Knotted Vs. Crimped Wire Wheel: Key Differences

A wire brush is a brush tool with steel wire bristles. The steel used for making the wire brush is typically a mixture of medium to high carbon and stiff and springy. 

Usually, the bristles of other wire brushes are composed of chrome steel or brass. Apply epoxy or any other binding to hold the wires together. These brushes mostly feature wooden or plastic handles, or they can be turned into a circle for angle grinders, desk grinders, or other controllable tools. 

Wire brushes work well with angle grinders, bench grinders, or drills to remove undesirable material from metal surfaces and to scrape away corrosion and deterioration. Also used for surface painting, washing, polishing, weld mixing, deburring, and eliminating resin, corrosion, size, or other pollution. For use with various portable grinders, desk grinders, robotic finishing equipment, or for attachment onto a motorized arbor during a production process, wheel brushes are perfect.

Wire brushes are commonly used for scraping paint or rust.

Many types of wire wheel brushes are available, but the device selection starts with understanding the essential modes of wire wheel: crimped and knotted.

Crimped Wire Wheels

Crimped wire wheel brushes show filaments of wavy, twisted, or pinched steel, chrome steel, or brass. Crimping separates these metal filaments from one another and helps reduce the rigidity of the wire and, therefore, the breakage of the wire caused by flexing, turning, and traveling. However, these wheels are made of oil-tempered wire, which is highly expensive but highly durable. Small pieces of wire fall off during routine use of the wheel knife, which leaves fresh cutting edges uncovered. Crimps help in making breaks cleaner.

It is possible to utilize 1/2" or 1" shafts with the 2" arbor hole found on many crimped wire wheels. The most well-known wire wheel is in 6-inch and 8-inch diameters. Another essential to recollect is that the mask distance allows the user to prefer short, medium, broad, or extra-large. Wider faces of the comb provide continuous brushing over larger areas.

Knotted Wire Wheels

Metal wire ties or loops, particularly designed using steel or chrome steel, can be found on knotted wire wheel brushes. It helps with vigorous hacking and withstands twisting and movements, which contribute to the weakening of the metal.

For applications requiring intense brushing action and larger wire diameters, the knotted wire wheels' loops are frequently tangled over their whole length.

Knotted brushes of the wire wheel are further classified as cable twists and are often utilized in oil pipelines and oil fields. This is frequently used to prepare pipes for welding and to paint the exterior of small channels and grooves. Unlike crimped wire wheel brushes with a bit of face, stringer bead brushes have longer trimming to end uneven corners and crevice surfaces.

Knotted Vs. Crimped Wire Wheel: Key Differences

The following are the key differences between knotted wire wheels and crimped wire wheels based on various factors:

• Based on Aggressiveness

Knotted wire wheels are extremely aggressive because of their closely twisted wire bundles, which are mainly designed for removing tough materials, including heavy rust and weld scale, using force. This makes them perfect for difficult tasks where power and speed are needed, but results in a rough surface.

Crimped wire wheels, on the other hand, provide a gentler technique. Their crimped flexible wires have a less abrasive action, which is suitable for lighter cleaning, deburring, and getting an even finish. They put more emphasis on precision than strength.

• Based on the Application

Knotted wire wheels are mainly suitable for removing material aggressively, especially in heavy-duty applications, including weld cleaning and descaling, edge blending, and many more, where a rough finish is acceptable.

Crimped wire wheels, on the other hand, are built for projects requiring finer results like deburring, light rust removal, and getting a smooth finish. Crimped wheels are perfect for getting the surface ready.

• Based on Surface Finish

Knotted wire wheels generate roughness. More textured results because of their aggressive material removal, and usually require further finishing steps. 

Crimped wire wheels generate a more uniform and smooth finish, which is perfectly suitable for applications where aesthetics and the quality of the surface are essential, reducing the demand for additional polishing.

Knotted Vs. Crimped Wire Wheel: Comparison