Brushing wood: selection of brushes and tools, do-it-yourself wood processing

The essence of brushing

Tree trunks have a multilayer structure, which, when cut, forms a peculiar pattern of fibers of different thicknesses and directions. Brushing, which is sometimes called stitching due to a lack of understanding of the essence of the issue, is sanding a wood surface with brushes using special devices or equipment. The term comes from the word brush in English. The process has nothing to do with brochures, which should be taken into account in colloquial speech.

Thanks to the brushing tool, fiber is selectively, more or less, removed from the surface of the lumber, creating a patterned relief. You can enhance the aging effect by tinting or staining wood cuts. Decorative treatment with brushes attached, for example, to a grinder, is used when finishing the following wooden structures:

• flights of stairs;
• floor coverings;
• external parts of furniture;
• elements of the interior design of premises.

The best effect is achieved when brushing larches, various types of spruce, and oak. Wood with small fibers, such as cherry, birch, maple, oak, does not form a beautiful pattern when sanded with metal and nylon brushes, used as an attachment for an angle grinder or other tool. Even pre-firing or chemical treatment of such materials does not provide the effect of a layered texture.

Surface painting

Depending on the customer's wishes, paint or varnish is applied to the wood. Many people prefer coatings with silver or golden pigments, counting on the strong fixation of shiny particles deep in the wood texture. If the paint is applied correctly, reflections will appear on the wooden product in sunlight.

Some consumers like surfaces with dark, deep cracks, which are obtained by patination using special dyes. Lightened ridges of fibrous reliefs look especially impressive against a darkened background. Painting is usually carried out with brushes or a sponge, carefully observing the condition of the surface. If, when applying paint and varnish products, the fibers rise, it means that the polishing process was carried out poorly and must be repeated again.

If you carefully carry out brushing, you can obtain beautiful wood products through simple procedures using an angle grinder or other tools with brushes.

Rough processing

During rough processing, work is carried out with two main attachments - a roughing attachment and a disk plane. Grinder work with this type of disc is carried out with a protective casing, because pieces of wood may fly in different directions. The plane disk is used in cases where roughing is required, preparing fence supports, constructing a log house, etc.

Requires protection from flying wood chips, glasses, thick clothing, and tough gloves. The use of a protective casing is not necessary, because The disk is all-metal, its destruction is almost impossible. When sanding wood, a grinder is used only with a second handle; work must be done with both hands.

The process of trimming a workpiece, removing the hard top layer of wood, is carried out with a peeling disk. A qualified specialist is able to perform wood sampling using this type of attachment for an angle grinder. An angle grinder can replace a carpenter's ax if a log house is being built.

Orbital (eccentric) electric sander

The working platform of an eccentric grinder is a circle that rotates and makes reciprocating movements. An eccentric device with two rollers allows this to be done (hence the second name of the tool).

The first is the axis of the grinder disk, shifted relative to the center by a couple of millimeters.

• Self-rotation is carried out through another roll passing through the middle of the circle in a circle around the shaft.
• Using this type of sander, you can achieve excellent grinding quality; in addition, you can polish the surface of the product coated with varnish.
• It is because of this that they are valuable in furniture, restoration, car repair shops and other enterprises where the quality of polishing and grinding of products is important.

Is an angle grinder suitable for working with wood?

The only operations with wood that can be performed with an angle grinder (angle grinder) without danger are grinding and roughing, and then using special attachments. Of course, you can cut wood, but it is strictly prohibited! The Internet is full of shocking photos showing what can happen when using an angle grinder as a cutting tool for wood.

The main arguments that can be made against using an angle grinder for sawing are as follows.

1. This machine is not designed for sawing wood.
2. Since wood has a viscous and soft structure, the saw blade can jam in it. As a result, the grinder is often torn out of the hands, and it flies in an unpredictable direction (in the leg, along the arms, in the stomach, etc.), causing deep wounds or amputation of fingers. Even fatal cases have been reported.
3. When cutting wood, the saw blade heats up very quickly, causing it to begin to lose strength. The slightest misalignment or excessive pressure may cause it to fly apart. Since the spindle speed of an angle grinder is high, tool fragments fly away at the speed of shrapnel and penetrate deeply under a person’s skin. The user will be lucky if the fragments do not fly into the head or eyes.
4. Despite the dangers of using saw blades with teeth, some angle grinder users ignore this fact and continue to install compass disks with large teeth or improved with carbide tips. If, when cutting wood, a hard knot or nail residue gets caught in it, the tooth or solder breaks off, gets caught by the next saw tooth and is thrown out at the speed of a bullet. One can only guess about the consequences.
5. Ignoring all the warnings, users of grinders install a circular saw on the machine with a larger diameter than the protective casing. This is the most dangerous option for using an angle grinder.

