if you are gonna use a wire brush and really if its a powered one like on a grinder USE EYE PROTECTION that seals on yor head or a face shield i know from experience i was just wearing my eyelasses and didnt even know i had anything in it till day later emergency room trip then a trip to a eye specialist who used a dremel looking tool to drill the rust out of my cornea (its very hard to sit still when someone is sticking a drill into your eye) i got lucky i didnt loose aaaany vision

 

When I was cleaning on my frame with the grinder and cup brush while lying under the truck. I had a full face shield and a mask on, the grinder got hung up on something and flipped out of my hands and ripped up my underarm from elbow to armpit. then it wrapped up in my shirt and scratched my chest pretty good. Then it proceeded down the driveway into the street till the cord pulled out of the wall. It all happened in the blink of an eye, no time to react. But when on a shoe string budget that's the chance you take. The healing period really hurt especially during the heat of summer. If I had not been wearing the face shield I would have been eating the cup brush

Rod

 

Yeah, and don't forget good LEATHER gloves with those spinning wire brushes. Black jersey gloves just go "poof" when the wires hit them and don't protect worth a darn. Got a 3 pack from Sam's Club of leather gloves for $18, and my hands finally have time to heal now.

Scott

 

51fordfan,
I had a smilar experience years ago. I was cleaning up various engine and suspension parts on a 67 Dodge Charger, I was about 16. I had a wire brush mounted on a 4' snake connected to an electric motor on a small stand. Well, the brush got away from me and came tearing up my leg, across my crotch and up my belly before pursuing other interests. Back in those days I didn't know about eye and face protection, Heck I wasn't even wearing a shirt! Luckily I just had some nasty scratches and a seriously bruised ego (my buddies all thought it was hilarious)

 

I went to WalMart and purchase several cans of Carb Cleaner (88 cents a can). I sprayed it on without using the red straw and it works killer on removing grease and stuck dirt and cleans up easily with rags. I also found out this stuff works great on killing mosquitos and black widow spiders. LOL... The paint sticks real well without bubbling or separating like some cleaners do.

 

I think we should start a post on dangerous and stupid things we have done while working on our vehicles over the years. It could prove to be very intresting.

Rod

 

Brake cleaner and a hand wire brush will do the job in the tight areas as well. I removed multiple layers of oil undercoating on my '53

 

Just a thought.. But I know in some places all the crud does help with Rust prevention.. LOL JK...