Dremel Technique

With a two speed (4 AA) battery powered dremel at the moment, what I'm reading is that the lower speed (6,000) in my case, is likely the better to restore the shine and remove oxidation from older blades.

The pressure used with the buffer, and heat generated are a big consideration. Likely I will use Flitz polishing compound, or possibly a car parts store-polishing compound. How does this sound to those with experience?

Has anyone fashioned an effective buffer from cloth or other material or do you prefer to continue with dremel replacement buffer attachments?

I wouldn't use that dremel. 6k rpm is too fast IMHO. I mean, sometimes I use it, but mostly I use 2k rpm or 4k.

I have been using 2 buffers with 8 inch wheels for the majority of my restoration work. One is 1100 RPM and the other is 1800 RPM and they both work fine. You still have to watch out for the heat.

Lynn

+1 what Lynn said, I have a 1750 rpm buffer/grinder in my workshop. It's variable speed, but heat is still a consideration. Stop buffing frequently and check the blade for heat, never use too much pressure especially near the edge. A Dremell can be used, just be careful. I use "Mother's" mag wheel polish, MAAS, Dremell Polish, Professional buffer rouge's, stuff like that...

Exactly,

over heating is your worst enemy and please be carefull. Be it a dremel or buffer (even 1100 rpm). If those wheels catch your blade the wrong way it'll be flying out of your hands at such a speed you would not believe was possible.

Kinda like a, ting,,,,, pfffffftttt, ping sorta sound.....:cry:

Hmmm, most dremel tools that I've encountered operate at 5K or higher speed. What model am I missing? Ideas?

300i, 450, 400...

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Kinda like a, ting,,,,, pfffffftttt, ping sorta sound.....:cry:

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:rofl2::rofl2::rofl2:

Something I do-which will prolly be seen as a bad idea by most here-is to hold the blade flat against my index finger with my thumb in my left hand and polish it that way. This lets me feel when there is any heat, and the fact that my finger is right there makes me really careful about using the dremel-making sure that its rotating the right way not to snag anything. I'd never do this with anything close to a sharp or cracked blade. Its entirely possible that I'm going to end up with a really nasty cut from a whiplashed or snapped blade one of these days (knocking on wood), so try at your own risk. I've been working with a dremel for a while, so if you aren't pretty familiar with one I wouldn't try it.

One day I lost a beautiful (and rare) 6/8th + W&B special with a killer smile… the dermal picked up traction, went around the spine to the other side and snapped the blade… I guess I should have made one of those “blade rests” everyone talks about… instead one holding it in my hands... nor very smart.
So now I use a small "home built" buffer with lots of torque, medium hard 3" felt wheel, Simichrome polish, 700 RPM (seven hundred), moderate pressure... blade rarely ever gets hot to the touch.

Everyone says overheating is bad. Why? What happens to the metal if it gets too hot?

Just curious.

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Originally Posted by JetHed

Everyone says overheating is bad. Why? What happens to the metal if it gets too hot?

Just curious.

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well, you can change the temper of the blade...meaning it will get too soft to hold a good edge.
This is a chart that demonstrates...the specifics of course depend on the steel composition.
Temper Colors and Steel Hardness : anvilfire.com

Honestly though, I think 1000rpm on a bench buffer about the same than 5000 on a dremel. What matters isn't rpm, but edge speed for heat buildup and speed of work. Increase the radius/diameter by 2 times, and the diameter increased by 2x. And therefore the edge speed at the same RPM increases by the same multiple.

I have yet to really try a dremel on my razors though...busy trying to learn the art of the straight razor shave...ok...I really haven't sent by razor to be honed yet...but soon.

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Originally Posted by MetalAndy

well, you can change the temper of the blade...meaning it will get too soft to hold a good edge.
This is a chart that demonstrates...the specifics of course depend on the steel composition.
Temper Colors and Steel Hardness : anvilfire.com

Honestly though, I think 1000rpm on a bench buffer about the same than 5000 on a dremel. What matters isn't rpm, but edge speed for heat buildup and speed of work. Increase the radius/diameter by 2 times, and the diameter increased by 2x. And therefore the edge speed at the same RPM increases by the same multiple.

I have yet to really try a dremel on my razors though...busy trying to learn the art of the straight razor shave...ok...I really haven't sent by razor to be honed yet...but soon.

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Personally I find it hard to believe that you could (or at least would) heat a razor to a point where you'd change its temper while holding it in your hand against a cloth wheel. The steel would have to be glowing cherry red and the wheel would be charring and smoking if not in flames. Having said that, I will say there is a safety issue when the steel is too hot to maintain a firm grip. Also the thin edge will certainly deform because of thermal expansion while the thicker center will not (certainly not as much) and this will place much stress into the blade and can cause cracks to propogate.

Regarding the calculation of size/RPM differences between bench wheels and Dremel type things, calculate circumference by multlying the diameter of the wheel by PI (3.14). An eight inch wheel has a circumference of 25.12 inches. That means for each revolution, 25 inches of wheel are passing on your razor. At Lynns bench with 1800 RPM the razor is under 45,216 inches of wheel/minute. That is dragging the wheel along your razor at about 43 miles per hour. For a 1 inch wheel on the Dremel, that is 3.14 inches per revolution, times 6000 rpm is 18,840 inches of wheel/minute. This means the Dremel is putting the wheel along your steel at only about 18 mph. Who'd a thunk it?

If the razor gets whipped out of your hand at 43 mph, it is going to do damage to something, hopefully it won't be you.

Brad

My dremel technique:

Step #1: Don my lucky Spiderman PJs

Step #2: Always wear goggles

Step #3: Whip dremel out of it's sheath and hold it above my head (at 3,000RPM) whilst yelling "In the end there can be only one!" and then lay hands upon the nearest Double Arrow and hack a few thumbnotches in it

Thanks Brad for doing the math. Quite interesting.

@Brad: Actually, steel transfers heat pretty slowly. If you hold a dremel on the blade while holding the tang, you can heat it beyond temper heat before the tang even gets warm.

I just use a dremel with small felt wheels @7000 rpm and chromium oxide buffing compound. I know an 8" buffer wheel would be much faster, but them things scare me to death.

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Originally Posted by Bruno

@Brad: Actually, steel transfers heat pretty slowly. If you hold a dremel on the blade while holding the tang, you can heat it beyond temper heat before the tang even gets warm.

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Oh sure but try that with an ancient Egyptian copper razor and see how long you can hold onto it.