Use a power wire wheel or sanding attachment

Attach a wire wheel, wire cup brush, or sanding disc to a drill or angle grinder and run it over rusted surfaces. Start with coarser abrasives for heavy rust and finish with finer grits for a smooth surface. Always wear safety glasses.

Why It Works

Power tools multiply your scrubbing force and speed, making quick work of heavy rust that would take hours by hand. Wire wheels reach into crevices and contours that flat sandpaper misses.

Tips

• Use brass wire wheels on softer metals (aluminum, brass) — steel wheels will scratch them
• A drill-mounted wire wheel is enough for most hand tools; angle grinders handle large flat surfaces faster
• Work in one direction for a consistent finish on precision surfaces like plane soles
• Don't use steel wool on stainless steel — embedded particles cause rust spots later
• Always oil the bare metal immediately after — it will flash-rust within hours