The 9 Best Abrasive Cup Brushes

Updated September 07, 2019 by Karen Bennett

This wiki has been updated 27 times since it was first published in September of 2016. Abrasive cup brushes can make quick work of projects like paint and rust removal, cleaning engine components, and roughening up plastic materials for bonding. Their durable metal or nylon bristles are attached to a housing that mounts conveniently on an electric drill or angle grinder. Our selection includes knotted and crimped designs in a variety of sizes to suit every need and budget. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. If you'd like to contribute your own research to Ezvid Wiki, please get started by reviewing this introductory video.

1. DeWalt DW4910

2. Milwaukee 3-Inch Knotted

3. Makita D-55192

4. Black+Decker 70-609

5. Weiler Vortex Pro

6. Forney 72860

7. AES Industries 51886

8. Century Drill and Tool 76221

9. Osborn 32131SP

Special Honors

Norton Wire Brushes These abrasive brushes are available in two designs: The twisted knot selections have a more rigid structure, allowing for efficient, high-impact cutting and cleaning on demanding applications, with single-row construction that limits flaring of the bristles on corners and angles. The flexible, crimped selections are designed for light- to medium-duty applications on either flat or irregular surfaces, as well as bevel buffing. They feature bright red cups that are sure to stand out on a tool bench or in a drawer. nortonabrasives.com

Editor's Notes

September 04, 2019:

If you’re a homeowner with beautiful natural wood doors that are covered with paint, you’ve probably dreamed of one day scraping away those thick layers to reveal what’s underneath. However, what’s probably stopping you is the thought of all that laborious scraping. Well, an abrasive cup brush can make this project doable for any DIYer, since they conveniently mount on an electric drill or angle grinder to get the job done with much less effort. These handy brushes are also great for a variety of other tasks, including cleaning, deburring, roughening and rust removal.

Joining the list in this update is the carbon steel Milwaukee 3-Inch Knotted, which is designed to handle tough tasks involving castings and sheet metal. It’s compatible with select 4-1/2-inch or 5-inch Milwaukee (and competitive) grinders that have 5/8-11 threaded spindles.

Moving into the Number One spot is the DeWalt DW4910, which is evenly balanced and features an internal holding plate for smooth performance and user safety. Although it’s designed for heavy-duty jobs, it can be counted on to provide scratch-free results.

Whichever selection you choose, make sure it’s compatible with your electric drill or grinder. For safety’s sake, always wear adequate eye protection and follow all instructions and safety warnings provided by the manufacturer of your brush and your machine.

Last updated on September 07, 2019 by Karen Bennett

Karen Bennett lives in Chicago with her family, and when she’s not writing, she can usually be found practicing yoga or cheering on her kids at soccer games. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s in English, and her writing has been published in various local newspapers, as well as “The Cheat Sheet,” “Illinois Legal Times,” and “USA Today.” She has also written search engine news page headlines and worked as a product manager for a digital marketing company. Her expertise is in literature, nonfiction, textbooks, home products, kids' games and toys, hardware, teaching accessories, and art materials.


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