Thread: Re-using dremel felt pads?

Thanks to all.

Originally Posted by 0livia

Yes you can reuse them with the same compound.
The green one or any compound thats oil based is best to wash out with lighter fluid (Ronson or Zippo).
Just let it soak a bit, hold the dremel into a paper cup and switch it on.

Here's your corrected version, LOL

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

All of these answers are good., except I would change Olivias gasoline to lighter fluid(Ronson or Zippo).

As a major proponent of using tools for their proper job....

Just use mineral spirits or such cleaning solvent. Lighter fluid is, chemically, much more abrasive, filled with detergents, and does not evaporate due to low volatility.

I use the same wheel until it wears out. I also use different abrasives with the same wheel. The paste wears off of the wheel with a few spins anyway. You are supposed to clean them?

bj

Originally Posted by 0livia

Here's your corrected version, LOL

I was polite.

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

As a major proponent of using tools for their proper job....

Just use mineral spirits or such cleaning solvent. Lighter fluid is, chemically, much more abrasive, filled with detergents, and does not evaporate due to low volatility.

You may want to revise…

Lighter fluid is (mostly) Naphtha, a petroleum distillate, a solvent, is very volatile and vaporizes quickly leaving no residue.
And if lighter fluid did have any detergents, should it not be good to help clean the felt pad?

Originally Posted by smythe

You may want to revise…

Lighter fluid is (mostly) Naphtha, a petroleum distillate, a solvent, is very volatile and vaporizes quickly leaving no residue.
And if lighter fluid did have any detergents, should it not be good to help clean the felt pad?

Naptha is a much slower drying solvent (is used as a retarder in some applications), and is more "oily" so to speak. The detergents and such aren't so much a problem cleaning, but they will make it harder to make the felt pad work later... either will work, but IME a pure solvent is much better for the job.

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

Naptha is a much slower drying solvent (is used as a retarder in some applications), and is more "oily" so to speak. The detergents and such aren't so much a problem cleaning, but they will make it harder to make the felt pad work later... either will work, but IME a pure solvent is much better for the job.

OK… let’s put it this way… what’s fast for you, may be slow for me (or the other way around)… but you don’t want a “fast” drying solvent when cleaning the pad or it will dry out before doing the job… or you have to put in a sealed container to soak.
Naphtha will remain in the pad long enough to dissolve the spent polish before completely drying up… better still you switch on the Dremel and let it “spin dry”.

I have been doing this with one such pad for countless polishing/cleaning cycles with no problems… it is amazing to see the pad looks like new after it is cleaned. There are many other solvents that may work better (faster), but most tend to “strip” and eventually destroy felt fibers, but Naphtha does not… you should try it.