If you have to cut wood constantly, it is better to purchase a special machine for this purpose, or use a jigsaw. In extreme cases, the grinder can be used as a drive and made into a circular saw, securing the device rigidly to the frame.

Design and principle of operation

In terms of ergonomics, grinders are very convenient because they allow you to perform operations for a long time without tiring the operator. For each type of work, be it preliminary cleaning, grinding or polishing with a brush grinder, the design provides the ability to change attachments. All tools of this type are electric, powered by mains or batteries.

A standard brush grinder has the following basic structural elements:

1. The case is usually plastic, on which handles are installed on top: one is the front guiding handle, the second is the pushing handle, where there is a button to turn on the device.
2. A brush-type electric motor is installed inside the grinder body, from which torque is supplied to the transverse shaft through the gearbox.
3. The front cross shaft also serves as a holder for the grinding cylinder; the shaft is supported by bearings.
4. On the bottom of the grinder body there is a wide support roller on one side of the grinding cylinder, at the rear; on the other side of the cylinder, in front, there is a second adjustable support roller. Rollers allow you to smoothly move the tool along the plane in different directions and adjust the force of pressing the tool to the surface.
5. The grinding cylinder is mounted on the cross shaft of the brush grinder using a special mechanism. The cylinder itself is made like a brush, the “pile” of which can be made of different materials, such as metal wire, nylon thread and others.

The operating principle of a brush grinder is very simple: when the engine is turned on, the grinding cylinder begins to rotate quickly; the tool is applied, supported by rollers, to a pre-fixed flat surface that needs to be ground, and with methodical movements the brush grinder is moved back and forth across the entire plane, visually assessing the quality of the treatment.

Makita 9911

Main characteristics:

• Power - 650 W;
• Belt speed - 270 m/min;
• Tape - 457×76 mm;
• Weight - 2.7 kg.

Housing and ergonomics. Unlike previous models, this sander, when well balanced, weighs only 2.6 kg, which is achieved by reducing technical characteristics. It has a plastic body with two handles that fit comfortably in your hands. Working with such a tool, even when suspended, does not cause serious difficulties.

Design features. The machine is fed with an abrasive belt measuring 457x76 mm, which is automatically centered. It is located at the very edge of the platform, which makes it possible to work close to the walls, leaving a minimal untreated area. The product has double insulation of live parts and good cooling of the motor, increasing the period of continuous use.

Functionality and capabilities. The tool has an average power rating of 650 W. Noteworthy is the speed adjustment from a low threshold of 75 m/min with a maximum acceleration of 270 m/min. The start button is secured. It is possible to connect to an industrial vacuum cleaner.

Equipment. When purchasing this model, you will find instructions, sanding tape and a small dust bag in the box.

Pros of Makita 9911

1. Convenient handle shape.
2. Light weight and compact dimensions.
3. Reliability.
4. Electrical safety.
5. Speed ​​adjustment from low values.
6. Acceptable price.

Cons of Makita 9911

1. There is no soft start and speed stabilization.
2. Short cable only 2.5 m long.

Staining or tinting brushed wood

Coating the surface of brushed wood with paint or a tinting composition gives it a special decorative effect. Painting is carried out with a brush or sponge. During the process, carefully monitor whether the fibers rise. If fibers are noticed on the surface, it is additionally sanded with fine-grained sandpaper.

The simplest painting option is stain treatment. It quickly penetrates into the soft layers of wood remaining on the surface without affecting the hard fibers. The result is a relief structure that is particularly decorative.

Wood coated with a golden or silver coloring substance has an original appearance. Pigment particles get clogged into depressions and microcracks, which subsequently glare in the sun.

