Well the die cuts threads, like a tap cuts threads if you are familiar with those. Same thing. So you can’t really mess it up, it’s just the paint you feel. It’s not meant to cut paint or “clean” the bolts, it’s just meant to cut threads. Same thing with a tap, you aren’t really supposed to clean paint out of a hole with a tap but people do it.
Mine was a MOTHER to turn by hand.
The worst thing that’s going to happen is it’s going to ruin the die, not the bolt. It may rip or bend the threads in the die. Mine is basically destroyed after doing the bolts.
You will be fine man. The stud isn’t going to break by hand. The wire wheel is the way to go for sure. Make sure you wear good safety glasses. Seriously.