Thread: To Dremel or Not To Dremel

Ok, one more.

I have the Lynn Abrams DVD and he uses a Dremel with a buffing wheel along with MAAS. Then, I read a post here where gsixgun says Dremel is a no no (read Perfect Is the Enemy of Good). Too easy to catch and ruin.

So, my friends, please help set me straight.

Thanks

David

If you have a lot of experience with a dremel, and are patient, it can work....

....but most guys who wind up using a dremel seem to do so as part of a desire to speed things up without buying and learning to use real power tools. The combination of a ridiculously fast, practically worthless marketing-gimmick-in-power-tool's-clothes and an impatient new restorer is the recipe for a ruined razor and/or missing digits or sucking chest wounds.

I'd just stick to hand-work...dremeling with MAAS or such doesn't really do much anyway, IMO/E.

Let me take a guess about what Glen was getting at... In unsure or unexperienced hands, a dremel or a buffer can be the quickest ways to destroy a razor...

I know that I've read that some guys that do GREAT resto work use dremels, but these guys are not slouches. For the first try, handsanding is a safe and reliable way to go.

If you have some experience, and have a few razors to work with that you can get your skill up to speed on (not grandpa's), a buffer (or a dremel in a pinch) can save lots of time... but it can also ruin a razor, or really hurt you in the blink of an eye

Originally Posted by Del1r1um

I know that I've read that some guys that do GREAT resto work use dremels, but these guys are not slouches.

IME TheTopher could do a heck of a job mirror polishing a razor with a Dremel. After 10 or more hours of hand sanding. It wasn't a shortcut IOW.

Thanks. I actually have a great deal of experience sanding and buffing. I am a guitar maker and a pipe maker.

In spite of that, I am going to follow the advice given and stick with hand work. I have no reason to go fast. And if fast is the only benefit, with ruining my razors or hurting myself hanging in the balance, there is no value in it for me.

Thanks again.

David

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IME TheTopher could do a heck of a job mirror polishing a razor with a Dremel. After 10 or more hours of hand sanding. It wasn't a shortcut IOW.

True true... although a buffer does cut down the time a lot... still not for the faint of heart.

Originally Posted by Del1r1um

True true... although a buffer does cut down the time a lot... still not for the faint of heart.

Actually I was reinforcing the point that even with the skill that TheTopher has he still had to hand sand for 10 to 12 hours to get to the point where he would use the Dremel. If someone is not prepared to do that ground work the Dremel isn't going to be a more efficient way to go ... unless I'm badly mistaken.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Actually I was reinforcing the point that even with the skill that TheTopher has he still had to hand sand for 10 to 12 hours to get to the point where he would use the Dremel. If someone is not prepared to do that ground work the Dremel isn't going to be a more efficient way to go ... unless I'm badly mistaken.

Oh I know that... this time i was talking about a bench buffer (with greaseless), not a dremel. I agree 100% with you.

I actually have a lot of dremel experience from past crafts and hobbies. I tell people all the time not to use a dremel because most asking are usually trying to find a shortcut. I do use my dremel for some sanding when making scales and for inlay work. I even use it for some polishing on parts of the metal. I would never use it early on in the restore and certainly would never ever use it to do any sanding on the metal.

My point of view is, if you have enough experience to use a dremel for a restore, you would not have to ask if or when you should use a dremel for a restore.

Well said, Baron.