An interesting coloring technique is the arrangement of tones, repeating the play of light and shadow on the relief. The recesses are painted in a dark tone, the ridges in a light tone. Painting is carried out as follows:

1. A richly dark varnish or paint is applied to the entire surface.
2. The coated surface is wiped with a sponge or rag, removing paint from hard fibers where it has not yet been absorbed.
3. If large areas are being painted, wait until the applied layer of varnish has dried, and then treat the surface with a petal disk with a grain size of 400 to 800. The bulges after this treatment are highlighted, then they are coated with colorless or light varnish.

Another coloring option is to cover the top tier with dark varnish and the depressions with light varnish. In this case, apply dark varnish to the surface and dry it well. Then apply the light composition and remove its excess with a rubber spatula. As a result, a dark substrate appears on the ridges.

With certain woodworking skills and using the right tools, you can do your own brushing and get excellent results. Products made from structured wood are highly decorative and give the interior an exclusive, expensive look.

Machine Applications

All three stages of finishing can be performed on special grinding machines or using other electrical equipment: grinders for smooth or angular surfaces. There are homemade brushing machines. It is difficult and expensive to make a full-fledged machine with your own hands, working like a thickness planer, so they use the same grinder with several metal and nylon attachments.

Full mechanization of work makes sense for large volumes of wood that require brushing. In such a situation, investments in the acquisition and operation of units will be justified. Common types of home repair and construction work can be quite successfully done with an angle grinder, which every craftsman has.

Belt sanding

The belt sander got its name from a solid abrasive sanding belt located on two shafts, one of which is the drive shaft.

This type of tool has a high belt speed and excellent productivity. Thanks to these qualities, the electric grinder is used for finishing work - fine grinding, before processing the product with paints and varnishes.

In addition, they are used during the construction stages to remove:

• Previous paint coating;
• Rusty coating;
• Excess on primed, plastered surfaces.

This type of sander is equipped with a closed dust extraction structure with the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner. In addition, on this model it is possible to install it upside down, so that the sanding belt can be aligned. To do this, the tool is secured using clamps included with the workbench. This function allows you to sharpen knives, bench tools, drills, using the grinder as a mini-grinder.

Operating rules

The quality and speed of work depends on the correct choice of the required device. The following parameters influence the choice of the desired device:

• purpose and scope of use;
• frequency of use and volumes of planned work;
• type of food;
• price range;
• availability of quality certificates;
• country of manufacture;
• ease of use and ergonomics.

When working with a grinding machine, professional craftsmen recommend following the following sequence:

• connection to an electrical power source;
• holding the tool securely;
• turning on the device;
• warming up and gaining speed;
• surface treatment.

After finishing work, be sure to clean the device and lubricate all working parts. For complete dust collection, it is necessary to regularly inspect the dust collector.

To replace parts, you must choose products from the same manufacturer.

For long-term storage of the device, use only warm rooms with good ventilation.

When working with an electrical device, it is imperative to use personal protective equipment and follow safety rules that will help avoid injuries and damage to the tool.

It would not be superfluous to list the most common types of breakdowns of brushed grinding electric tools and how to eliminate them:

• oxidation of copper plates in carbon brushes - surface treatment with a rubber eraser;
• violation of the integrity of the winding - removal of the deformed part and installation of a new one;
• failure of the device control buttons - installation of new structural elements;
• deformation of rotor bearings and bevel gears - installation of new parts.

The time range for free elimination of defects is set independently by the manufacturer or seller. This service will not be provided if defects were caused by improper use, transportation or storage. When contacting the seller to solve a problem with a tool, you must provide him with all the documents, checks and receipts that confirm the purchase of the goods from him. The name of the service organization is indicated in the device passport.

To perform high-quality polishing, cleaning and grinding of various surfaces, modern manufacturers produce a huge range of grinding tools, which are widely used not only by professional builders, but also by home craftsmen. These devices significantly reduce the period of work completion and improve its quality.

Before you go shopping, you need to study all the features of this device and be sure to consult with professional builders.

Beginners should understand that a high-quality electrical device cannot have a low price.

See below for a detailed video review of the brush grinder.

comparison table

All grinding machines presented in the rating are worthy of attention. Each of them has its own characteristic features, advantages, and disadvantages that can influence the choice. At the same time, it is impossible to find a device that is ideal and can suit absolutely everyone. If after reading the article you still have any questions or the description seems incomplete, you can find additional data in the table. In addition to technical properties, it also shows the average cost of each device.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the main advantages of this device, experts note the following:

• versatility;
• ease of use;
• high speed of work;
• expenditure of a minimum amount of physical effort;
• high quality of work;
• automatic removal of dust and other types of dirt;
• large range of models;
• wide scope of application.

