Wire brushes. How often have you started to pick one up and discovered the bristles no longer point in one direction, but spread out like a 1970s haircut? Not only that, but if you're like me, you want to avoid this type of brush at all costs, since these wayward wires are very good at penetrating fingers right where the nerves are closest to the skin... Ouch!

Some of my brushes are quite old with short bristles, a testament to their age. These short-bristled brushes are very handy for reaching into tight spaces, so I try to take good care of them.

If your wire brushes are a little "ratty", try this nifty little trick to bring them back into shape.

Step 1: What You'll Need:

What you'll need:

A ratty wire brush. (The one I'm using wasn't this abused, but I wrecked it for demonstration purposes.)

A bench grinder with a wire wheel.

Step 2: How It's Done

Run both sides of the brush through the bench grinder's spinning brush and the wheel will "Comb" the wire brushes bristles, straightening them out. This works just as well for stainless and brass brushes.

Not only will the combing straighten out the bristles, but it will shine them up as well. Now your brushes can live to be as old as mine.

I hope this helps and saves a few old wire brushes from the trash heap... And a few fingers from multiple tiny puncture wounds:)