Are my tools suitable to airgun polishing?

[wahoowad]

Hi Folks,

I'd like to do a reality check on what I have been using for some initial efforts at polishing parts on my Trail XL. I use my old Dremel and the following parts depending on the situation. Recently polished the cocking shoe and it seemed smoother when I was done. I focused on polishing, not removing material. Might move on to the trigger soon as I noticed some wear marks on my pivot pin and thought a light polishing might help. My Dremel only has one of the lower speeds working so plan to replace it with the cheapie Black and Decker I heard Walmart sold. I'm assuming the higher speeds are better for polishing and deburing steel?

I use this 'Emery Impregnated Disc' if I see burrs. It is not a stone even though this large photo of it makes it look like a stone. It actually feels very smooth and soft and it doesn't remove hardly any material. I just barely kiss the metal with it, not a grinding action. Feels like rubber actually. It seems to polish things more than remove material.

Next is this carbon steel brush. It is tiny - again, these pics make things look large and course. It seems to help polish up metal that has any kind of irregular surface. I use this after the above disc (if I even use the above disc)

This felt wheel and the compound below are my final stage polishing tools. I smear a small amount of compound at a couple spots on the perimeter of the wheel and buff the part. Seems to work well but I have no other tools or techniques to compare to.

Here's the polishing compund

So, any thoughts on the suitability of these? Any special accessories or polishing mandrels/wheels I should consider? Thanks!

[speedturtle]

I think you're good to go. You gotta work on what you have bro'. Hehehe.

[wahoowad]

Does everybody use a Dremel then? Are there better attachments I should consider?

[speedturtle]

Some uses the lathe machine itself to polish the parts like the piston unit by spinning it on the lathe and then hold a 220 girt wet/dry sandpaper on it, makes a very even polished surface that is important for that part of the airgun. The dremel attachment that you have is good for small parts polishing like trigger parts. Just be careful not to round-off some of the critical edges on the sear and the secondary lever. Nothing still beats the regular sandpaper if you know where to use them. Hehehe.

[Magnum]

I have a dremmel kit comes in a plastic box with multiple attachments, I would be lost without it  I like a polish wheel.  I use 400 and 600 grit for those careful trigger areas.

[SDale]

I'd invest in the Pen Style attachment for your Dremmel. It comes in handy when you're deburring the cocking slot in the main tube. Other than that, you're pretty much good to go!

I have the Black and Decker roto tool from Walmart. I bought it about 3 or 4 years ago for around 18 bucks I think it was. It's a good tool! most of the Dremmel accessory attachments fit. ALL of the Dremmel bits work, just need to get the B&D Collets if you wanna use something with a small diameter shaft. I also like how there's a lever to lock the chuck on it instead of the button that Dremmel uses. It's only got 3 speeds. Low, Medium and High. But you can turn the selector switch half way between the detents for in between speeds. Plus it's Bright ORANGE, so it's easier to find on a cluttered work bench.

[wahoowad]

I bought this B&D one today as my Dremel was almost dead anyway. All the attachments seem to fit between the two including mixing and matching the colletd and shafts of the various accessories. Mine sounds exactly like yours. Best part is they are on clearance at Walmart for $12.50 now!

[SDale]

12.50?!?!?! Hell, I think I'm going back today to get a spare then!

[SDale]

Oh, by the way... You can rebuild your Dremmel! Just go to their website and order a new slider switch and a set of brushes. You'll need a Torx Screwdriver to get it apart, but it's a 15 minute job.

Or go here :  http://www.ereplacementparts.com/dremel-parts-c-15440.html

CHEAPER! hehe