Like any other device, a brush grinder has a number of disadvantages:

• the need to replace the brush depending on the type of work and the surface being treated;
• inability to process hard-to-reach areas;
• high price range;
• high number of fakes.

Types of sanders

There are six types of grinders, differing in the stroke of the grinding material and configuration:

• Circular;
• Longitudinal;
• Rotational, reciprocating.

Manufacturers produce tools that work both from the mains and with a battery.

What it is?

A grinder or angle grinder is a tool often used in construction and during repair work. If your house needs minor repairs, there is no point in buying powerful and expensive construction equipment. But purchasing such a car would be useful and relatively inexpensive. The versatility of a modern tool is its main advantage: angle grinders are used to saw and cut, grind and level surfaces. The principle of operation of the grinder is simple: operations are performed by rotating attachments.

Discs are divided into three types - sharpening, cutting or grinding (grinding). The operations vary in purpose and complexity; sometimes one machine has to process materials of different hardness, as a rule, stone and steel compounds, as well as wood. Renewed and processed wooden parts, windows, floors and furniture are subjected to grinding.

The attachment on the grinder for sanding wood is a replaceable circle, similar to that for a circular saw. The roughing cutter for primary grinding is made of durable metal, has teeth and is selected according to the diameter for each angle grinder. The size of the teeth is determined by the thickness of the wood layer. The shape of the tooth also matters. Variables are suitable for all types of wood, and trapezoidal ones are used only for soft varieties. The material can also be roughly processed using discs with straight teeth.

Before processing, you need to saw the wood with other sawing cutters. They are monolithic, made of high-strength sheet steel. Some varieties are made with coating on the teeth.

What kind of circles are there for cutting wood?

Processing wood with a grinder is a safe process, unlike cutting. The process is very dangerous, the tool is not intended for cutting wood

Soft woods are processed with an angle grinder attachment with extreme caution, because the tool may jam and be torn out of your hands

The cutting process at high speeds implies a high temperature effect on the disc material, as a result of which it can simply shatter into small pieces.

Despite the fact that the grinder is not suitable for cutting wood products, manufacturers offer various cutting discs for use. It is recommended to use the grinder as a stationary station when sawing wood.

Circular saws

Circular saw attachments are dangerous when using an angle grinder. The diameter of the circle must be selected based on the parameters and dimensions of the tool in order to be able to use a protective casing.

There are more expensive modifications of circular nozzles; they have anti-jamming protection. The design has teeth set in different directions, smaller in size, the price of such a device is different, but you should not save on your health.

Chainsaws

The chain type of nozzles has a safer design. The sawing disc, which uses a chain from a chainsaw, eliminates jamming of the tool and reduces the risk of injury during work. The design has a system that allows the main element, which is attached to the angle grinder, to continue rotating, and the chain can remain stationary.

Chain disks come in many different modifications, with the help of which it is possible to carry out gardening work or use it for collecting small firewood. A disk of a chain design can be used instead of a peeling disk for cutting out cups in a log or removing a layer of bark.

Saws with few teeth

Increased safety when working with wood is achieved by using discs with a small number of teeth. Small discs usually have 3 teeth, those with a diameter of more than 180 mm - 4 teeth. This type of cutting disc is used for cutting both along and across the grain of wood. The saw wheel makes it possible to cut grooves and make tenons of various shapes.

It should be understood that when working with an angle grinder, you must adhere to technical regulations. There is no need to install larger diameter discs bypassing the protective casing; smaller discs can be used without loss of cutting properties.

Tungsten carbide discs

Tungsten carbide cutting discs have been produced relatively recently and are popular when working with an angle grinder. The universal tool is not equipped with teeth; instead of cutting elements, there are cutouts in the disk. The operation of the tool is most safe when cutting wood; it eliminates jamming when nails or thick rods of wood hit. The appearance is similar to a diamond blade for cutting concrete, the purpose is indicated on the packaging or instructions.

The price of such a disk is high, but it is justified. It is worth overpaying for a modified tool rather than going broke on the sad consequences of using a regular saw blade.

