Small Part Buffing and Polishing

[David Dunlop]

What would be the best approach for working with small parts of Bakelite, or Lucite, that require buffing/polishing?

There are lots of excellent compounds out there, but I am wondering about tools? Seems to be lots of polishing kits out there for Dremel style tools. Anyone ever worked with them enough to figure out their benefits and/or pitfalls?

David

[Jordan Baker]

Dremel works great but you need to “go slow” as it can quickly overdo it and wreck something very fast compared to hand buffing.

[Matthew P]

Personally I'd fit a buffing wheel to a bench grinder and hold the part in a handheld vice of some sort (pliers, vice grips, threaded rod on a stick...

I think actual buffing setups are slower speed and larger diameter then most home/hobby ones. I believe this is to allow for heat dissipation. Also plan on holding the tool or holding the part. Holding both is for desperate last minute touch ups before shows

Matt