How to Use a Dremel to Polish Aluminum
by Mary Lougee
New aluminum items have a deep polish on their finishes that reflects much like a mirror. Wheels, motorcycle parts, bumpers or any other aluminum becomes dull over time and may acquire pits from the weather. Dremel makes handheld rotary tools with attachments that are effective at polishing dulled surfaces. Start by using the Dremel to give a thorough sanding of the aluminum with heavy grit paper and working toward a fine grit paper to remove pits and small scratches. This creates a smooth surface for polishing.
Step 1
Unplug your Dremel from the electrical outlet if you have a model with a cord.
Step 2
Press and hold the shaft lock button on the top of the shaft near the collet. The collet is a round metal nut that holds the Dremel attachments in the tool.
Step 3
Turn the tip in the Dremel clockwise by hand until it will no longer move. Place the collet wrench over the collet nut and turn counterclockwise to loosen it.
Step 4
Slide a 60-grit sanding drum into the collet and turn the collet wrench clockwise to tighten fully.
Step 5
Plug the Dremel into an electrical outlet.
Step 6
Hold the Dremel as you would a pencil among your thumb, forefinger and middle finger, on the indention near the tip of the shaft. Turn the Dremel to the low speed setting, or 5,000 rpm on a variable speed Dremel. Slide the “On/Off” button to the “On” position.
Step 7
Pass the Dremel over the aluminum object in slow strokes from side to side, making certain to sand all areas of the metal.
Step 8
Turn the Dremel off and unplug a model with a cord. Loosen the collet and slide a 120-grit sanding band onto the sanding drum.
Step 9
Repeat the sanding process in the same manner. Remove the sanding drum and band, replace them with a 180-grit sanding disk, then a 220-grit disk and finally a 240-grit disk to finish sanding. Wipe the aluminum with a dry washcloth to remove any particles.
Step 10
Place a polishing wheel in the Dremel and tighten it completely. Place the Dremel tip in a can of polishing rouge to apply the rouge to the polishing wheel.
Step 11
Polish the aluminum in the same manner as you sanded. Apply more polishing rouge as needed to obtain a high-gloss mirror finish on the aluminum.
References
Tips
- The repetitive sanding creates an extremely smooth aluminum product to accept the polish for a mirror finish.
Things You'll Need
- Collet wrench
- 60-grit sanding drum
- 120-grit sanding band
- 180-, 220- and 240-grit sanding disks
- Washcloth
- Polishing wheel
- Polishing rouge
Warnings
- Do not press down on aluminum with the Dremel tip. The tool will work on its own without pressure from an operator. Pressing down hard can bend, break or destroy a Dremel accessory.
- Make certain that the collet is tight on each Dremel accessory. A loose collet allows the tips to wobble in the collet, or they can fall out and make indentations on aluminum projects.
Writer Bio
Mary Lougee has been writing for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree with a major in Management and a double minor in accounting and computer science. She loves writing about careers for busy families as well as family oriented planning, meals and activities for all ages.