Makita 9403

Main characteristics:

• Power - 1200 W;
• Belt speed - 500 m/min;
• Tape - 610×100 mm;
• Weight - 5.9 kg.

Housing and ergonomics. Despite its small dimensions, this grinding machine, due to the manufacturer’s reasonable preferences for the use of metal parts, has an impressive weight of 5.9 kg. This causes some difficulties when working with weight, but does not require additional pressure when processing horizontal surfaces. The product is equipped with two handles, equally convenient for gripping on both the right and left sides.

Design features. This model has a steel platform with linings made of cork and graphite, which facilitates the sliding of the skin and dampens vibration and sound waves.

Makita 9403 platform.

The labyrinth-type shaft seal reliably protects the bearings from contamination. The connection pipe for connecting a vacuum cleaner or securing a dust collector can easily be turned in any direction. The cable length of 5 meters is enough for free movement inside the workshop.

Functionality and capabilities. The machine has a high power of 1200 W and develops an optimal linear speed of pelt movement of 500 m/min. It uses a tape with a width of 100 mm and a length of 610 mm. There is no adjustment of the rotation speed, so this model is more suitable for grinding homogeneous surfaces of a large area.

Equipment. The product is delivered in a cardboard box with a sanding belt installed and is completely ready for use.

Pros of Makita 9403

1. High power.
2. Ergonomic handles.
3. Start lock button for long-term operation.
4. Low vibration and noise levels.
5. Double insulation of current-carrying elements.
6. Reliability.

Cons of Makita 9403

1. One speed without soft start and speed stabilization system.
2. Heavy weight.
3. High price.

Stages of work and tools used

To give a relief structure to a wood surface, you need a special set of brushes with bristles of varying density and hardness.

First stage of processing

At the first stage, a brush with hard bristles made of steel alloys or brass is used. The thickness of the fibers varies significantly among different products. You need to choose a brush in which the diameter of each metal hair will be approximately 10 times thinner than the diameter of the soft fiber of the wood being processed. Straight bristles of a brush are good at removing loose components from wood, which are cut with metal scissors before attaching them to the grinder adapter to increase the efficiency of brushing.

If necessary, double brush products can be used, providing much greater speed and efficiency. If the bristles intended to remove soft wood fibers are rounded, the process will be worse.

Working with a nylon brush

At the end of the first stage of processing, the wood surface has a rough, rough appearance. To give a decorative effect and level out all excess relief, nylon brushes for brushing wood are used, mounted on an angle grinder. They are available for sale in a wide range.

Nylon fibers differ in length, density, number or absence of abrasive particles pressed into the polymer

If abrasive grains are attached to a nylon base, you must pay attention to their grain size, hardness and compare the characteristics of the brushing brush with the density and structure of the wood

Most commonly commercially available nylon products have hardness numbers ranging from 120 to 600. Values ​​of 120, 180 and 240 are ideal for hardwood; Products with numbers 400 and 600 in the marking should be purchased for brushing soft wood lumber.

Craftsmen who have extensive experience working with grinders will improve surface treatment technology and use not one, but several nylon brushes. Sometimes, to save money, they buy previously used polymer brushes for brushing and attach them simultaneously to the adapter of the grinder. A similar technique can also be used when using new products, although it will cost much more.

Thanks to the expanded area of ​​the fibers of several brushes mounted on the rotating shaft of the angle grinder, it is possible to thoroughly perform a large amount of work in a short time.

Nylon hairline can be fixed to a metal or polymer base. Experience shows that the plastic disc at the base of the brush creates fewer preconditions for hair breakage and ensures their flexibility, so these products last longer.

Finishing sanding

After two stages of processing, the wood needs to be slightly dried, and then the formation of the decorative surface is completed with brushes with wool or sisal hairs. If the master prefers manual work at the final stage without using a grinder, it can be done using sandpaper flaps with small abrasive grains. Upon completion of proper brushing, the surface will acquire a perfectly smooth, beautiful appearance.

Vibration grinder

Vibration grinder

Sanding pad

Another name is surface grinding

car. The working unit of this tool is a rectangular base on which a sheet of sandpaper is attached. Grinding and polishing is carried out by fast back-and-forth movements of the sole (about 20,000 vibrations per minute (333.3 Hz) with an amplitude of about 2 mm). The most common two methods of attaching sandpaper are:

• Using a pressing mechanism on both sides of the sole.
• Using Velcro - the paper is simply applied with its base to the sole, which has this feature.

