How-I Do-A-Wire-Brush-Polish-Finish

How-I Do-A-Wire-Brush-Polish-Finish

In the course of time I've been creating High-End-Custom Steel Furniture - it's amazing how many people (Designers, Customers and End-Users) LOVE the "look-of-Steel".

A softer, more pewter-like-silvery-gray-color is one that I like too, but- is not-so-easy-to-create.

The process I use, after all my fabrication is complete (weld-splatter's removed + welds are smoothed) is to have the object Sandblasted-1st.
Then, using a Cup-Shaped-Knotted + Twisted Wire Brush (attached to my variable-speed right-angle-Milwaukee grinder) I go over the sandblasted surface and create a cloud-like-atmospheric effect on the Steel Parts.
After wiping the dirt off the the Steel using Mineral Spirits (or Xylol) I then either wet spray the piece- or lately have been coating with a Matt Clear Powder Coat.

Today- I noticed my trusty Steel Wire Cup Brush (I use a separate one for Type 304 Stainless and NEVER cross-contaminate them) was wearing down and I should get a new one. 

Part Number 12306 Weiler Knotted + Twisted Wire Brush Cup Brush @4" diameter

That led to a very frustrating round of Phone Calls- 
1st to my local Welding Supply House- WISCO who did not have the brand, or the size of Cup that I wanted-. 
Next - I went to The Manufacturer's WEILER's website, BAMMM! and found what I was looking for.
Now....where to buy it?
On WEILER's website is a page that directs you to retail sellers of their Industrial Product 
(I do not "get" that segregation of Industrial v.Retail Customers personally- but that's for another Blog Post!)
So- I type in my ZIPCODE to that box on that page - and 
lo-&-behold-are familiar (Grainger, FastenAll, etc.) 
names, that I don't usually buy from (poor Customer Service being the main reason)- 
so I hold my nose😬- and call.
And Call.
And call some-more. 
Either they have me on hold, can't find there part number I give them from Weiler's website, or- they have none in their Inventory.😫
I know - look at Amazon😎. Not available to ship until 2 weeks from today.😡

 

4" Single-Row-Knotted-Wire-Cup-Brush

 💡So..........I go back to The Manufacturer, and call Customer Service. I explain to The WFH-staffer in Customer Service my woes. He listens. And- he provides me with a phone number to The Regional Sales Rep. David Blaine. David answers - listens to my dilemma and time spent trying to buy a part, from a Company that he Reps, that no one wants to 

or is able to sell to me - and does something that is quite amazing.

He (David) offers to send me one- FREE-Of-Charge, for my being a tenacious Customer.

That- Ladies and Gentleman- is great Customer Service. 

And, a- Thursday afternoon bit of "drama"- that a "Normal-Customer"- normally- would have navigated another route, found a comparable item, or- just made do with the short-haired-Wire-Brush-they already owned.
Not me.

If you are ever in the need to POLISH Steel- in a non-linear-fashion, and to get that effect need to buy a WEILER brand Cup brush........think of how grateful you are, 
in now knowing- How-A-Pro-Does-it! 😉

McNichols : How-I-Was-Made-(W)HOLE) > a Revised Opinion

In my efforts to steer, influence and provide Intelligent, "fully vetted" Resources to my readers,
I've set up this blog to identify excellent Resources for those in the fields related to Design & Architecture.

I'd posted in January 2017,  about a truly unsettling Customer Service experience in dealing with an Industrial Supplier, that I've purchased from for many years.

In the course of a very short period of time, after my encounter with McNichols- I was pleasantly shocked and amazed to receive an email, and a follow-up phone call from
someone with the same last name-McNichols-
as the Company that I'd had the Customer Service issue (or failure thereof) with.
The dialog that followed, provided me an insight, into how the 3rd generation President-
Scott McNichols, truly cares, about each and every Customer's experience.

To start, I have to say- I've met & talked to many CEO's and President's of Corporations,
both big and small, in my lifetime- yet- my conversations with Scott McNichols truly created
a whole-'nother-level-of-respect for him as an Owner, and the Company he leads.

It's not often that when someone- anyone-
is wrong- that they'll listen - not argue, & they'll acknowledge the concerns
that made you feel aggrieved enough to contact a Customer Service Sales Manager,
and later create a blog post ,
without ever defending their Company (or making any excuses).
Wow!
With Scott McNichols - the Buck-Does-Stop -   There.
He "owned" the issues that screwed up my order-
and went above and beyond to rectify the situation.

I could go on to describe in full detail, all the things that Scott said (and did) to fix the problem-
( I won't bore you with the details....)
and
to make me a HAPPY CUSTOMER-
who will forever speak about McNichols- as a Company that
truly- "gets it".

BTW- any doubts, about my encounter with Scott McNichols.... just read the comment he left on my blog-

Holenole said...

Mr. Kramer,

I am truly sorry for your experience and sincerely apologize that we did not meet your service expectations. We certainly do strive to serve each customer with everything we have and that clearly did not happen according to your personal testimony. We are celebrating our 65th anniversary this year and are much better than you have truthfully described.

I will be sure to mark your account so that you do not receive the Scripture messages on your paperwork should you choose to give us another chance to serve you.

I want to thank you for your honesty. We will use it to improve because that is what all of our customers deserve.

Once again, I am truly sorry for the unfortunate experience you had with McNichols.

Sincerely,

Scott McNichols
813.205.1222
scott.mcnichols@mcnichols.com

McNichols- a class act!