I use a light touch with 0000 steel wool lubricated with oil or WD-40. If it's just light surface rust. But I work mainly with high quality chrome plating. I don't buy the claim that brass wool can scratch good chrome plating. It is very thin, microns thin, but chromium has a Rockwell hardness of about 68-72, if I remember correctly. That said, it is generally not a good idea to use abrasives on chrome, and I'm not trying to start an argument here, but a light touch has always worked for me. Pitting? That a whole different story.