The sanding sheet and pad have several holes to drain dust from the work area into a dust container or vacuum cleaner. The main purpose is grinding and polishing.

Delta grinder

It is a type of vibration grinding machine. The delta sander is distinguished by a delta-shaped (triangular, like an iron) sole shape, which allows you to work in hard-to-reach places - in corners, among protrusions and other similar places. The universal cutter can perform the functions of a delta sander when installing the appropriate equipment (a triangular sole with a sticky base) and a sanding sheet).

Which belt sander is best to buy?

The choice of a grinding machine is always individual. He must take into account the nature of the work being performed, the intensity of operation, the physical capabilities and preferences of the master. Potential options are considered based on several important criteria, which will be discussed in this section.

Professional or household model

Leading power tool manufacturers produce belt sanders for household and professional grades. The first of them are intended for periodic use in a home workshop or in the country. They are light, comfortable and relatively cheap due to the use of not the highest quality materials and some limitation of functionality.

The second category tool is extremely reliable, productive, designed for intensive use and is as ergonomic as possible so that the master does not get too tired during the working day.

What you need to know about the power of a sander

Power is the main characteristic of a grinding machine. Basically, such a tool consumes from 500 to 1500 W. Let's look at how this indicator relates to functionality.

Power up to 800 W

This power is typical for household models. This grinder can only be used periodically, alternating the work and rest modes recommended by the manufacturer. Otherwise, the engine may overheat with the prospect of subsequent repairs.

Power 800-1200 W

Grinding machines with such power cope with standard loads much easier and practically do not overheat. They have high performance that meets professional requirements.

What does power affect?

Power is related to the rotation speed of the belt. If you take two grinding machines with the same belt speed, but with different power, then the machine with more power will be more productive. This happens because when pressure is applied to the tool, there is a certain loss in the speed of the belt, and for a tool with less power this loss will be greater than for a tool with more power.

How to determine the speed of the belt

The time spent on removing the surface layer and achieving the required quality of processing of the part depends on the speed of the belt. For different machines it reaches from 200 to 1000 meters per minute. For household models, no more than 360 m/min is sufficient. A slow tool reduces the chance of making mistakes when removing excess material. It is more suitable for fine and precise work.

Experienced craftsmen prefer sanders with a speed of 360-500 m/min. Handling such a tool requires professional skills, but it can provide high performance. It must be understood that with equal engine power, an increase in speed characteristics requires a reduction in the width of the belt used.

What technical features should you pay attention to?

Let's move on to listing the features of a belt sander that you should pay attention to when choosing.

Quick belt change system

The abrasive belt is a consumable item and requires regular replacement. All modern models are equipped with a device for performing such an operation without the use of auxiliary tools. The process usually involves releasing the tension on the rollers using the built-in lever, allowing you to thread a new skin in a few seconds.

Quick belt replacement system.

Automatic belt centering system

During operation, the belt may be affected by lateral forces, leading to displacement. Models with automatic centering have one of the rollers of a convex shape, which eliminates the need to periodically adjust the position of the skin.

Possibility of permanent installation

When processing a small part, it is convenient to fix not it, but the machine, turning it upside down with the working plane. To do this, a number of models are equipped with devices for fastening to the table, which usually take the form of a clamp.

Stationary mounted belt sander.

Connection pipe for vacuum cleaner

Sanding is always accompanied by the formation of a large amount of fine dust. Using a collection bag is not always convenient. It is more practical to use an industrial or household vacuum cleaner, for which a special connection is usually provided.

Small diameter front roller

When working near walls and in other hard-to-reach places, it is convenient to use sanders with a small diameter front roller. It reduces the size of the dead zone, but at the same time it accelerates to high angular velocities, which leads to increased heating.

Sander with small front roller.

Grinding depth limit frame

It is rational to use such a device when processing expensive materials, when the cost of an error is high. It is also suitable for a novice master. The device is a stop that limits the vertical displacement of the tool.

Grinding depth limit frame.

Electronic belt speed control system

Many sanders are capable of changing the speed of rotation of the belt at the operator's discretion. This makes them universal, since the processing of different materials must be performed with different intensities.

