BRM Official Blog

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.  

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? 

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 1959 Cadillac is prized for its sharp tailfins, distinctive roofline, and decorative front grille. Under the hood, a massive V8 engine came standard in models like the Cadillac Eldorado and the Cadillac Deville.

Today, classic car buyers are restoring auto bodies and engine blocks on these personal luxury cars. For engine restoration specialists, the Flex-Hone® from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) is the ideal tool for finishing the engine cylinders. The story that follows explains. 

Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) supplies many different Flex-Hone® tools for surface finishing and deburring small-diameter cylinders. These flexible cylinder hones are grouped into BC and Diamond Flex-Hone® categories, and then specified by tool diameter, abrasive type, and grit size or mesh.

All Flex-Hone® tools are Made in the USA and can be ordered via BRM's website or through our vast network of national distributors. These surface finishing and deburring tools are also available through the American-owned company’s global distributor network as well. So which small-diameter Flex-Hone® tools do you need? Let's take a look at BC Series and Diamond Flex-Hone® tools, and examine how to order and use them.