My wife is being mean....

blendtobac · 01-19-2012, 08:08 AM

Dremels are problematic for polishing stems. If you keep the rpms slow enough not to burn the vulcanite (under 2000), the tool doesn't have the torque to do the job easily. A stitched wheel on a grinder set for, say, 1750 rpm, dressed with red compound or jeweler's rouge will remove the oxidation and an unstitched wheel dressed with Carnauba wax will shine the stem and reduce further oxidation. I also soak the stem in a 50/50 mix of bleach and water for an hour before buffing.

Russ

01-19-2012, 08:08 AM	#18
blendtobac Just in from the Storm Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 8 Trading: (0)	Re: My wife is being mean.... Dremels are problematic for polishing stems. If you keep the rpms slow enough not to burn the vulcanite (under 2000), the tool doesn't have the torque to do the job easily. A stitched wheel on a grinder set for, say, 1750 rpm, dressed with red compound or jeweler's rouge will remove the oxidation and an unstitched wheel dressed with Carnauba wax will shine the stem and reduce further oxidation. I also soak the stem in a 50/50 mix of bleach and water for an hour before buffing. Russ