BRM Official Blog

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.

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.

Flex-Hone® tools remove burrs, deglaze bores, and improve cylinder surface finish. Made in the USA by Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM), these flexible cylinder hones enable manufacturers, machinists, metalworkers, and maintenance personnel to solve surface finishing and deburring challenges.

Importantly, Flex-Hone® tools also support the bottom line. BRM ball hones offer a range of benefits, but can Flex-Hone® technology really save you time and money? Through asset protection, increased productivity, and value-added manufacturing, you can reap the rewards of flexible cylinder honing.

Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) is hitting the road for three spring tradeshows. From April 22 to 24, we’ll be at ISA 2017 (Booth #1830) in Denver, Colorado. Then, from April 25 to 27, BRM will visit PTMS 2017 (Booth #1142) in Columbus, Ohio. Last but not least, we’re headed to EASTEC 2017 (Booth #5608) from May 16 to 18 in West Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Different tradeshows appeal to different audiences, but all three of these events aim to please. For surface finishing and deburring solutions, the BRM booth is where industry leaders will gather. That’s because when you meet with our Technical Team, you can ask questions and get answers to your specific metalworking challenges. Plus, you can see and touch BRM tools and technologies like these. 

Cylinder walls with a superior surface finish have a uniform series of cuts, grooves, valleys, or scratches in a crosshatch pattern.

As BRM’s downloadable Gold Booklet explains, this surface finish provides a bearing surface for piston rings and promotes oil retention. 

For manufacturers, machinists, metalworkers, and mechanics, the BRM Flex-Hone® is the tool of choice for cylinder surface finishing. Made in the USA by Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM), this flexible cylinder hone reduces raised areas or ridges to a uniform height while creating a uniform series of oil-retaining valleys. Importantly, Flex-Hone® tools can also impart a cross-hatch pattern with larger or smaller angles.

Pneumatic cylinders are fluid power devices that use a compressed gas such as air to move a piston in a reciprocating, linear motion. If the walls of a pneumatic cylinder are too smooth, there’s higher friction between the O-rings and bore surfaces. If the walls of a pneumatic cylinder are too rough, burrs and other surface irregularities can shear softer seal materials. 

To protect the integrity of pneumatic cylinders, manufacturers and maintenance technicians need to ensure that bores have a proper surface finish. The Flex-Hone® tool from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) removes burrs and improves surface condition at the same time. Suitable for any type or size cylinder, these flexible honing tools also support cylinder sealing and lubrication. 

Maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organizations that serve the oil and gas industry use BRM Flex-Hone® tools to clean and surface finish the bores of pumps, valves, and engine cylinders. Made in the USA by Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM), these flexible cylinder hones impart a clean, smooth surface finish that helps to promote performance and extend service life.

If the inner diameter (ID) of a cylinder bore isn’t cleaned or finished properly, problems such as reduced performance or fewer operating hours between overhauls may result. That’s why for gas and oilfield applications with medium-diameter bores, wood core Flex-Hone® tools are a smart choice. For pumps, valves, and engine cylinders with bigger bores, large-diameter flexible honing tools get the job done right.

HOUSTEX lasts three days, hosts hundreds of leading manufacturers, and attracts thousands of industry professionals who affect purchasing decisions. For advanced technologies and innovative solutions, the Southwest’s premiere manufacturing event is where you can do more than read a brochure. For must-see surface finishing and deburring tools, visit BRM in Booth #2826.

Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM), inventors of Flex-Hone® technology, is now offering a special 10-piece kit that’s ideal for automotive applications such as brake calipers, lifter bores, and U-joint yokes. Because flexible honing provides a superior surface finish with an oil-holding cross-hatched pattern, BRM ball hones are a great choice for bearing and bushing applications, too.

Trusted by professional mechanics and hobbyists alike, Flex-Hone® tools feature abrasive globules that provide a soft, cutting action. BRM supplies flexible hones for cylinders of any size or type, but users now have a way to get a range of silicon carbide (SC) tools in one convenient kit. BRM’s special 10-piece kit also includes Flex-Hone® oil, how-to videos and instructions for use, and a premium BRM baseball cap.