I just cleaned the teeth on my steam engines [I was the dentist]

[daan]

Also copper brushes are available, which also don't "glue" to the magnetraction..

[ChiefEagles]

Must not have pressed too hard, they are nice and shinny. They were not getting any cleaner with the nylon one. I had tried using alcohol and rag first. These are aluminum brushes and I turned them over on side because I thought of the crud and metal falling into the gears and inside shell. Aluminum does not jump on magnets like other metals.

[FJ and G]

Must have been some heavy crud buildup! I do my dremel work on the patio outside. Dremels heat up pretty quickly so I use it for just 5 minutes at a time.

The dremel and all my tools get frequent and heavy use.

As the saying goes, you can't have too many tools.

dav

[Anonymous]

if the wire wheel is flying apart you have the speed up too high or you're pressing too hard. it takes time at the slower speeds but the brushes last longer and you wont scratch and gouge the wheels and work that you are cleaning.

the wire can play hell with your gears and magne-traction also. you'll want to clean it all out carefully. maybe try the nylon bristle wheels instead, i use the wire only when the gunk is so heavy that the nylon wont get it done.

good luck.

[Anonymous]

Those little wire shards hurt like heck!!
Especially when they are hot.

[ChiefEagles]

Someone on here suggested you use a drimel tool to clean wheels. Well my old 1952 Hudson and the earlier model steam turbine [PRR] got their wheels polished. I used the wire wheel on them. Now wear safety glasses and watch out. I did get some little metal stuck in my tee shirt. Seems some of the wire came apart while I was polishing [that bothers me, should not do that]. I have a flex cable on it so it looked like the dentist cleaning teeth. They do shine now. Now to do all the diesels and rolling stock. That will take weeks. Working on the rail road is work. [:D]