USES FOR STEEL WOOL

Steel wool is an amazing product. There are many uses for steel wool, it can be used for several things from survival to pest control. I am not sure of it's original purpose but it is made of very fine mild steel very close in nature to raw iron. It comes in many grades from very course to very fine. There are also different types of metal made into wool, there is stainless steel, copper, and bronze. These do not rust of course but do not have as many uses as ORDINARY steel wool.

Wood workers used steel wool for polishing all kinds of finishes including varnishes and paint. It shouldn't be used on oak because it reacts with what is called the tannins in the wood and may stain it an undesirable color.

Steel wool can be used for scouring in the kitchen as well, and is marketed under many different brand names with soap added to it. This works well but it rusts after the first use. However, if you put in it a sandwich baggy and put it in the freezer until it's next use it will last a lot longer.

Steel wool can be used as a fire starter in survival situations or for everyday fire starting. It lights very easily with a spark or flame but the best way to light it is using a nine volt battery and a spring from a pen or a small piece of wire. To light it using a spring from a pen and a battery, disassemble a click pen and remove the spring. Put one side of the spring into the center of one terminal of the battery and when you have your tender bundle ready insert the other side of the spring into the top of the battery, the spring will get cherry red and will light the steel wool. To use a piece of wire you do pretty much the same thing except using the wire instead.

Steel wool can also be used for rodent control. Placing steel wool around openings where rodents frequent will deter them. They cannot chew through it and if they try it inflicts major pain in their mouth and major stomach problems, if ingested it will kill them.

Steel wool is very good for polishing aluminum. Try it out on your rims, of course use the finer grade not the course stuff for this application.

Steel wool can also be used to tighten up a loose screw. If a screw is stripped out just add a little steel wool into the hole before inserting the screw. The steel wool will take up the extra space and act as new threads as the screw goes into the hole.