BRM Official Blog

Engine cylinders need a substantially smooth surface finish that’s free from cut, torn, and folded metal. Yet cylinder walls can be so smooth that engine performance suffers.

Over time, the up-and-down movement of pistons creates an overly smooth surface finish. Piston rings skate along cylinder walls and fail to seat and seal properly. The “glaze” that forms can also prevent engine oil from adhering properly.    

The solution to these challenges is the Flex-Hone® tool from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM). This Made in the USA glaze-breaker hone removes burrs, deglazes cylinder walls, and improves surface finish at the same time. That’s why bloggers like The Bug Boys use BRM Flex-Hone® tools for engine rebuilds.

Camaro brake valves can confound even experienced mechanics. Part of the problem is that some of these valves are known by more than one name. For example, metering valves are sometimes called pressure regulator valves or hold-off valves in different GM publications. 

At Muscle Car Research, an on-line automotive community, a mechanic described a successful metering valve rebuild for a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro. To impart the ideal cylinder surface finish, the brake mechanic used a ball hone – a tool that’s better known as the BRM Flex-Hone®. 

Made in the USA by Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM), the Flex-Hone® tool has its share of nicknames. Yet no matter what you call this flexible honing tool, you can improve cylinder surface finish by following some basic guidelines. 

Porsche wheel cylinders support braking in sportscars that pack plenty of power. In classic cars like the Porsche 356, these cylinders have pistons that are connected to brake shoes. If a wheel cylinder lacks the right surface finish, however, more than just piston ring sealing can suffer.       

At the Porsche 356 Registry, an on-line community, the owner of a Porsche 356B asked for advice about honing brake cylinders. A few users suggested honing stones, but a German mechanic recommended the Flex-Hone® tool from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM).

“I use this tool,” the Porsche mechanic explained. “This works better than all others.”

Honda D-series engines once powered compact cars like the Honda Civic. These four-cylinder aluminum engines were fuel-efficient and lightweight, but could be modified with high-compression pistons for increased power and performance.

At D-series.org, an on-line community for Honda enthusiasts, the owner of 1991 Honda Civic explained how he bought a 1.5L D-Series engine after the original powerplant “died”. The engine rebuilder inspected each cylinder and then asked for advice.

“Everyone said that good honing will take care of the rust and anything else left in the bore,” he said. To finish the cylinder walls, the DIYer used the BRM Flex-Hone® tool. The mechanic admitted he “had some doubts” about flexible cylinder honing, but using the tool made him a believer.

Diesel Power magazine provides professional diesel mechanics with in-depth examples of engine rebuilds. Do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) also read the world’s largest diesel magazine for tips, techniques, and recommendations about engine tool selection and use.

In an article entitled Rebuilding International’s 7.3L IDI Engine Heads and Crank, Diesel Power described what the author called “the key” to a good engine rebuild – the Flex-Hone® tool from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM). These flexible cylinder hones impart an oil-retaining surface finish that promotes piston ring seating and sealing in big diesel engines like the International IDI.

Suzuki GS-550 motorcycles first hit the roads over 40 years ago. The bike’s original four-stroke engine was an air-cooled, 549-cc powerplant with dual overhead camshafts. The 674-cc Suzuki GS-650 eventually replaced the GS-550, but some bikers are still rebuilding Suzuki’s original engine blocks.

At Do the Ton, an on-line forum for motorcycle mechanics, a user described a GS-550 engine teardown and rebuild. Cylinder resizing requires rigid honing, but achieving an ideal final finish means using Flex-Hone® tools from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM).

GUNS Magazine contains expert articles about firearms selection and performance. Since 1955, readers of this monthly newsstand publication have enjoyed trusted content about the best guns and gun tools. Today, the magazine’s digital version also attracts shooters who want solutions to gun maintenance challenges.   

In an on-line article called AR-15 Building Tools Part II, author Glen Zediker describes some “handy” tools for gun owners who want to build or maintain their own rifles. “I think it’s important to polish the chamber on any AR-15”, Zediker writes. For smoother extractions, he adds, “I like the Flex-Hone tool.”

Members of the Guns group on Reddit exchange information about firearms tools and performance. In a thread called This is the worst gun in my collection, several users cited the Remington Model 870 for shotgun extractor problems.

 “It doesn’t feed right at all,” said one shooter. “The shell gets stuck in the chamber after it’s been fired,” replied another. The M870 is the world’s best-selling shotgun, so these reports might surprise some gun owners. As Flex-Hone® for Firearms users know, however, the solution starts with the surface finish.

Zodiac Engineering manufactures folding and fixed-blade knives. The Southern California startup also provides milling, turning, heat treating, tumbling, and precision CNC machining services. Zodiac’s founder, Ken Spaulding, makes aluminum and titanium sling shots, too.

With knife manufacturing, imparting the ideal surface finish is especially important. Customers don’t want to see tool paths and marks that are left behind by machining operations. Chamfer tools can deburr and surface finish the pockets in a metal knife frame, but the work time-consuming.   

That’s why Zodiac switched to NamPower disc brushes from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM). These nylon abrasive brushing tools are fast, cost-effective, and long-lasting. NamPower technology is also the surface finishing solution of choice for Balzano Knives, a maker of high-quality knives and other bladed tools.

Holman Parts Distribution of Pennsauken, New Jersey remanufactures car and truck engines. Known formerly as RMP Powertrain Solutions, this division of Holman Automotive Group, Inc. wanted to improve the quality of cylinder liners in rebuilt engines.

During a typical month, RMP was remanufacturing 1300 gasoline-powered engines made by Ford and Chrysler. The New Jersey company was using a rigid honing machine, but discovered some problems with the final finish. If these conditions weren’t corrected, engine damage could occur.

That’s when RMP asked Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) about Flex-Hone® tools, a Made in the USA solution for cylinder surface finishing.