aggressive the wheel will be and what the ideal applications are for it.
| Wire Type | Action & Aggressiveness | Primary Use | Best For... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimped | Flexible & Less Aggressive | General purpose cleaning, rust/paint removal, deburring | Conformability on irregular surfaces without scratching or gouging the base material |
| Knot | Stiff & Highly Aggressive | Heavy-duty cleaning, weld spatter removal, scale removal | Fast, aggressive material removal on large, flat surfaces. Ideal for tough jobs |
| Stringer Bead | Very Stiff & Narrow Profile | Cleaning pipe welds, accessing tight corners, and removing slag | Precision cleaning in narrow areas and right angles that wider brushes can't reach |
| Nylon | Non-Abrasive & Gentle | Light deburring, cleaning, and finishing on delicate materials | Use on wood, plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel where you need to avoid scratching or altering the surface |
Step 3: Match the Size & Connection to Your Tool
Before use, verify the wire wheel's compatibility with your power tool, specifically checking the diameter and arbor/shank size.
- Wire Wheels for Angle Grinders: Look for wheels with a threaded arbor, most commonly 5/8"-11. Diameters typically range from 4" to 7".
- Wire Wheels for Drills & Die Grinders: Choose wheels with a 1/4" shank (either round or hex) that can be secured in the drill's chuck. Diameters are usually smaller, from 1-1/2" to 4".
- Wire Wheels for Bench/Pedestal Grinders: These require larger diameter wheels (6" to 12") with a central arbor hole that matches the grinder's shaft.
Selection Checklist
Before purchasing, consider:
- Material being cleaned (ferrous vs. non-ferrous)
- Required aggressiveness level (light cleaning vs. heavy removal)
- Tool compatibility (shank size, threading, arbor)
- Work area accessibility (tight spaces vs. open surfaces)
- Safety requirements (sparking vs. non-sparking)
- Surface finish requirements (rough vs. smooth)
Wire Wheels FAQ
What are Abrasive Wire Wheel Brushes?
These abrasive attachments for grinders and power drills are crafted with a series of metal wires/filaments extending out from a central hub. Wires will either appear to be extruding from the center in a crimped or a twisted/knotted structure.
How does a Wire Wheel Work?
The wheel attaches to a compatible handheld or stationary grinder that spins at high speeds. The ends of the metal wiring have sharp/jagged tips that work as an abrasive when the wheel is spinning against a surface.
A major difference, and benefit, or using wire wheels and other wire abrasives compared to coated abrasive products is that they do not accumulate particles of the surface material that is being removed.
Pro Tip: You should only use the ends of these wires to grind down the surface you’re working on. These wires are flexible and have a certain amount of give, but the utility of the abrasive wheel brushes comes from the sharp ends, so you won’t need to use much force to get the most out of these attachments.
How do Wire Wheels Stay Sharp?
As the tool is used, the tips of the wires are designed to break off small pieces instead of dulling down. This keeps the wheels sharp enough to continue working for extended periods and lengthens the life of the wire brush.
What is a Wire Wheel Used for?
There are a variety of uses for these brushes, some of which are better suited for crimped wire wheel brushes (less aggressive grinding) and some better for knotted wheels (more aggressive grinds).
- Metal surface preparation (Best with Crimped Wheels)
- Removal of paint, dirt, and rust (Best with Crimped Wheels)
- Removal of weld spatter, and scale (Best with both Crimped and Twisted Wheels)
- Removal of rubber flash or extra-heavy rust (Best with Twisted Wheels)
- General cleaning (Best with Crimped or Twisted Wheels)
- Deburring (Best with Crimped Wheels)
- Edge blending (Best with Crimped Wheels)
- Roughening for adhesion (Best with Crimped Wheels)
- Pipeline welding junctions (Best with Twisted Wheels)
- Cleaning bead welds (Best with Twisted Wheels)
- Preparing expansive joints (Best with Twisted Wheels)
What is the Difference - Knotted vs Crimped Wire Wheel Wheels?
There are two main types of wire brush grinding wheels: crimped and twisted (knotted/braided).
- Crimped Wire Wheels - These wheels have wavy, separated wires, offering flexibility for uniform, less aggressive brushing, especially on uneven surfaces.
- Twisted Wire Wheels (Knotted/Braided Wire Wheels) - Constructed by grouping straight wire filaments into bundles and twisting them together, like a steel rope or cable. This adds rigidity to the wheel for more aggressive brushing, extra cutting/cleaning power, and a longer life for the product.
- Stringer Bead Wire Wheels - These are a type of knotted wire wheel, but are narrower with tighter knots than standard twist wheels, which creates aggressive brushing action for weld beads and narrow spaces.
Can I use wire brushes on materials other than metal?
Yes, Nylon abrasive filament brushes are highly versatile and can be used on wood, tile, plastic, PVC, stone, and fiberglass for various cleaning and finishing tasks.
What's the difference between wire wheels and wire cup brushes?
Wire wheels work horizontally or vertically, while cup brushes are designed for face-on surface contact. Cup brushes excel at large, flat surfaces and hard-to-reach areas.
How do I know when to replace my wire wheel?
Replace your wire wheel when the wire filaments become worn down, shortened, or splayed out to the point where they are no longer effective. Continued use of a worn-out wheel is unsafe and will deliver poor results.