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Honing Oil- One Slippery Conversation

One of the most often asked questions we get that creates a great level of confusion is: “Do I need to use oil?”. Trying to search the internet for a solid answer brings up nothing of great use. Some people say you need a constant flow. Some say, just use WD-40. Most, though, simply say, “Good Question.”Well, we’re here to provide the answers.First off, the easy part. Do you need to use oil? Repeat with me: “Yes!”. Why? Because the Flex-hone is made of raw grain abrasive that is laminated to the end of nylon. As the tool is used little bits of that abrasive break off, along with the cast off metal that it is finishing. If you use the tool dry, a couple bad things can happen. You can load up the tool, which greatly decreses its tool life, you can imbed cast off material into the work piece, and you could have people see you doing something silly and laugh at you. Ok, I guess really only two of those are all that important. The point is, yes, please use a lubricant.The next question is a bit more complicated. What kind of lubricant should I use. The best answer is, “A high quality honing oil.” Many honing companies have their own oils and lubricants and many work very well with the Flex-Hone tool. (of course we offer our own Flex-Hone oil that we like to think is the very best blend of oils and wetting agents, so maybe you should skip the rest of this and just order some Flex-Hone oil).What should you NOT ever use? A solvent. Remember that the globules are raw grain that is laminated? Well, using a solvent […]

By |August 1st, 2014|Applications|0 Comments

The Flex-Hone® for Nikasil Engine Cylinders

Nikasil is an extremely hard material that’s used to line the surfaces of engine components. Developed by MAHLE in 1967, the electrodeposited nickel-matrix silicon-carbide coating reduces friction and wear, especially in aluminum engines. Although Nikasil is lighter, thinner, and harder than cast iron, some engine builders avoid this high-performance plating material. Because Nikasil coatings are very thin, rigid hones can remove too much of the lining. But that doesn’t mean you can’t deglaze a Nikasil bore, as some mechanics incorrectly claim in on-line discussions.

 

Deglazing Nikasil Cylinders

At DragBikeZone.com, an “expert class” user debunked this honing myth while rebuilding the engine for a Kawasaki ZRX 1200 motorcycle. After hearing some loud knocking noises, rgeorge tore down his bike’s engine and discovered that “all the cylinders had much noticeable wear”.  Although the Nikasil plated bores were “perfectly round with no taper,” the crosshatching was “completely gone” – a problem that prevented engine oil from adhering to cylinder walls. To deglaze the engine cylinders and restore the crosshatch pattern for optimum lubrication, rgeorge choose the Flex-Hone® tool from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM).

 

Honing Nikasil Cylinders

Unlike traditional honing tools such as honing stones, the Flex-Hone® is designed for surface finishing – not material removal. Self-centering and self-aligning to the bore, the Flex-Hone® brush tool produces an unmatched controlled surface condition. Available in a variety of abrasive types and grits, BRM’s flexible hone creates an oil-holding cross hatch pattern and a plateau finish that’s free of cut, torn and folded metal. For Nikasil cylinders, BRM recommends a slightly-oversized aluminum oxide Flex-Hone® like the one rgeorge selected. The recommended abrasive type for nikasil plated cylinders is 240 grit aluminum oxide. However, BRM also recommends that you thoroughly inspect the cylinder walls to be sure the nikasil plating is free from any cracking or flaking. If any imperfections are found […]

By |August 1st, 2014|Applications|0 Comments

Cylinder Deglazing– Piston Rings and Proper Lubrication

Cylinder wall deglazing is critical for the proper seating and sealing of new piston rings in car engines. Left unbroken, the “glaze” on highly-polished cylinder walls prevents piston rings from mating with the cylinder bore and providing an adequate seal. In used car engines, glazing is caused by the reciprocating movement of pistons, which polishes cylinder walls to a smooth finish. Glazed cylinder walls also cause friction and lubrication problems since engine oil won’t adhere properly to a mirror-smooth surface.

Cylinder Wall Glaze Breakers for Engine Cylinders

RobertRO of CarDomain knew that he needed to deglaze the cylinder walls of his BMW M30B34 engine, but worried that he might “ruin everything” since he’d never honed an engine block before. Honing, a type of abrasive machining, breaks the glaze on engine cylinders and improves the geometric form of metal surfaces. Since rigid hones such produce uneven or unidirectional grooves that may prevent optimum lubrication, RobertRO choose the Flex-Hone® tool from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM).

Glaze Breaker Hones from Brush Research

Unlike conventional honing stones, BRM’s flexible honing tool produces a controlled surface condition and a cross-hatched pattern that’s extremely efficient at creating grooves for oil retention. BRM’s glaze breaker hone also “busts” the myth that cylinder honing is a risky business with the engine block on the car and the crankshaft installed. Abrasive honing waste can damage your car’s engine, but only if you let the dust cover the moving parts, and if you fail to clean the engine properly with warm, soapy water.

Engine Block Honing for a Plateaued Cylinder Wall Finish

Before honing the engine block in his BMW 5 series, RobertRO rotated and covered the crankshaft. Working on a “cylinder by cylinder basis”, the amateur engine mechanic then used the Flex-Hone® to produce the necessary plateaued cylinder wall finish.  Comprised of abrasive globules laminated onto the […]

By |August 1st, 2014|Applications|0 Comments

Abrasive Nylon Wheel Brushes for Deburring, Edge Blending, and Surface Finishing

Abrasive nylon wheel brushes are used to remove burrs, blend edges, and improve surface condition. Additional applications include parts cleaning and the removal of rust, paint, and scale. As an American manufacturer of a full line of brush tools and flexible hones, Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) offers a wide variety of nylon abrasive wheel brushes. 

Choices include abrasive nylon wheels for light deburring, NamPower composite hub wheels for high-performance surface finishing, and nylon abrasive wheel brushes with copper centers. BRM also supplies mandrel-mounted abrasive wheel brushes with both standard and flared designs. Although some brush tools have additional specifications, standard parameters are diameter, trim length, abrasive, and grit.     

Wheel Brushes for Light Deburring

In addition to light deburring, standard nylon abrasive wheel brushes are suitable for edge blending and surface finishing. Safe and non-reactive, these industrial brush tools are an excellent alternative to steel filament brushes for extrusion cut-off burrs. Nylon abrasive wheel brushes for light deburring mount on most pedestal grinders, a type of grinding machine used to hand-grind cutting tools such as drill bits.    

When selecting standard nylon abrasive wheels, choose brushing tools that use aluminum oxide (AO) or silicon carbide (SC) abrasive. BRM recommends aluminum oxide abrasive for brass, bronze, and softer metals. Silicon carbide abrasive is suitable for parts made of mild steel, stainless steel, and cast iron. Grit selection in also important to consider. Options include 80, 120, 180, 320, and 500 AO and SC wheels.       

NamPower Composite Hub Wheel Brushes

BRM composite hub wheel brushes are high-performance brushing tools that are part of the NamPower family of products. Safe, dependable, and built with virtually indestructible cores, NamPower nylon abrasive wheel brushes feature a higher filament density and balanced construction for longer life. Use these brush tools for machine-based and off-hand deburring, […]

By |November 9th, 2013|News|0 Comments