Buffing and Polishing tools

[gtanak]

Hi all,

Found some threads about polishing and buffing bracelet but few describing their setup and tool bits used. I'm into Amazon looking to get my handheld Dremel from em and just wondering what tool bits will be useful for polishing, buffing and other general modding like drilling, shaving crownguards, inserts etc.... you get it!

Hope guys here can share your setup, which handheld, bench tool and importantly, tool bits.

Thanks!

G

[PeteM]

You can get large boxes with numerous tools bits and heads, these will cut, grind, sand and include polishers

These are on the Bay or try Watchbitz here.

You can get polishing compounds from Amazon or the bay etc. The colurs of the compounds relate to their abrasivness etc.

I just searched around looked for the dremel bits with the best selection in the box, again quite cheap, then practised on bits of metal to see the best way of using it.

You can also get table jigs to hold the dremel in place again amazon the bay or maybe watchbitz

Something like this is what I started with then I just went from there

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3a51057b1a

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item53df10048a

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item414f77df85

http://shop.ebay.co....3286.m270.l1311

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[mjmj]

This is great information. Thank you Pete. Now I can go invest in one.

[plaifender]

Just got my Dremel last month. LOVE IT! I got the digital 400 and it's amazing. I love how i can adjust it exactly by revolution that I want.

[HauteHippie]

Here's the polishing station in one corner of my workshop. Not glamorous, but it gets the job done. I'm on my 3rd Dremel, and I go cheap now. They seem to burn out about every 5th AR run.

Here's a 2Geek AR crystal I took in for repair. Note the coating flaking in the middle and near the edge:

About 20 seconds of dremel work without any polish has removed a bit of the AR on the right side:

Got out the polish and finished cleaning her up nicely... ready for a brand new coating:

[mas6002mi]

nice pics Chief.

[gtanak]

Thanks a lot for sharing guys.. and great photos Chief. Can you guys share the specific tool bit, like the name or serial number if you're using dremel? Just realised there's gradings from coarse to super fine and like 5 different types of cloth mops!.. Thanks!

[HauteHippie]

I use Dremel #414 felt wheels.

[ubiquitous]

Nice work, chief!!

Wow... Pretty crazy how that crystal's AR is flaking off... And how it comes off even without any rouge or compound...

[freddy333]

For polishing ss, I use a Sears Craftsman 'Cloth Polishing Wheel" (part 925033) & green rouge on my Dremel. But if you have the space, Chief's bench grinder, fitted with a large cloth wheel & rouge, is the way to go.

[Cats]

If i want to polish the crystal of my 1680 with polywatch or displex can i use a Dremel cloth wheel or so I have to so the job manualy

Regards

Cats

[offshore]

Cats,

Part of the Polywatch process, is that it "melts" the acrylic crystal a little and fills the "craters" with the melted product.

So I don't think using a Dremel is going to achieve much...also the product is more liquid than abrasive, so again I doubt a Dremel is going to increase the effectiveness.

O/S

[PeteM]

As well as the creams liquids and grade of rouge the biggest thing that threw me was the extensive variations in felt pads, I had no idea. And they are just as important as the application itself as if its not correct then it can harm the surface or make the applicaion ineffective.

[earlgrey-erfurt]

cheapo rolls

http://www.tools-tech.de/shop/stuck-schleifband-15mm-dremel-p-145.html

[offshore]

For polishing ss, I use a Sears Craftsman 'Cloth Polishing Wheel" (part 925033) & green rouge on my Dremel. But if you have the space, Chief's bench grinder, fitted with a large cloth wheel & rouge, is the way to go.

I've gotta agree with Freddy &Chief here...whilst a Dremel is an indispensable little multi tool, if you are going to get serious about polishing, a bench grinder with a tapered spindle and polishing mop is the way to go.

We sell a mini bench grinder-http://watchbitz.com.au/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=237, which has a Dremel style attachment.

(Its too heavy to ship cost effectively outside of Oz though...you may find one locally)

Now this unit can be fitted with a tapered spindle and a polishing mop, and will JUST do the job.

Anyone who gets really serious about polishing, finally finds that they need at the very least a 6" grinder, and preferably an 8", and the higher the wattage (+500) the better.

At the end of the day a Dremel won't really pack the punch (torque) to do any serious polishing...our mini unit is fine for hobbyists....but when it comes to serious polishing, you will never beat something with a load of grunt.

Offshore

[jtiis]

Got a Q on the topic of polishing.

My watch guy has a nice cloth polishing setup something like chiefs and I've got a gen whose case has some descent scratches I'd liked polished out, but I'm concerned about the case edges loosing their crisp shape in the process (if the shape of the case would effect your reply - it's the Baume & Mercier 8733 viewable here http://forums2.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?p=2401897 ). Is this a justified concern? If so, should I use cape cod cloths and expend a good bit of energy or would my results likely be unsatisfactory by such means?

TIA.

[Mickey Padge]

I am struggling to get a mirror shine when I polish steel, I am also having a hard time finding what the softest cloth wheel is, and the finest rouge. It is so tricky searching the web when the variation is so large, I end up just using a cape cod cloth.....

Any links to a EU/UK sale of the softest wheel and finest rouge for a dremel would be greatly appreciated!

[Panoris]

I'm with Mickey, though I just picked up a nice 6" dewalt bench grinder that I'll get some good wheels for polishing with.

[gtanak]

Finally made up my mind and placed my order on Amazon...

1) 8000-03 10.8V Cordless Dremel rotary kit - $63

2) 684-01 20 piece polishing kit - $13.50

3) Dremel 2500-01 Rotary multi vise - $25

4) 421 Dremel polishing compound

I'll be using this mostly to polish bracelet links/clasps and eventually cases and crownguards even. Anyone can comment if i'm missing any essential attachment or accessory? Thanks!