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Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Brushing stainless steel with a wire brush

If I use a steel brushing wheel to finish stainless steel, will the part rust?

Roy Lamont
Stella Glass Assemblies - Vancouver, BC, Canada
2003

It will rust many times faster and worse! Repeated passivation will not allow it to pass a salt spray test. A 410 SS brush will cause it to rust also, just not as fast or quite as bad, but still significant.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

YES! Basically any non-ferrous material will have the same problem because of the porosity and/or surface profile of the base metal.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
2003

See previous responses on this issue on this site by Brad Maas. Good data has been obtained saying that you can use a 316ss brush, but not even 302ss will prevent future rusting.

Lee Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois

2003

I recently replaced the corroded zinc roof on my oceanfront home with type 316L stainless steel. At certain times of the day it reflects the sun into the neighbor's living room. Is there any way to dull the reflective roof without reducing its corrosion resistance in this marine environment?

Bill Roberts
- Florence, Oregon, USA
2004

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