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Dremel Micro Mini Disc Sander

video Dremel Micro Mini Disc Sander

In this video I convert a bit on my Dremel into a mini 1.25 flat sanding disc for finishing my jewelry pieces. By mounting the rotary tool in a Dremel workstation, I am able to make it function almost as a little bench sander/ polisher. I can easily switch to a finer sandpaper grit without even removing the disc from the Dremel.

The video is a little long. I suppose because I spend time explaining what I'm trying to accomplish My favorite workspace is inside the house, and I can't exactly have big noisy power tools blasting away! Here is one of my many modifications to make something I couldn't find.

20 comments

Mar 15, 2012. 4:05 PMwandrist says:

You can buy the disc arbor at Foredom electric.
https://02d2854.netsolstores.com/rubbersandingdrum.aspx
Bottom of page.

A-M338 Mandrel, Disc, 2" Dia., 1/8" Shank
Price: $8.40
Disc mandrel with 1/8" shank for mounting 2" PSA Sanding Discs in flex shaft handpieces and BL Lathe.

Dec 10, 2011. 10:28 AMRay from RI says:

Excellent tutorial...!

You might want to mount a plexiglass barrier between you and the tool in case one of your objects your sanding get knocked out of your hand and into your face.

Ooooor just wear a protective face shield which I guess would be safer.

Keep up the good work!!!

Oct 16, 2010. 11:45 PMoakironworker says:

Great build I have to do this. I love when something cool can be made out of simple and cheap stuff like this.
I don't know if you are, its kind of hard to tell in the video but avoid being in the plane of the disc. I had a larger disc explode and the hospital called the cops because they were convinced it was a bullet wound. That side of my leg is still numb 30 years later. Yours is smaller but spinning much faster.
Greg

Dec 26, 2010. 8:59 PMtechnosasquatch says:

Isn't that why dremel says not to apply pressure to the face of the disc tools

Jan 27, 2011. 4:31 PMriseabove (author) says:

Uh oh, does it say that? It occurred to me that I could make this with a simple wooden disc on that little mandrel. Do you think it would be safer? Just yesterday I came across some stuff at Lowes that makes me think my invention is already obsolete! It was a bunch of "Gator" stuff , plus I bought an arbor adaptor that you can add to a drill chuck. But my cordless drill doesn't have an "stay on" option, so get out the duct tape!

May 21, 2011. 1:39 PMmdog93 says:

If it was me, I would make a wooden disc, router/ drill half a recess for the screw then mount that onto the mandrel. To make it more convenient i would use that self- adhesive Velcro (hook and loop) sheet you can buy and stick one side to the wood and stick other part to different grade sanding papers. That would make it easier to change. Another thing is if you keep the piece you're sanding in the lower quarter of the disc, it won't try to grab it outta your hand as much, and if it does- the piece will hit the table or go down, not up in the air or towards your face.

Just my thoughts :) Good idea though, i don't know why you don't jut get a better disc to mount sandpapers on as standard with tools like this.

Oct 17, 2010. 2:35 AMriseabove (author) says:

Thank you for the nice comments! I will keep your warning in mind about being in the line of fire. I would not have thought of that. But I did at least put on those safety glasses around 12:40 in the video, they mysteriously disappear from the background.

Nov 4, 2010. 4:42 PMtwighahn says:

enter the dremel contest

Jan 27, 2011. 6:40 PMriseabove (author) says:

I think the Dremel contest started a week or two after I posted this instructable. I'm pretty sure that would have made it ineligible, because it was previouslly posted.. I had several other projects I thought about entering, but with the Holidays, I just never got around to it.

I appreciate the encouragement though. This is a really nice bunch of people on instructables!

Jan 28, 2011. 1:06 PMtwighahn says:

we have to be its rules lol

Nov 3, 2010. 9:25 AMripit says:

i remember about 25 years ago dremel did have something like this. i wonder why they don't have it anymore?and from what i see in the vid yours works much better than thiers did!

Jan 27, 2011. 6:42 PMriseabove (author) says:

I really expected someone to say "oh, they already make that, it's part number 558883" but it never did happen. Someone must have gotten hurt bad 25 years ago!