Types of brushing

There are two ways to process a tree to reveal its structure:

1. Mechanical. The wood is treated with a special tool that removes soft fibers and devices for polishing the surface.
2. Chemical. It involves treating wood with special compounds (alkalies, acids, etc.) that corrode soft fibers.

The use of these types of brushing allows you to achieve different results. The mechanical method produces a textured surface, while the chemical method produces a smoother surface.

One of the techniques used by craftsmen is a combination of chemical and mechanical processing. The wood is rough processed using a chemical method, removing soft fibers. Further finishing and polishing is done mechanically.

Burning

One type of brushing is burning wood to remove soft tissue. The wood is burned with a blowtorch or gas torch, then washed and coated with oil polishing compounds.

With this brushing option, there is no need for subsequent tinting of the product, since the wood acquires a dark shade. If desired, burnt wood can be coated with colored stain.

Wood that has gone through fire and water becomes not only beautiful, but also more durable. It is practically not subject to rotting or damage by insects, so it is often used for finishing facades and building fences. There is no need to paint such a fence, since the burnt boards do not change their quality for decades.

Modern designers use fire-treated wood for interior decoration and furniture making. Not everyone likes things that look like they were left after a fire, but they look stylish and very unusual.

Types of brushes for brushing

In the brushing process, there are three stages of work - primary (roughing) processing, intermediate processing and polishing (grinding) of wood. To perform correctly, brushes of varying degrees of hardness are required, and this statement is true for both manual and electric tools. Also, aging devices vary in size, which determines their cost. Some of them are suitable not only for special brushing machines, but also for grinders due to the presence of an adapter sleeve.

Metal

Designed for rough (initial) processing of wood. The best brushes have bristles made of brass-plated steel wire. A cheaper option is all-steel brushes without brass coating. For hard rocks, you can use any product; for soft ones, you should choose brass brushes. Also among the metal tools you can see copper ones, but they are not suitable for the first stage of brushing and are intended for polishing and finishing lumber.

Brass wire brush heads

Synthetic

At the intermediate stage of brushing, nylon brushes are used. The surface after roughing remains rough and rough, and nylon fibers allow you to even out the relief. Products of various shapes and sizes are on sale, some of them are suitable for mounting on a regular angle grinder.

Nylon tools differ in the following bristles parameters:

• length;
• density;
• quantity.

Nylon bits for wood processing

Some models have special bristles, into the material of which abrasive particles are pressed. The grain size of the latter also varies: the more thorough the processing must be, the larger the size of abrasive grains should be selected. The hardness of nylon brushes is displayed in numbers from 120 to 600. Products with numbers 120-240 are suitable for hard breeds, and 400-600 for soft breeds.

Nylon fibers are fixed to a plastic or metal base. Despite the high strength of metal, it is plastic products that last longer. The hairs on them practically do not break, remain flexible, and therefore retain good performance characteristics for a long time.

Sisal

Such instruments are made from thin sisal fibers or from sisal fabric and cords. Externally, they can look like rings, circles, wheels for electrical appliances, or resemble ordinary paint brushes. Most products are impregnated to increase wear resistance and efficiency of use: impregnated fibers do not break at high rotation speeds. Sisal brushes are used at the final stage of brushing wood - during polishing.

Sisal brush for an angle grinder

Buying a good brush for artificially aging wood will provide a significant percentage of success and will seriously increase the chance of obtaining a high-quality product. There is no need to save money: it is better to choose a tool that will be easy to use and will last for many years!

Devices for self-brushing

Brushing can be done at home. If a mechanical wood processing method is chosen, you should purchase a suitable manual or automatic tool.

Do-it-yourself wood brushing

Brushes

There are a wide variety of brushes for aging wood on sale. Some are better suited for softwoods, while others are designed for hardwoods. Some products are used manually and have comfortable handles, others are attachments for angle grinders and drills.

The grain (thickness of the bristles) must be chosen correctly. This indicator determines the type of wood processing:

1. Grain P36. Such tools are designed for deep brushing or aggressive stripping, structuring, and texturing of wood. They allow you to smooth out large flaws and restore damaged foundations.
2. Grain P46. These brushes are used to remove old coating and eliminate darkening.
3. Grain P60. Such products are used to remove large burrs that may remain after brushing, as well as to smooth out excessive roughness.
4. P80 grain. These brushes are designed for fine grinding and removing small burrs after brushing.
5. Grain P120. The purpose of using such a tool is to finish polishing wood that has undergone decorative treatment.

