Glossary

Overview on standard brush types and appropriate tools

Filament Types

For our high end products, we only use trim materials that we have developed ourselves or which have been specifically selected. Constant labtests ensure high material quality. Each filament is ideally adjusted to the relevant application. In case of doubt, our application engineers can help you find the right material for your special requirements. 

Steel Wire

Crimped, flat or knotted. From light (crimped wire) to extreme (knotted wire) brushing requirements. For cleaning, surfacefinishing, deburring and weldseam cleaning. Special types available with high-end steel wire developed by Osborn for premium applications.

Stainless Steel Wire

Crimped, flat or knotted. Most commonly used alloy 1.4310 (1.4401 / 1.4571 on request). Is used where residue from normal steel wire would contaminate suerfaces.

Resin-Bonded Wire

Metal wire is firmly bonded within tough elastomeric materials, supporting each individual tip at the work surface. In use, the elastomer wears back gradually, thereby presenting a constant short wire trim for maximum cut, safer use and a long service life. It is not flexible and therefor predestined for more aggressive brushing jobs. For deburring, removing lacquer, derusting, removing slag, descaling and cleaning.

Non-Ferrous Wire

Many of our products are also available with fill material out of non-ferrous wire, e.g. brass. Special types on request.

Natural Fibres

Pure plant fibres (e.g. tampico) are usually heat resistant and can be used for wet and dry cleaning operations. Animal hair (e.g. horse hair) can also be used as fill material.

Synthetic Fibres

Are very flexible, wear resistant and mostly resistant to weak acids and alkaline solutions.

Abrasive Filaments

Nylon filaments impregnated with aluminium oxide or silicon carbide for light deburring, roughening and grinding. The material adapts itself easily to the profile of the workpiece without damaging the surface. During use, new abrasive grits are continously exposed, so giving optimum abrasive performance.

High-Tech Materials

Osborn developed a comprehensive rage of high-tech materials such as Novoflex® or Novofil®. The are being used when high-precision cleaning and deburring needs to be tackled. Especially used when working on highly sensitive parts such as engine-, pneumatic- and hydraulic-components. A wide range of materials in different grit sizes are available.

Power Brush Terminology

Diameter

The brush diameter and length of fill material are the determining factors in surface treatment. A combination of smaller diameter brush body and greater length of fill material results in soft and flexible brushes which are ideally suitable for the treatment of structured workpieces and for easy, gentle surface cleaning. A larger diameter of the brush body and smaller length of fill material result in more aggressive brushes which can be used for deburring and removal of heavy deposits of scale or corrosion.

For efficient surface treatment, please select the maximum brush diameter, which can be mounted on the respective driving device. The peripheral speed and consequently the performance of the brush can be influenced by the brush diameter. Important: Portable machines must only be used with brushes with maximum 180 mm diameter!

In our catalogues and technical drawings we use the character D or Ø when speaking about diameter.

Trim Length

This term refers to the length of the fill material that extends beyond the brush back or face plates. A short trim makes a stiff, fast-cutting brush, while a long trim gives a brush added flexibility that better enables it to contact irregular surfaces. We use the character T in our catalogues and technical drawings when referring to the trim length.

Face Width

The working width describes the contact surface of the brush on the work piece. The rotational speed of the brush during operation may influence the indicated maximum working width. To measure the working width, please press the fill material slightly together. The clamping width of the brush is measured between the clamping adaptors and normally differs from the working width. We use the character A in our catalogues an technical drawings when speaking about the face width.

Fill Density

The fill material density depends on the number of wire tips per surface unit. High fill material densities are the basis for optimal cutting performance and service life of the brushes as well as perfect results, e.g. during deburring. Low fill material densities increase the flexibility of the brush and are the prerequisite for the treatment of strongly profiled surfaces. If the brush diameter stays the same, the fill material density can be influenced by the measure of the body.

Contact Pressure

Optimal positioning of the brush towards the work piece: The contact pressure of a brush is among other things defined by the depth of insertion in the work piece. Our recommendation is the 3-fold filament diameter, e.g. 1.0 mm depth of insertion for 0.35 mm diameter of wire. If you have questions regarding the correct positioning of the brush against the workpiece, please contact us. Please take into consideration that the brush wears out much faster if the positioning of work piece and brush is not accurate.

Operating Speed

To entirely fulfil the requirements of workplace safety the maximum safety r.p.m. indicated on the products must not be exceeded under any circumstances. The optimal operating speed is defined by peripheral speed and brush diameter. The optimal r.p.m. during operation is therefore often appreciably less than the safety r.p.m. To guarantee your safety, please select the largest possible brush diameter that can be used on your driving device. Standard values for safe peripheral speeds are approx. 30-35 m/sec for brushes with crimped wires, 18-22 m/sec for brushes with synthetic filaments and plastic bonded fill materials.

For further recommendations on operating speeds and driving power, please contact our technical service for assistance.

Knot Types

Standard Twist Knot - used in all types of wire brushes. Good for cleaning groove, t-connections and welded beads or general surface preparation.

Clock- & Anticlockwise Twist Knots - are mainly used with wheel brushes. But there are also end brushes (RUFTUF®) with these twists available on request. Brushes with clock- and anticlockwise knots are used like brushes with standard-knots, but they work more aggressively. The special twists ensure that the brush will wear evenly.