Dremel Tool Speed

asleepinTucson · July 4, 2002, 11:01 PM

What speed (RPMs) do you use for polishing feed ramps and connectors with flitz or semichrome. Fastest 35000 rpm or slowest 5000 rpm or somewhere in between. Dremel recommends about 17000 rpms for metal polishing. Does it really make a difference??

Blast · July 5, 2002, 02:26 AM

More heat is generated with higher RPMs; and this can cause annealing, i.e. softening or case hardening of heat treated metal, depending on the metal and treatment. I can't tell you what RPMs to use but Dremel's recommedation sounds about right

Alex Johnson · July 5, 2002, 04:13 PM

The wrong speed will probably just burn up your wheel and maybe cause ripples in the surface of whatever your polishing. I don't think you would get it hot enough to hurt the temper in a part, that takes an awful lot more heat than you'd be able to generate with a cloth wheel on a relatively large steel part that would act as a heat sink.

maxxx93 · July 5, 2002, 06:42 PM

I understand that 15,000 to 18,000 rpm is the correct range.
So 17,000 is right in the ballpark.

July 4, 2002, 11:01 PM	#1
asleepinTucson Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2002 Location: Hampton Roads, VA Posts: 107	Dremel Tool Speed What speed (RPMs) do you use for polishing feed ramps and connectors with flitz or semichrome. Fastest 35000 rpm or slowest 5000 rpm or somewhere in between. Dremel recommends about 17000 rpms for metal polishing. Does it really make a difference??

July 5, 2002, 04:13 PM	#3
Alex Johnson Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2000 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 812	The wrong speed will probably just burn up your wheel and maybe cause ripples in the surface of whatever your polishing. I don't think you would get it hot enough to hurt the temper in a part, that takes an awful lot more heat than you'd be able to generate with a cloth wheel on a relatively large steel part that would act as a heat sink. __________________ I thoroughly disapprove of duels. I consider them unwise and I know they are dangerous. Also, sinful. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet retired spot and kill him. - Mark Twain

July 5, 2002, 02:26 AM	#2
Blast Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2002 Location: NorthernKY Posts: 142	More heat is generated with higher RPMs; and this can cause annealing, i.e. softening or case hardening of heat treated metal, depending on the metal and treatment. I can't tell you what RPMs to use but Dremel's recommedation sounds about right

July 5, 2002, 06:42 PM	#4
maxxx93 Member Join Date: November 24, 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 21	I understand that 15,000 to 18,000 rpm is the correct range. So 17,000 is right in the ballpark.