BRM Official Blog

Maintenance personnel in the processing industries need to remove rust, corrosion, accumulated chemicals, and biological matter from the bores of large pumps and valves. In petrochemical plants, refineries, and wastewater processing facilities, the accumulation of wax, clay, silt, or other debris can impede performance, block lubrication, and reduce service life.

Rebuilding and servicing large pumps and valves isn’t just a matter of cleaning them, however. The bores of these cylinders require tight tolerances. Proper surface finishing and burr removal are required, but with a minimal amount of inner diameter (ID) material removal. Ease-of-use is important, too. For large pumps and valves, the right choice is the BRM Flex-Hone® tool.

Engine valves control the flow of fluids and gases in automotive engines. If engine valves fail, the consequences can range from reduced engine power to heat-related part failure. Engine problems can also occur when valve seats, the surfaces against which engine valves rest, lack proper lubrication. Inadequate lubrication increases friction, and friction can cause related engine parts called valve stems to fail. 

In automotive engines, each intake valve and exhaust valve consists of a cylinder-shaped valve stem and a rounded valve head. Like the engine cylinders in an engine block, valve stems need an oil-retaining surface finish. That’s true for used valve stems that have become worn, and for new valve stems that lack an optimum finish. For these and other surface finishing challenges, the solution is flexible honing. 

Hydraulic cylinders provide controlled actuation for some of the world’s most demanding applications. Mining, dredging, and oil and gas exploration subject fluid power systems to heavy loads in extreme environments. For optimum performance and seal life, the bores of hydraulic cylinders require a smooth, clean surface finish that’s free of rust, corrosion, and accumulated deposits. Torn, cut, and folded metal along the cylinder walls can also contribute to mechanical failure and premature seal wear.

Flex-Hone® tools from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) impart an inner diameter (ID) surface finish that’s ideal for hydraulic cylinders. Flexible cylinder honing’s low-temperature, low-pressure abrading process removes smeared, fragmented, and amorphous metal while smoothing nicks and scratches to create a more uniform surface finish. As Hydraulics and Pneumatics magazine explains, “honing with a ball-style device can make a big difference in performance and service life.”

Nuclear power plants need to decontaminate large-bore water pipes in a way that’s safe, efficient, and cost-effective. Chemical decontamination shields personnel from high levels of radioactivity, but produces high volumes of radioactive chemical solutions. Mechanical decontamination removes tough layers of radioactive oxides, but can require time-consuming labor and the disposal of contaminated blasting media.

To solve this maintenance challenge, some nuclear power plants are taking a flexible approach. As Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) explains in Today’s Energy Solutions, a magazine for the power generation industry, a commercial nuclear power plant in the central U.S. is using BRM Flex-Hone® tools to remove radioactive oxide layers from large-bore water pipes. The result is less cost, less waste, and less exposure.  

Wheel brushes are wheel-shaped brushing tools for surface preparation and surface finishing. Their uses include parts cleaning, polishing, edge blending, and deburring.

A type of power brush, wheel brushes are designed for use under power, such as with an angle, bench, or pedestal grinder. Different types of wheel brushes are available, and buyers need to consider product specifications as well as operating parameters.

Did you know that standard Flex-Hone® tools come in 8 different abrasive types and 11 grit sizes? Two specialty abrasives (CBN and ceramic) are available upon request, and are designed for harder materials.

From aluminum oxide (AO) abrasive to levigated alumina (LA) abrasive, flexible honing tools provide plenty of choices. Which abrasive type and grit size is right for your surface finishing or deburring application? 

Are the bores of your shotguns hiding something? They may look bright and shiny, but appearances can be deceiving. When you visually inspect shotgun bores, the brightness that you see could just be the glare from reflected light. Small pits and tiny scratches can be difficult to detect, but these surface finish irregularities can cause moisture to collect, which can lead to rusting.  

Shotgun bores with rougher areas can also accumulate fouling from carbon, lead, or plastic. If this fouling becomes severe enough, higher pressures and even patterning problems may result. New shotguns need a clean, smooth surface finish, too. If the bores of your long guns have tooling or machining marks, plastic from the shot cup could scrape off and build up with each successive shot.

When restoration expert Rich Pekelney wanted to improve the surface finish of a World War II wet-mount gun, he tried hand-scraping and sanding. Pekelney then tried spring-loaded honing tools, but these rigid hones wore out quickly and affected the bore geometry. That’s when a master diesel mechanic offered some expert advice. “He pulled out a Flex-Hone and told me not to fool with anything else,” Pekelney explained.

The Remington Model 870 is the world’s best-selling shotgun. Since 1951, over ten million of these pump-action firearms have been made. For M870 owners, the shotgun that matters most is the one that’s held in their hands.

A firearm’s look and feel matter, of course, but sleek lines and collectability won’t compensate for jamming and failures-to-eject (FTEs). In the woods, at the range, or in the line of duty, it's accuracy and reliability that count. That’s why gunsmiths, gun owners, and firearms manufacturers use Flex-Hone® for Firearms tools.

Ready to start the New Year with a bang? Then head to SHOT Show 2016 later this month. From January 19 to 23, 2016, members of the shooting, hunting, and outdoor trade (SHOT) industries will gather at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas for this trade-only event. Buyers and sellers of military, law enforcement, and tactical gear are also invited to attend this exclusive conference and tradeshow.

Sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), SHOT Show spans 630,000 net square feet and features 1,600 exhibitors. With more than 62,000 industry professionals on-hand, you'll want to make the most of your time on the tradeshow floor. Don’t lose sight of the target. Start planning now. Request a meeting with BRM in Booth #1617 and find Flex-Hone® for Firearms tools for gun maintenance.