Brushing brush with grain P80

Depending on the shape, brushes for brushing can be:

1. Cylindrical. They have a cylindrical shape and are well suited for removing varnish and paint from wooden surfaces. Perfectly emphasizes the structure of wood.
2. Cup-shaped. Typically used for light texturing of the surface, more suitable for sanding after brushing has already been done.
3. End The most convenient in the aging technique, usually used by professionals, have an optimal arrangement of fibers.

Abrasive attachments for brushing various shapes

Machine tools and machines

Automation of the process is indispensable if a large volume of wooden products needs to be processed. The following models are considered the most popular for obtaining brushed wood:

1. Cleaning router FESTOOL RUSTOFIX RAS 180. Sold with a set of brushes of three types (steel, synthetic, sisal).
2. Brushing machine Makita 974. Designed only for processing flat surfaces. Not suitable for corners and joints.
3. Machine Felisatti AGF 110/1010E. Useful for working with even and uneven areas of wood; it comes with metal and artificial brushes.

Description

A brushed hand sander is a universal tool that makes it possible to remove old paint, varnish and traces of corrosion from various types of wood and metal surfaces, as well as to refine a wooden structure. This device has a high level of performance and is used in conjunction with other grinders. The weight of one device does not exceed 5 kg, the number of rotations can reach up to 3000 revolutions, and the roller diameter is 120 mm.

To perform this task, manufacturers suggest using a nylon cylindrical brush. The brushing attachment makes it possible to artificially age the wooden material and remove all loose layers. After treatment, the work surface not only changes its structure, but also its color.

On the shelves of specialized departments of construction stores you can see two types of grinders.

• A tool with a wide body, behind which a shaft with attachments is hidden. The main feature is the presence of two handles and a start button.
• An instrument that has common features with a grinder. Distinctive features are the presence of a cylindrical brush and a handle, which is located parallel to the working shaft. The disadvantage is the lack of ability to adjust the processing depth.

This device consists of the following parts:

• engine;
• charger or wire to the electrical network;
• platform;
• pen;
• regulation and control system;
• working disk.

Two types of brushes are used for surface treatment:

• nylon;
• metal.

The brush has the shape of a cylinder that makes circular movements at high speed. To perform non-standard types of work, experts recommend replacing brushes and special rings.

To perform brushing, cup nylon brushes with abrasive grain on polymer threads are used, which can be attached not only to grinding machines, but also to a conventional drill.

To make work easier, the designers have provided two handles, and special pipes are installed to connect the device to the vacuum cleaner.

The number of revolutions depends on the diameter of the brush surface.

The adjustment system allows you to process products at a high level and at the same time adjust the cleaning depth.

Nozzles can be changed using a hex wrench.

Most grinding machines have auxiliary parameters:

• adjustment of the number of revolutions;
• automatic speed control;
• grinding depth adjustment;
• protection against unauthorized start;
• presence of a dust collector;
• possibility of quick replacement of deformed parts;
• additional protection of the engine from contamination.

The device may include an organizer, a set of metal, abrasive, polymer and nylon brushes, as well as a charger.

Which one is better to choose? Main criteria

To choose the most suitable option for a belt sander, you need to determine the types and volumes of work for which it is needed. It is important to understand what properties and features it should have. After this is done, before purchasing, you can look through reviews, study reviews, and information in online stores about the models you are interested in.

The main selection criteria are:

• Engine power/device performance. These indicators directly depend on each other. That is, the greater the power, the higher the level of work intensity.
• The dimensions of the belt and the speed at which it rotates. Its size and parameters determine how much area will be processed, how quickly and efficiently.
• The weight of the device itself. It can weigh from 2.5 to 7 kg. The lighter the device, the more maneuverable it is, but processing will take many times more effort than when using heavier specimens.
• Additional functions, capabilities of the tool: the presence of a bag for collecting litter in the kit, selection of speed mode, smooth activation, fixation on the working plane, maintaining the set speed.

In addition to these parameters, there are others, but their significance is not so great. In any case, the choice will always be up to the buyer. If you approach this process with all seriousness, then you have the opportunity to purchase a grinder that will serve uninterruptedly for many years.