What do you use to clean head gasket surface?

[kip]

What do you guys use to clean the old head gasket material off of the head and cylinder?

[bill-ns]

I use a 3M attachment... it's made of a rubbery type plastic with impregnated abrasives. It's got all kinds of fingers and fits on a die grinder.
Used to use Roloc wheels, but they can remove too much metal... I'll see if I can find a pic of what I'm talking about

Bill

Edit - Alright... I guess they're called Roloc Bristle Discs...

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/pc-13507-707-3m-roloc-bristle-discs-2-3-discs.aspx

[MrDude_1]

I use a 3M attachment... it's made of a rubbery type plastic with impregnated abrasives. It's got all kinds of fingers and fits on a die grinder.
Used to use Roloc wheels, but they can remove too much metal... I'll see if I can find a pic of what I'm talking about

Bill

Edit - Alright... I guess they're called Roloc Bristle Discs...
http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/pc-1...2-3-discs.aspx

thats exactly what i use... the plastic finger thingy for the angle air grinder...

[ovlovder]

I use a 3M attachment... it's made of a rubbery type plastic with impregnated abrasives. It's got all kinds of fingers and fits on a die grinder.
Used to use Roloc wheels, but they can remove too much metal... I'll see if I can find a pic of what I'm talking about

Bill

Edit - Alright... I guess they're called Roloc Bristle Discs...
http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/pc-1...2-3-discs.aspx

thats exactly what i use... the plastic finger thingy for the angle air grinder...

I concur just used this very item on my civic head gasket, green works best...

[kip]

cool. thanks guys.

[cafebaltimore]

First I carefully use a razer blade to remove most of the gasket.

Then I use these 3M Scotch Brite pads with a block of wood like I am sanding a piece of wood. I also find keeping the surface wet with carb cleaner helps a lot. I use the maroon color. The proper manufacture name is Scotch-Brite General Purpose Hand Pad

I tried to find the 3M green disc but had no luck at Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, and local painting supply stores.

http://www.freemansupply.com/ScotchBriteIndustr.htm

[ovlovder]

Scotch brite is tough because little bits are constantly coming off, you definately do not want these in your engine. My Snap-on guy sells the roloc discs, Id check there.

[MrDude_1]

First I carefully use a razer blade to remove most of the gasket.

Then I use these 3M Scotch Brite pads with a block of wood like I am sanding a piece of wood. I also find keeping the surface wet with carb cleaner helps a lot. I use the maroon color. The proper manufacture name is Scotch-Brite General Purpose Hand Pad

I tried to find the 3M green disc but had no luck at Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, and local painting supply stores.

http://www.freemansupply.com/ScotchBriteIndustr.htm

ovlovder just said what i was thinking... those pads come apart.. especially on sharp 90s like near the cyl wall, the coolant ports, ect...
NAPA has the 3M attachements in the store... my local advance auto also has them, but i dont think all of the stores keep them in stock.

[kip]

I found the roloc bristle disks at a AC Delco car parts store. I tried the Advance here and no luck. I got a 2" green and the disk holder. Worked great, even with my cheapo cordless drill.