Wire wheel for case cleanup?

[im4duke]

Is it OK to use a dremel with a small stainless wire wheel to clean the mating surfaces on a case?

Was using this to clean off the old JB weld over the case plugs and figured it could clean up virtually the entire case faster. Doesn't seem like light use would harm anything, but thought I'd ask first.

[Flat6pac]

And youre going to want it to seal someday..
You cant see most of it anyway so whats the point
Bruce

[lucittm]

Those little wire wheels are very aggressive. Stainless steel, even at small diameters, is much harder than the aluminum (or magnesium) of our cases. I would use it lightly and then only in the long direction of the case mating surfaces. That way if you scratch the metal it will not make a path for the oil to leak from the inside to the outside.

Good question!

Mark

[im4duke]

Thanks, Mark. That makes sense. Dremels spin at such high rpms, they can do a lot in short order. I have some brass and nylon wheels too. I'll see what the nylon can do before trying anything else.