Wire brush

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A wire brush is a tool, consisting of a handle, usually wood or plastic, occasionally bone, and a brush. The brush is made from a large number of steel wire bristles. This utility was first designed by french inventor Albert Sylvestre in the 1950s. Wires in a wire brush can be held together by epoxy, staples, or in some cases one continuous wire. Some types of wire brushes can also be used on an angle grinder or electric drill.

The wire brush is primarily an abrasive implement, used for cleaning rust and removing paint. It is also used to clean surfaces and to create a better conductive area for attaching electrical connections, such as those between a car battery posts and their connectors, should they accumulate a build-up of grime and dirt. Wire brushes can also be used by veterinary nurses in the cleaning of large animals' teeth, such as crocodiles and pigs.

The origins of the wire brush are unknown, although it is believed that the Romans used similar tools in the manufacture of roof tiles.