Abrasive Techniques - How To - Hot Rod Magazine

Abrasive Techniques

Working on cars is not easy. If it were, everybody would be doing it. But often the difference between a laborious task and the quick execution of an operation is the right tool. In this case, the tools are some interesting kits from Standard Abrasives.

Gasket scraping is never an enviable chore. It's one of those tedious operations that all hot rodders must endure. But Standard Abrasives makes this job easier with the Engine Prep Kit (list price $45.95), which contains several innovative products. The surface-conditioning discs (sometimes called "cookies") offer a closed-weave nylon surface with a quick-change back that mounts to a mandrel drive, which can be used in a drill motor or pneumatic drive. These discs work great for quickly removing hardened gaskets and surface rust, and the less aggressive blue pads will not damage delicate aluminum.

Another trick Engine Kit tool is the Cross Buff, which makes a great reconditioner for lifter bores. Standard Abrasives offers these Cross Buffs in various grades that make them applicable for transmission valvebodies, brake cylinders and carburetor venturis, among other uses. Standard Abrasives also offers a Cylinder Head Porting Kit (list price $42.95), which is set up much like the other kits. Each kit supplies separate part numbers for each item you use so you can order additional Cross Buffs or surface-conditioning discs without having to buy another complete kit.

Standard Abrasives offers many more cool tools, including deburring wheels called Brite Rite wheels that can be mounted on your bench grinder and can polish and deburr steel and aluminum. There are dozens of other items as well. The best bet is to pick up the company's Motorsports Division catalog. Once you've used some of these products, you'll never touch a gasket scraper again.