When cleaning magnesium parts, use which type of brush?

• A. Soft nylon brush
• B. Steel wire brush
• C. Wire brush
• D. Stiff, nonmetallic brush

Answer: (D)

Cleaning magnesium parts calls for something that can scrub away oxides without causing sparks or introducing metal contamination. Metal brushes, like steel or wire, can produce sparks and leave ferrous particles on the surface, which is risky with magnesium and can promote corrosion or ignition of any fine magnesium dust. A stiff, nonmetallic brush provides the needed cleaning action to remove tough oxide and grime while remaining non-sparking and non-conductive. Soft nylon may be too gentle to remove heavy oxidation, whereas metal brushes pose spark and contamination hazards. Therefore, the best choice is a stiff, nonmetallic brush.