How hard is it to polish things??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jorgensensc · 12-03-2003, 04:08 AM

I'm hoping to get a dremel ths xmas and would like to polish some engine stuff. How hard is it and what do you use for chemicals and polish? Any suggestions would be great too!!!

Smokin72on20s · 12-03-2003, 04:12 AM

jorgen, what kind of dremel are you looking to get? i want to get a dremel as well to clean and polish things on my truck. do they make attachments that are specifically made for polishing stuff?

jorgensensc · 12-03-2003, 04:29 AM

I figured you would post smokin!! I was reading your other post.
I want to get this:
Dremel

Not sure how good it is though.

67cst · 12-03-2003, 05:31 AM

if either of you guys are interested i got a brand new dremel, still in the box, its the deluxe setup with all sorts of add ons and lots of extra discs and buffing bits...pm if your interested

jorgensensc · 12-03-2003, 05:45 AM

I PMed you.

Terry Peerson · 12-03-2003, 07:18 AM

I wanted a Dremel-Tool for years..until I got one. IMO it is the most useless tool that I own (and I own some useless tools!) It is too light-duty to do much of anything other than maybe carve your name in a SOFT piece of wood. I bought it when I was doing some ceramic-tile work in the kitchen. I thought it would be handy to make the more complicated cuts. I was WRONG!

Just my 2-cents

tom hand · 12-03-2003, 11:10 AM

I agree with Terry Peerson...A Dremel is tooo light duty to do much polishing. To do any real polishing, you need at least a buffing wheel on a bench grinder, and a die grinder for nooks and crannies. Eastwood has all the stuff you need to do it, and even a "how to" video.

http://www.eastwoodco.com/department...bCat=Compounds

sactoC10 · 12-03-2003, 12:12 PM

Ditto on the dremel. Polishing takes practice, and much trial and error. I do not have a bench grinder, so in place of my Dremel which was not effective in my attempts to polish, I started using buff and polish attachments on my drill. I have polished numerous motorcyle parts this way (frame, wheels, forks, etc...). Not sure what parts you intend to polish, but I found wet sanding to be the "secret ingredient" in the successful polishing recipe. That and patience. Read all article, such as the Eastwood one...and practice. Also note that different metals will require some different techniques.

cdowns · 12-03-2003, 12:28 PM

with a dremal you could polish nuts and bolts that's about it

RON WOODGEARD · 12-03-2003, 12:43 PM

The dremel is TOO SMALL for "most" jobs, It is great for getting into tight small areas, but don't plan on polishing valve covers or an intake.... The wheels are too small, and you will polish ridges, pockets, or rough spots into what you're working on.

You need a bench grinder/buffer. speed of about 3500 RPM. 1/2 horse or more motor. I have one that I use for my jewelry work, and An old jewelry one that I use for my Toy work.

A good drill will work with attachments, But be prepared to burn it up, or waste the bearings, A drill is designed to drive it's force straight down, not take the pressure from the side. ( been there, Done that!) I used a drill on my grille when I reworked it for the Billet insert. I posted pictures of it step by step. a year or so ago. Also posted pictures of an Old set of M/T valve covers I revived. the dremel will work in between the fins, kinda...
You start with a aggressive cutting compound and a 4" to a 6" Buff wheel, then you work your way down in aggressiveness until you are very smooth compound and a very soft, Cotton, or Muslim Buffing wheel.with a very smooth rouge, compound. It works just like sanding, rough to smooth.

Been doing this stuff as a profession for 24 years.

sactoC10 · 12-03-2003, 02:34 PM

Yes, you will burn up the drill. I go through drills often, but they are failrly cheap ones that I buy, knowing that I will eventually fry the bearings. But they do work good, especially when you have parts that would be hard to hold up near the bench grinder/buffer.

jorgensensc · 12-03-2003, 04:01 PM

Wow!! Thanks for all of the great information!!! I guess I won't be getting one!!! I was hoping it would be good for polishing and doing other type work, but I guess not!!! Thanks again!!!

*dtlilly* · 12-03-2003, 04:22 PM

I'm surprised Dinnut hasn't responded here, he has "love to polish things" under his avatar. I agree the dremmel is light duty. I used one to etch my name on all my tools.

Hutch · 12-03-2003, 06:54 PM

This would look good in a Chevy truck.
You might have to wear shades when you opened the hood though.
Deals on Wheels

BtnkBndt · 12-03-2003, 07:03 PM

I am not to fond of dremmels either. They are okay with the little cut off wheels on them.

I just did a quickie polish on an intake. I used a 6 inch sewn buffing wheel(white & tripoli compounds) mounted on a drill press. Used an 8 inch piece of 3/8 all-thread to chuck it up. Gave great access to the wheel this way.

dinnut · 12-03-2003, 11:14 PM

i just saw this post

i love to polish things and also wan a dremel or something like it for christmas so i actually polish things

heres what i got for my birthday... my first polishing tool will also be used to sand rust away...

12-03-2003, 04:08 AM	#1
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	How hard is it to polish things??? I'm hoping to get a dremel ths xmas and would like to polish some engine stuff. How hard is it and what do you use for chemicals and polish? Any suggestions would be great too!!! __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

12-03-2003, 04:12 AM	#2
Smokin72on20s Ebay Junky Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CO Posts: 893	jorgen, what kind of dremel are you looking to get? i want to get a dremel as well to clean and polish things on my truck. do they make attachments that are specifically made for polishing stuff? __________________ 1972 CHEVY C-10 SWB 2WD - Possible Typhoon 4.3 turbo drivetrain.. 1983 Chevy c10 swb 2wd - possible 350tbi supercharged...

