BRM Official Blog

When the engine in an old sports utility vehicle (SUV) started knocking, the owner answered with an engine teardown. The source of the knock, some worn-out bearings between the connecting rods and the crankshaft, could be fixed. The project needed new parts, the right tools, and some automotive know-how.

The SUV’s owner, a former auto mechanic, bought a remanufactured crankshaft from a local auto parts store. The crankshaft came with journal bearings, but required removing the cylinder heads and pistons. So the owner of the 1999 GMC Jimmy bought some new piston rings and engine gaskets, too.

To hone the engine’s cylinders, the mechanic used the BRM Flex-Hone® tool.

Wire end brushes are power brushes with metal filaments that can reach small, tight, and hard-to-reach spaces. They’re great for cleaning, blending, polishing, deburring, and surface finishing recessed areas. Applications for these power-driven brushing tools include cleaning parts, polishing dies, and removing carbon deposits from cylinder heads and valve seats.

For brush buyers and users, choosing the right type of wire end brush means asking and answering a series of questions. Which filament material do you need? Do you need a tool with a standard or banded body, or a brush with a protective coated cup instead? You’ll also need to choose solid wires or knotted wires, or select a circular flared brush.

Engine rebuilds are easier when you have the right tools for the job. Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM), a full-line supplier of flexible engine hones and automotive brushes, has the tools and accessories that mechanics need for surface preparation, surface finishing, cleaning, deburring, and cylinder deglazing.  

For nearly 60 years, BRM has supplied engine mechanics with high-quality products that are dependable, affordable, and easy-to-use. Let’s take a look at some of the automotive tools and accessories you’ll find in BRM’s product catalog, and that you can order on-line any time.

NamPower disc brushes are nylon abrasive brushing tools for parts deburring, edge radiusing, and surface finishing. Manufacturers, machinists, and metalworkers use dot-style tools for lighter-duty applications, and turbine-style tools for medium-to-heavy deburring.

Both styles come standard with a unique combination of ceramic and silicon carbide abrasive for maximum burr removal rates and an optimum surface finish at the same time. By special order, NamPower disc brushes are available with blue ceramic or white ceramic alone, or in combination with silicon carbide abrasive.

Tool styles and abrasive types are important, of course, but NamPower users who want more aggressive brushing action need discs with shorter trim lengths, larger brush diameters, coarser grit sizes, and denser bristles. Faster disc speeds and increased cutting depths support increased brushing aggression, too. The NamPower Resource Guide provides complete information about tool selection and use, but here's what you need to know about more aggressive brushing with NamPower discs.

Made in the USA Flex-Hone® tools from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) are helping manufacturers across the United States to compete and win in the global marketplace.

For surface finishing and deburring the walls of cylinders, Flex-Hone® tools are more than just the industry standard. BRM’s flexible, resilient honing tools help companies to reduce costs, improve productivity, and increase quality and consistency.   

Let’s take a closer look at how two U.S. manufacturers have used Flex-Hone® technology to meet business challenges and get real-world results. You can also find additional case studies on the Applications Guide section of our website.

Manufacturers, machinists, and metalworkers want to know which type of cylinder hone is the right choice for their application. Flex-Hone® tools from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) are great for deglazing the walls of cylinders that aren’t out-of-round. Flexible hones are also ideal for surface finishing bores that have been honed to size with a rigid hone.    

Rigid hones are recommended for some applications, but flexible hones are the right choice for cylinders that don’t require initial honing, resizing, or geometry correction. With their low-temperature, low-pressure abrading process, Flex-Hone® tools won’t remove significant amounts of material. Rather, flexible hones impart the ideal final finish – a plateau finish. Flexible hones are great for cross-hole deburring, too.

Flexible honing offers numerous advantages, but here are five reasons to use Flex-Hone® tools instead of rigid hones.

Small-diameter Flex-Hone® tools are a great choice for imparting a smooth, oil-retaining surface finish to the walls of smaller-diameter cylinders. These miniature metalworking tools from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) can also remove burrs from cross-drilled holes.

Flexible honing requires no special training or instruction, but which small-diameter Flex-Hone® tool do you need? Bore size is important, of course, but you’ll also need to consider the workpiece base material and the amount of work to perform.

Workplace injuries can result in employee disability, lost productivity, and painful effects on your company's bottom line. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employers pay almost $1 billion per week for direct workers’ compensation claims.

For manufacturers and machine shop owners, reducing the risk of worker injury isn’t just the right thing to do. It makes good business sense.

In recognition of National Safety Month, Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) brings you the following power brush safety tips. The American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) both publish complete guidelines. There are also federal, state, and local regulations you may need to follow.

Metal shafts are rotating elements that transmit power in machinery and equipment. They can be finished to size by turning and grinding, but shaft manufacturers need to impart a final finish that promotes proper performance. Otherwise, friction-related problems can occur.

For example, shafts that are too smooth may adhere to plain bearings. Shafts that are too rough are also problematic because of abrasion-induced friction. Wire wheel brushes and non-woven abrasives can improve a shaft’s surface finish, but these tools raise concerns about safety and performance.

For superior surface finishing and deburring, shaft manufacturers use NamPower wheel brushes from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM).  These nylon abrasive brushing tools provide important advantages in terms of brush construction and performance.

Brake rotors that lack a smooth, non-directional finish tend to wear out more quickly. Surface irregularities that produce harmonic vibrations cause brake squeaking and squealing, too. In automotive transmissions, flywheels with irregular surfaces also produce excessive noise and wear.

To improve the surface finish of brake rotors, flywheels, and automotive clutch plates, mechanics and manufacturers use Flex-Hone® tools from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM). The Flex-Hone® for Rotors imparts a smooth, non-directional finish and is ideal for both new and used rotors. This flexible honing tool doesn’t require special training, but there are three keys to surface finishing success.