Better than flap wheels?

I was checking out threads about grinding out blades using flap wheels on grinding wheels. I do a lot of work with a grinding wheel on a day to day basis and the thought of grinding something that already has (some what of) a blade on it does not sound so great to me...
:gth

I also do a lot of work with micro tools and the thought crossed my mind that there might be something better out there?

I came across this from one of my vender's that looks exactly what the doctor ordered.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares...oduct&ID=83165

What do you guys think?

I just ordered the set--I guess we'll find out how they work. :) I'm really hoping the high-grit wheels work, as that would let you put a near-mirror finish on a blade with a Dremel.

Josh

Damn! I wanted to be the first...

:bow

It looks crazy cool!

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Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I just ordered the set--I guess we'll find out how they work. :) I'm really hoping the high-grit wheels work, as that would let you put a near-mirror finish on a blade with a Dremel.

Josh

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There's alway Maas...

Hey Josh, you check these little numbers out?

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares...oduct&ID=14160

I've seen a couple grit sizes online and at the Home Depot but not the third. I like the one you just got the best though. Way more grit options.

I believe these are what Bill Ellis recommends in his razor restoration tutorial CD. No doubt thst they can get the job done.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xChris

I believe these are what Bill Ellis recommends in his razor restoration tutorial CD. No doubt thst they can get the job done.

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The mini flap wheels or the bristle disks?

I haven't gone through Bill's entire CD yet, but I only remember seeing something like these bristle disks on his big buffer. I didn't realize they existed for the Dremel. Sweet!

The only thing I'm not crazy about is it looks like you have to take the mandrel apart to change disks. I'd rather just switch the mandrel... Maybe I should have gotten some extras. :)

Josh

I bet those replacement dremel mandrels would work (Home Depot, etc.). Looks like they have them at Micro-Mark too. You might have to modify them with a longer screw. It looks like kind of a weird size, you might have to go to a local fastener shop (screws, bolts, etc.) to get one.

Flap wheels are still a cheap way to get a satin finish past minor pitting and rust. With that being said, I'll probably order up these puppies eventually. Would have done it sooner but I never heard back from Victor after he ordered a set. A review would have been useful.

Yes, these are the radial Bristle Discs that Bill likes. I have a set on order. I am still experimenting. So far I hate using a rubber disc mandrel with PSA paper. Even at low speeds I can not keep the dam PSA film on the dam mandrel. When I am able to keep the PSA film on for any length of time; I do not like the curved lines it leaves on the blade. I do like using the 1/2" round mandrel, and making my own 1/2" bands using the tutorial posted on the board here. I am looking forward to trying the bristle discs when they arrive.

I got a multi-grit kit (the smaller ones for the dremel) from Rio Grande jewelry supply back in the winter. The idea came from Bill Ellis CD. I wasn't so impressed, but maybe the big buffer-sized discs he showed work better? The little discs work well for the jimps, but seem too wimpy for the blade even when you stack a few of them on the mandrel. The trick is to let just the trailing edge hit the surface as this seems to get quicker results. Flap wheels IMHO still rule the roost when it comes to cleaning up the main blade.

-Steve

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Originally Posted by Elspago

I got a multi-grit kit (the smaller ones for the dremel) from Rio Grande jewelry supply back in the winter. The idea came from Bill Ellis CD. I wasn't so impressed, but maybe the big buffer-sized discs he showed work better? The little discs work well for the jimps, but seem too wimpy for the blade even when you stack a few of them on the mandrel. The trick is to let just the trailing edge hit the surface as this seems to get quicker results. Flap wheels IMHO still rule the roost when it comes to cleaning up the main blade.

-Steve

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I wonder how much speed (rpm's) comes into play here. With any grinding wheel you have an effective speed per application. You can sometimes get by without changing the speed of your tool but it will not be as effective as it would if you did. Sometimes fast just does not work, were slow has amazing results (and vs. vs.).
Sometimes not changing speed can be flat out hazardous. I've seen a guy loose his right shoulder from a large wheel blowing up due to not having changed the speed on the machine he was using. He was trying to make time by not slowing down the machine to accommodate the type of wheel he was using (I believe it was a large glass wheel).

Steve,

Thanks for your impressions; that's a little disappointing. I hope I didn't just waste $50... :)

Josh

Hey Josh, I just picked up Bill Ellis's restore CD (2007) and his using these exact smaller sized wheels for restore. He recommends them if the blade is not cleaning up after using a buff and Maas. He goes on to say,

"I cannot begin to tell you how invaluable these things are".

He uses the larger 6" wheels for the final finish to get those little grinding lines in the blade that come stock with most blades out of the factory.

Now you got me beat... I have to get me a set

BTW, it looks like he only uses one at a time on the mandrel.

Please post a review after you use them.

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Originally Posted by Martlet

Please post a review after you use them.

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+1

These are going to be my next purchase. I also want to get those little low grit sanders from Rio that Bill uses in the '07 restore CD. I did a review of the buff compounds (they work great I might add).

I'm about two months late with this, but I've finally had some time to try out these bristle discs.

Initially, I was very disappointed with them. After using flap wheels, they seemed really puny.

On further review, I'm glad I added them to my toolkit. They aren't as fast as flap wheels, and I wouldn't use them for heavy work. But for tasks like polishing a metal bolster or cleaning the shank of a razor between the scales, they are excellent.

Right now, I'm using one, two or three on the spindle at a time. I keep my Dremel set to one, so I'm not too worried about having an accident.

Yesterday I cleaned a razor that had some light water staining on the blade and lots of gunk on the bolsters. Maas took some of it off, but using a single bristle disc let me really clean the crevices nicely. On the blade I started with the 400-grit disc and finished with the 6 micron one. It didn't eliminate the water staining like flap wheels would have, but it was a gentle way to make the razor more presentable.

So my review: two cheers for bristle discs. :)

Josh

Where can one get Bill's CD?


Greg

www.billysblades.com

James.

Thanks, Jimbo!