🔍 Key Concepts

• Material hardness compared to the fuel nozzle/atomizer metal • Risk of scratching, scoring, or changing spray pattern holes • Why smooth, non-metallic tools are often preferred for precision fuel parts

💭 Think About

• Which material listed is hardest and most likely to gouge or distort small precision openings? • How would even a small scratch inside an atomizer tip affect fuel spray, combustion efficiency, and possible soot or smoke? • Think about standard shipboard practice when cleaning injectors or burner tips: what kind of tools are typically recommended in manuals?

✅ Before You Answer

• Compare relative hardness of steel, brass, copper, and wood to the likely material of the atomizer tip • Ask: Which material could permanently damage or enlarge tiny spray holes rather than just removing deposits? • Recall: Manufacturer guidance usually warns never to use very hard or sharp tools on precision fuel parts