Power Brush Safety Guide

Power brushes are used to remove burrs, scale, dirt, paint, weld slag, and other residue.  During normal surface finishing operations, power brushing causes these materials to fly-off with consideration force. In addition, brush filaments may break because of fatigue. For both the brush tool operator and nearby personnel, these flying fragments can cause serious injury.

To help power brush users and their co-workers stay safe, Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) offers a free Power Brush Safety Guide. This one-page resource summarizes power brush safety requirements, recommends proper usage techniques, and provides safety instructions for using BRM’s Flex-Hone® tool and twisted-in-wire brushes.

Power Brush Safety Requirements During power brushing operations, both the operator and nearby personnel should wear either safety goggles or full face shields over safety glasses with side shields. Keep all machine guards in place, wear protective clothing, and observe all speed restrictions. The American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) have safety standards for power brushes.

Power Brush Usage Recommendations  Avoid applying excessive amounts of pressure to power brush filaments. Too much pressure can cause them to over-bend and heat-up, resulting in filament breakage, rapid dulling, and reduced power brush life. To avoid unsafe operating conditions, replace power brushes with worn bearings, bent spindles, or that are out-of-balance. Never use a failed or worn brush tool.  

If the power brush you’re using is functioning properly but inadequate for your application, choose a brush tool with a more aggressive cutting action. You can also increase the number of revolutions per minute (RPM), but never exceed the maximum safe speed (MSFS). Use common-sense, and follow all applicable safety regulations to avoid operator injury.

Safety Instructions for BRM Brush Tools  BRM’s Power Brush Safety Guide also provides safety instructions for our Flex-Hone® tool and twisted-in-wire brushes.  Before using these industrial brushes under power, secure them in a collet, chuck, or similar holding device. When securing the workpiece, ensure that the brush tool will rotate on the true centerline. To avoid breaking the tool’s shank, avoid excessive speed and load conditions.   

To learn more from the Power Brush Safety Guide, visit this page on our website, or click here for a free  .pdf version.  Check out the Power Brush Engineering Guide, too. Please let us know if you have questions or comments about power brushes any of BRM’s industrial brush tools.