12-03-2003, 04:29 AM	#3
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	I figured you would post smokin!! I was reading your other post. I want to get this: Dremel Not sure how good it is though. __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

12-03-2003, 05:31 AM	#4
67cst i love summertime Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kelowna BC Posts: 4,302	if either of you guys are interested i got a brand new dremel, still in the box, its the deluxe setup with all sorts of add ons and lots of extra discs and buffing bits...pm if your interested __________________ 1967 shortbox stepside Chevy, 365 hp 327, th400. GLOVE BOX LIGHTS FORSALE, click link for info http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=273724

12-03-2003, 05:45 AM	#5
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	I PMed you. __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

12-03-2003, 07:18 AM	#6
Terry Peerson Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bonner Springs, KS Posts: 313	I wanted a Dremel-Tool for years..until I got one. IMO it is the most useless tool that I own (and I own some useless tools!) It is too light-duty to do much of anything other than maybe carve your name in a SOFT piece of wood. I bought it when I was doing some ceramic-tile work in the kitchen. I thought it would be handy to make the more complicated cuts. I was WRONG! Just my 2-cents

12-03-2003, 11:10 AM	#7
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	I agree with Terry Peerson...A Dremel is tooo light duty to do much polishing. To do any real polishing, you need at least a buffing wheel on a bench grinder, and a die grinder for nooks and crannies. Eastwood has all the stuff you need to do it, and even a "how to" video. http://www.eastwoodco.com/department...bCat=Compounds __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

12-03-2003, 12:12 PM	#8
sactoC10 71 DELUX Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Northern CA / Sac Posts: 1,055	Ditto on the dremel. Polishing takes practice, and much trial and error. I do not have a bench grinder, so in place of my Dremel which was not effective in my attempts to polish, I started using buff and polish attachments on my drill. I have polished numerous motorcyle parts this way (frame, wheels, forks, etc...). Not sure what parts you intend to polish, but I found wet sanding to be the "secret ingredient" in the successful polishing recipe. That and patience. Read all article, such as the Eastwood one...and practice. Also note that different metals will require some different techniques. Last edited by sactoC10; 12-03-2003 at 12:42 PM.

12-03-2003, 12:28 PM	#9
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	with a dremal you could polish nuts and bolts that's about it __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

12-03-2003, 12:43 PM	#10
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	The dremel is TOO SMALL for "most" jobs, It is great for getting into tight small areas, but don't plan on polishing valve covers or an intake.... The wheels are too small, and you will polish ridges, pockets, or rough spots into what you're working on. You need a bench grinder/buffer. speed of about 3500 RPM. 1/2 horse or more motor. I have one that I use for my jewelry work, and An old jewelry one that I use for my Toy work. A good drill will work with attachments, But be prepared to burn it up, or waste the bearings, A drill is designed to drive it's force straight down, not take the pressure from the side. ( been there, Done that!) I used a drill on my grille when I reworked it for the Billet insert. I posted pictures of it step by step. a year or so ago. Also posted pictures of an Old set of M/T valve covers I revived. the dremel will work in between the fins, kinda... You start with a aggressive cutting compound and a 4" to a 6" Buff wheel, then you work your way down in aggressiveness until you are very smooth compound and a very soft, Cotton, or Muslim Buffing wheel.with a very smooth rouge, compound. It works just like sanding, rough to smooth. Been doing this stuff as a profession for 24 years.

12-03-2003, 02:34 PM	#11
sactoC10 71 DELUX Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Northern CA / Sac Posts: 1,055	Yes, you will burn up the drill. I go through drills often, but they are failrly cheap ones that I buy, knowing that I will eventually fry the bearings. But they do work good, especially when you have parts that would be hard to hold up near the bench grinder/buffer.

12-03-2003, 04:01 PM	#12
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	Wow!! Thanks for all of the great information!!! I guess I won't be getting one!!! I was hoping it would be good for polishing and doing other type work, but I guess not!!! Thanks again!!! __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

12-03-2003, 04:22 PM	#13
dtlilly Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shadow of Lambeau Field Posts: 5,597	I'm surprised Dinnut hasn't responded here, he has "love to polish things" under his avatar. I agree the dremmel is light duty. I used one to etch my name on all my tools.

12-03-2003, 06:54 PM	#14
Hutch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Grapevine, Tx. Posts: 2,142	This would look good in a Chevy truck. You might have to wear shades when you opened the hood though. Deals on Wheels Attached Images __________________ John Hutchison Grapevine,Texas 68 1/2 t swb 68 Mustang 69 Jaguar 71 1/2 t swb 88 Supra CompTs6m 93 Escort GT 2005 Corolla XRS

12-03-2003, 07:03 PM	#15
BtnkBndt Pennyless Fool Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Forney,Tx Posts: 439	I am not to fond of dremmels either. They are okay with the little cut off wheels on them. I just did a quickie polish on an intake. I used a 6 inch sewn buffing wheel(white & tripoli compounds) mounted on a drill press. Used an 8 inch piece of 3/8 all-thread to chuck it up. Gave great access to the wheel this way. Attached Images __________________ "Who owns this car with the peace sign, the mag wheels, and four on the floor?" 67 Short Step 283/TH400/4.11



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12-03-2003, 11:14 PM	#16
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	i just saw this post i love to polish things and also wan a dremel or something like it for christmas so i actually polish things heres what i got for my birthday... my first polishing tool will also be used to sand rust away... Attached Images __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

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