Grades & Uses

Steelwool is produced in many different forms to better suit many types of applications. Steelwool is available in 8 different levels of abrasiveness or “Grades”. The grade is determined by the thickness of the wire of which the wool is made of. We control the wire thickness when shaving the wool from rod by selecting the right type of serrated tools. The more serrations on a tool will yield a finer wire or shaving, while less serrations will yield a coarser wire or steel wool.

APPLICATIONS

GRADE NAME USAGE TIPS
0000 Finest For buffing and cleaning. Buffs woodwork, shellac, lacquer and varnish (use with wax or oil.) Cleans windows without water or cleaners. Remove rust from chrome with kerosene.
000 Extra Fine For buffing,polishing, and removing. Buffs cabinetry and new wax finishes. polishes stainless steel, aluminum, copper,brass and zinc. Removes minor burns from wood and leather. Removes paint drips and splatters.
00 Fine For buffing,cleaning, cutting, and removing. Buffs final finish on painted trim. Cleans golf clubs, screens and frames. Removes old finishes from antiques (use with finish remover).
0 Medium-Fine For cleaning and removing.Cleans barbecue grills,aluminum, copper, brass, zinc and other metals. Removes rust from metal tools (use with light oil for best results). Great for copper pipecleaning before soldering.
1 Medium For cleaning and preparing. Cleans linoleum, rubber asphalt, and other resilient floors, automobile white side walls. Prepares wood for the first coat of paint and smooths raised grain.
2 Medium-Coarse For cleaning and removing. Cleans glass block, rough metals or stone surfaces. Removes rust and dirt from garden tools and machinery, scuff marks and old wax from floors. Removes varnish from antiques with varnish remover.
3 Coarse For removing. Removes old paint and varnish also can be used to clean glass block and restoring exterior woodwork. Also used to stuff holes to block rodents.
4 Extra-Coarse For cleaning and removing. Removes the toughest rust, dirt, old paint and varnish. Can be used for cleaning engines. Not recommended for high gloss surfaces or delicate finishes.

 

STEEL WOOL COMPARED TO SAND PAPER (REFERENCE ONLY)

MEDIA       COARSE TO FINE      
Steelwool 4 3 2 1 0 00 000 0000
Sandpaper 30-40 40-60 60-80 80-120 100-150 150-220 280-320 300-600

 

TYPICAL STEEL WOOL FIBER WIDTH

Grade 0000 000 00 0 1 2 3 4
Name Finest Extra Fine Fine Medium Fine Medium Medium Coarse Coarse Extra Coarse
Inches 0.001 0.0015 0.0018 0.002 0.0025 0.003 0.0035 0.0047
MM 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.08 0.09 0.1
Microns 25 35 40 50 60 75 90 100

 

TYPICAL STAINLESS STEEL WOOL FIBER WIDTH

Grade Fine Medium Coarse
Inches 0.0022 0.0031 0.0047
MM 0.04 0.06 0.09
Microns 40 60 90