Dremel Tool - Cleaning, Polishing, Repairing, Maintaining?

[aussielass]

Hi guys, I bought a bench grinder but it wasn't suitable (the wheel shields weren't detachable, DOH!!) Then I decided I neither had the space nor inclincation (read guts) to deal with something so large and potentially dangerous if/when it starting flinging things around like missiles.
I decided to err on the side of caution and purchase the new Dremel 3000 Kit, resplendent with handy cord extension thingie for doing more accurate/refined work. This will do me fine and dandy for bowl & stem polishing and maintenance I believe.
So, can y'all please list your favorite Dremel bits and bobs, especially things that you've discovered yourself that weren't specifically meant or made for the Dremel.
Do you use larger or different pads that you've sourced? If so, what are they, where do you get them etc?
How do you go about getting super fine grit sandpaper for them, say 1200 for example?
Is the secret to polish on slow or fast speeds in your opinion?
How do you get around putting compound on such teeny, weeny pads, or don't you? Ditto Carnauba wax.
Have you ever sanded the inside of a bowl with a Dremel?
Have you found a fabulous seller of Dremel (or superior compatible parts) who sells at bargain prices?
Any super fabulous tips or hints you've discovered along the way (this doesn't qualify, but yesterday I put half an alcohol soaked bristle pipe cleaner in it & did a shank, worked reasonably well but I reverted to doing it by hand).
Please just add any and all thoughts you have on the topic of the wee Dremel to assist those of us who don't have the big polisher set ups
Cheers Di

 

[markw4mms]

I'm not a big fan of mixing Dremel tools and pipes. If you do try polishing with it, slow it down as low as it will go, use very light pressure when using it. What I think would work better is just buy a motor (1725 RPM max), and a arbor to mount a buffing wheel on.

 

[buckeye]

The only thing i use a dremel tool for is finishing and rusticating my homemade pipes.I bought a variable speed

drill and buffing pads from Pimo to buff with.Also need a vise to hold the drill.

 

[aussielass]

Yep, finishing & rusticating, hadn't thought of that one.
Re polishing, I've bought the Dremel and won't be buying any other equipment, so it's just going to have to fit the bill - it all packs up into one teeny box that slides away instantly, can be used for a zillion other jobs around the house and is perfect for a girl or the non-handyman type who doesn't mix well with large powertools (although I love using them, bigger the better).
So far I'm liking it a lot, she's done a great job on various stems & bowls, I'm more than happy with the results - to the extent I would've happily and naively paid someone to make them look that good, if there was such a person in the country.

 

[ejames]

I'm with MarkW on this. While a Dremel is a great tool and I love mine it doesn't get used much if any for polishing or sanding pipes.I use it ocassionally when I'm making a pipe for semi-rough shaping and some rusticating. I don't think you will find any really fine grits of sanding drums etc for a dremel. Finest I have found is 400 grit.Waxing can be done with a Dremel if you are careful,always use the slowest speed setting.For shining up your stems I'd buy some Micro-Mesh and break out the elbow grease.Or check around Ebay or Harbor Freight Tools or Amazon for one of those $39.00 buffers.

This place has tons of stuff for a Dremel as well as a lot of other handy tools--

http://www.widgetsupply.com/
Edit--Why would you want or need to sand the inside of a bowl you are restoring?

 

[tobakenist]

Very handy for doing your own dentistry :nana:

 

[revs]

being a dremel fan myself, there aren't many sanding grits available. Not sure I have found anything higher than 300. They work best for small jobs and detail work. Polishing a pipe would be a bit of a challenge due to the lack of a very low speed on most models. Rustication and minor sanding would be fine just watch your speed and pressure.
Remember, if you are polishing and let it sit too long in one spot it will generate a lot of heat. Enough to melt plastics or burn woods.

 

[lonestar]

If you need to sand inside a bowl, the best is to wrap a piece of sandpaper around a wood dowel or a large drill bit and sand up and down with it. To get to the very bottom of the bowl, push the sandpaper down a 1/2" or so past the bottom of the drill bit so it folds under when you get to the bottom of the bowl.

Buffing with a dremel is really tough to get right, but it can definitely be done. I've done hundreds of pipes with one, but you need a good technique to get it right and it takes a long time to do.

The best wheels I've found are similar to these;

http://tiny.cc/wgqfc cloth wheel for applying carnaube at medium speeds.

http://tiny.cc/5to0u wool wheel for final buff at fairly high speed.

The technique I use is something like this; Apply carnauba heavily over the entire pipe with cloth wheel, then go back over it 3-4 times in tiny little circles to even out the coat and try to erase any line the wheel has left in the wax.

Then buff the entire thing with wool to smooth it out even further.

Good luck, its a lot of work.

 

[aussielass]

Cheers Revs, learnt the speed one already and ooh,la,la, I wish I'd never touched that old stem with 300 grit thinking I'd just skim the oxidisation off lol. Still, at least I had to good sense to go with something that was already really damaged - it's all a great learning/experimentation process.
Great contribution, thanks Lonestar, here's hoping I end up as adept as you clearly are once I get the hang of this wee beastie. So far I'm loving it. Will head to your links.