What is De Burring?

De Burring (also known as Edge Trimming) is a grinding process where imperfections and sharp edges, known as burrs, are removed to allow for a smooth finish to a surface material. This can be achieved using different tools, methods and techniques. This guide will explain how to deburr, it’s importance and the most effective way to achieve the perfect smooth surface.

What is De Burring and why should you do it?

When Cutting or Drilling ensuring no excess sharp metal material is still exposed is crucial to not only achieving a high-end quality finish but also a safe and useable metal surface. De Burring allows for the removal of this untidy and potentially harmful excess metal by fine-tuning your metalwork project/build.

What Tools to use for De Burring?

There are many Tools that can utilised for De Burring. These can include Blades, Countersinks, Rotary Burrs and Disc Attachments to power tools such as Angle Grinders.

De Burring Blades

The most common tool used for De Burring is a De burring Blade. This is a small manual blade used to chisel excess metal material to allow a perfect, fine, smooth completion to the working project. It is the fine-tuning process of any cutting or drilling metalwork project, allowing a pristine high-quality finish. Typically, these blades are attached to a plastic handle/holder to allow ease of use by the user.

Common blades include:

E 100 – With a B 10 Cutting Edge, this allows for internal and external deburring work on long-chipping materials such as steel, aluminium, plastics etc.
E 200 – With a B 20 Cutting Edge, this allows for short-chipping materials such as brass and cast iron. Usable in both directions.
E 300 – With a B 30 Cutting Edge, allowing for simultaneous deburring of internal and external bores in materials up to 4mm thickness.
E 350 – Ideal for straight edges and keyways
E 600 – Removes burrs from the back of material up to 20mm thick.

A chisel tool may also be used typically for the removal of much larger scale excess metal material. Whereas a De Burring Blade is more suitable for small imperfections.

Pipe/Tube De burrer

These are rarer forms of de burring tools often used specifically for pipework. They allow the removal of excess material from within the inside of a pipe or the outside. Achieved by the round 3D shape that matches the pipe design.

Countersink Deburring

De Burring Tools can sometimes be found in the form of a Countersinker. These rare tools can help to grind a smooth surface finish in the shape and form of a countersink. For more information on Countersinking, check out our post here.

Double De burrer (Disc Blades)

These De burr Tools are suitable for double-sided deburring of steel, aluminium, brass, copper and plastic sheets. Often housed within a metal or plastic handle with 2 metal disc blades, the disk blades can be turned when the cutting surfaces become worn, enabling the whole blade circumference to be utilized. Most Double De burrers also allow for adjustable distance to allow more flexibility on the grind.

RUKO Double Deburrer with HSS Disc Blades

Rotary Burrs and other Grinding Tools

Rotary Burrs are a small yet ideal attachment to air or power tools. They work by rotating at high speeds to grind away at or cut surfaces, making rotary burrs suitable tools for shaping, grinding, cutting & removal of sharp corners and excess metal and plastic materials. Cross toothing provides excellent cutting capacity, reducing clogging and ensuring precise, effective, reliable results.

Due to Rotary Burrs being ideal for metalwork-based projects, alongside the size of the tools, they are particularly popular with jewellery fixing and making. They are also often used within metalwork related industries, such as engineering, welding, aerospace engineering, automotive, deburring, grinding, casting, milling, chamfering, metal and wood sculpturing and carving, model engineering, tool manufacturing and even in some cases dental industries. You can read more on Rotary Burrs here!

Abrasive Grinding, Sanding and Cutting Discs/Tools

There are many different disc choices available to equip with a power tool such as an Angle Grinder. Abrasive Discs such as Grinding Discs or Flap Discs are used on the backing plate of any angle grinder. Abrasives are primarily used in metalworking; this is because the grain can penetrate the hardest metals and alloys at ease. The drawback to these tools is that it can be a bit too excessive, especially on small scale finessing jobs. However, their immense strength combined with a powerful angle grinder can allow for the removal of the toughest excess metal if necessary.

Health and Safety Considerations

When undertaking any de burring or grinding procedures within metalwork, it is important to know how to go about this in the safest way possible. Users should wear eye protection such as goggles or specs in the instance of shooting excess material (especially when using power tools). Hand Protection such as Gloves should be worn to prevent cuts and injuries resulted from the deburring process. It is important to remember that deburring can help to create a safer, less hazardous quality finish to a cut piece of metal, but your own safety should also be considered when ensuring a safe finished product.