Thread: Flap wheels… A warning.

I received my first flap wheels for my Dremel in the mail last night. I quickly put them to use on a beautiful razor that has some pretty gnarly pitting.
I was holding the razor in my gloved hand (big mistake) while running the flap wheel across it, smoothly removing steel easier than I ever have before. Now it’s important to note that it was oriented in the correct direction. I wasn’t spinning into the edge. It turns out that the wheel can get you anyway.

The flap wheel is a tricky little (bleep), and it knows a move I’ll call the “Judo Flip”. Just like the flaps can get caught in the edge and cause harm when using it incorrectly, so can it grab the spine. And in my case, it flipped over and under the blade immediately finding the edge, snagging it, flipping right back to where it started while simultaneously ripping out a bit of the edge.

Lesson learned, always rest the blade against a solid surface. I hope this can help save innocent razors everywhere.

That happened to me using an 80 grit at 12,500 rpm. I was actually prepared for it and managed to arrest the "judo flip" by keeping the blade and dremel close to my body. A little are strength did not hurt either.

I rest the blade flat on hardback book usually (absorbs some sound since usually wife and kids are in bed) and use the flex shaft since it is smaller diameter than the dremel itself and lets me get the wheel agains the blade at a better angle.

Red

I think "Somebody" has said this so many times it is crazy....


Razor + Dremel = Disaster sooner or later....


By the way just a piece of wood with a slit cut down the length so that the blade edge sits just inside will really make it much safer for you and the razor...
The hone will polish the edge anyway....

I've never had anything happen like that with my dremel. As a matter of fact I use it so much it's my favorite tool.
But I can see the danger. Be happy the judo flip didn't turn into a worse disaster.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

I've never had anything happen like that with my dremel. As a matter of fact I use it so much it's my favorite tool.
But I can see the danger. Be happy the judo flip didn't turn into a worse disaster.

Mad Max you tempt the restore Gods there

I was using the flex tool. I should have mentioned that. It was a newbie mistake and I will certainly be more careful from now on, but I don't think I'll be giving it up my Dremel..