Jan 9, 2011. 1:21 PMgroovy says:

nice ible

Jan 27, 2011. 4:26 PMriseabove (author) says:

Thanks dude!

Oct 17, 2010. 1:52 PMdaniboi1977 says:

This is an awesome idea! I've been struggling with the same problem with my jewelry...I hate sanding for hours, but that little screw always scratches things up. Having a very limited income, I've forced my Dremel to do just about anything you could do in a full jewelry studio. Except for act as a rolling mill...if you can figure out how to do that, you'd be my hero forever! lol. Thank you for sharing this!

Jan 27, 2011. 4:09 PMriseabove (author) says:

Thank you! My dremel will always be the most used tool on my workbench. I've used my pasta maker and my Sizzix to emboss metal and flatten some pretty crazy things. I'll have to checkout what a rolling mill does....
I'm on it!

Dec 9, 2010. 12:52 PMmarcgoovaerts says:

Well, looks very good. Only hope I'lll find such 'Sticky Dots' over here in Europe.
But I've never seen the black tool you use for cutting sandpaper discs either. Could you give me the name and make of those things ?

Jan 27, 2011. 4:01 PMriseabove (author) says:

Marc, I apologize for the slow reply, I didn't realize that I was receiving comments on my video here. I just posted this message a moment ago about some alternatives to the sitcky dots that work very well:

I think many types of adhesives would work well for this, I just wanted to demonstrate a variety in each video. In a prior video, I used adhesive spray called 3M Repositionable Adhesive and Elmer's Craft Bond Spray Adhesive, You can get those at any craft or hardware store. Also sometimes called Stencil Spray Mount or Spray Adhesive for mounting prints to a mat before framing. The Pad of stick dots is made by ThermoWeb . Am I allowed to post a url? I'm not sure but I'll try: www.thermoweb.com

There is also a doublesided tape product that is that has a red peel-off liner, I imagine would really hold well. I can't remember the name of the red super tape ... anyone?

I've been meaning to try just good ol' rubber cement. Cheap and maybe it would add a layer of safety, heh? A little rubber buffer to hold it all together?! Or a round dot of Velcro, with the heavy duty adhesive.

Oh sorry! I'm adhesive nut, can you tell? I forgot to answer your question about the paper punch. It is a EK Success Paper Punch, sold in Craft stores or Amazon . It also goes by the brand name Paper Shapers. And Stampin' Up sells this line as well. Many other manufacturers make them, but I think this brand is the best quality. Have a look at EKsuccessbrands.com products papershapers . Other manufacturers would be Marvy Uchida, McGill, Fiskars, The other brand names have escaped me right now. You will surely find some on eBay or Amazon.com
Am I allowed to post urls? not sure!

Dec 30, 2010. 11:23 AM

Nekayah says:

This looks great, and I want to make some. Unfortunately, I am deaf, and although I could get a pretty good idea of what materials you were using (I'm very familiar with Dremel accessories), I couldn't hear their names. And where do you get the sticky dots? Fabric stores? Craft stores? You had a really good shot of that product, but can't remember seeing that particular item. I don't know how many times I've cursed that central screw: many thanks for figuring out a way to overcome it.

Jan 27, 2011. 3:41 PMriseabove (author) says:

Hello Nekayah, I apologize for the slow reply! I did not realize I was receiving comments on my Video here. I think many types of adhesives would work well for this, I just wanted to demonstrate a variety in each video. In a prior video, I used adhesive spray called 3M Repositionable Adhesive and Elmer's Craft Bond Spray Adhesive, You can get those at any craft or hardware store. Also sometimes called Stencil Spray Mount or Spray Adhesive for mounting prints to a mat before framing. The Pad of stick dots is made by ThermoWeb (therm o web dot com) Sticky Dots Die-Cut Adhesive 8 sheet Pad Created for Die Cuts. It is super duper sticky! I am still using the same sanding discs that I made in this video, several months later! It is sticky! I bought that item at Michael's Craft Store, similiar to Hobby Lobby elsewhere. Thank you for your nice comments! I'm sorry you had to wait so long for a reply!