🔍 Key Concepts

• Relative hardness of metals and how that affects wear on precision surfaces • Manufacturer guidance for cleaning oil burner atomizers and nozzles • Why using a softer metal tool can protect seating and orifice surfaces

💭 Think About

• Which part of the burner atomizer are you trying to protect while removing carbon, and what kind of damage are you trying to avoid? • Among the listed metals, which are typically used for cutting tools or very hard, wear-resistant applications—and would those be gentle on a small orifice? • For delicate machined surfaces, would you generally choose a tool harder or softer than the base material to clean deposits?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which of the listed metals are known for being very hard / high-strength for cutting or drill bits • Consider which option is soft enough that, if it scraped the seating or orifice, it is more likely to deform itself rather than the burner metal • Recall common engineering practice for cleaning fuel injector tips / burner nozzles in marine and industrial settings