Polishing super-tight areas

I use a Dremel with variable speed control. There are a LOT of options for that tool to do anything with. The guys who do tiny models with the precision of a brain-surgeon get their stuff to look perfect, if not life-like using Dremel tools and accessories, so I tried it and loved the results. There are endless buffing and detailing pads for all kinds of applications. They’ve got cloth pads, wool pads and foam pads too! I use mine to get into all the areas in the letters of my vehicle designations, along with any area that I can’t access well with just a MF towel. There’s even a large pad available that I use to get the door handle pockets and even the back-side of the door-handles. When you get these areas smooth and polished, the owners freak out with glee when they feel how soft and buttery the door handles are.

Brace heal of your hand against the car gripping the Dremel (or similar brand tool), and trace the letters like your using a pencil. Start with slow speeds and in your final polishing wind it up a bit. The results are outstanding. I usually do this before I start the rest of the car, then blue-painters-tape it off to protect it from the PC or big rotary until final polish & wax.

BIG WARNING ... these things are capable of outrageous RPM’s. Read the manual carefully to understand what # represents what RPM. I don’t think I ever go more than 15 to 20% of the RPM’s the Dremel can deliver.
 
SaintlySins- Heh heh, reading about your use of a rotary tool made me think "the hand of God was on his shoulder" :D Glad it works well for you, but oh man I think people need to be careful trying that.



[Accumulator was once seriously into scale models and knows people who actually do them for a living...yeah, some people can do amazing stuff..]



I think I'd want one of the newer digital-control rotary tools for this, and also a flex-shaft. My older Dremel and Do-More just don't offer the precise/fixed speed control that *I* would need (if only for my peace of mind). I use mine to polish up underhood bits, but I chicken out on the paintwork and do it the time/labor-intensive way (which wouldn't work out for you pros I'm sure).
 
Oh ... thank you for your compliments, however, I’m far from the “pro� I used to be ... now I like educating and training the employees on what to look for in, on and ‘into’ the paintwork and finishes, occasionally I’ll ‘prove my skills’ in the shop on a Saturday or Sunday, but I’ve not the bones to knock out 5 to 7 cars a day and my ‘other desk-job’ keeps me busy the rest of the week.

There’s only one guy on the whole shop team I would trust with a Dremel, and he doesn’t like using them unless it’s around the beefy American letters.

I guess more emphasis on care and patience is in order with this tool. As good as the results could be, you could also do some tragic damage in mere seconds.

You’re so right about “The Hand Of God� ... This is never a tool to rush with. I enjoy the results and I am completely focused and take my time maneuvering, angling, and tilting the tips without catching the underside of the letters or badges. Low speed and sloth like patience make for a spectacular outcome.

It makes sense you are/were into scale models. Seems your attention to finite details would also shine in against all the other hobbyists.
 
saintlysins- Heh heh, my "attention to detail" was sometimes my undoing when it came to scale models, it was hard to accept the inevitable imperfections. Gee, the countless hours I spent on that stuff as a young guy :o



What tips do you like for the Dremel/etc. for this application? The Dremel brand felt bobs don't seem nearly soft enough, and I sure don't like the insecure way they mount on their spindles :soscared:
 
There's a tool store near me "FORCE TOOLS" (on Route 22 West, Union, NJ 07083), that I stop in at every 2 months or so. They have packaged 'kits' for the Dremel (& similar). The kits will be for specific tasks. Sanding, grinding, cutting ... and the one I use, polishing. I do remember this also said for "jewelry" and "antique/ornate silver polishing" in the list of items it was good for.

Another store was Sears Hardware (only hardware, nothing else), has a good selection of polishing pads of foam, cotton and fabric that are cut to a variety of shapes.

I won't tell you that I'd trust ANY of these at full speed. I do like the cotton-fabric-wheel and the large foam tip that looks like a suppository (... sorry ... I just don't have a better description) for the areas under the door-handles and around letters, badges and emblems.

I have melted wax over the screw-end of the polishing bonnet attachment, to prevent any marring on the Audi (miss that car) as I detailed around the Auto Union Rings.
 
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