Dremel bottle cap sander

Riseabove has a wonderful tutorial on how to convert your Dremel into a micro mini disc sander for jewelry. I had been looking for a way to setup my own sanding system and after alot of research and experimenting, I came across hers and couldn't wait to try it.

There was only one problem: the cutoff wheel itself. After reading the comments lots of folks posted (some helpful, some not), it was made clear that using the cutoff wheel was not a good idea, since it can't take pressure on the top and could break and send pieces flying! Way too dangerous! One guy said he used acrylic, but couldn't cut it into a perfect circle. I knew I wasn't going to go out and buy acrylic just to cut a sloppy circle so I set about looking around the house for something else.

Step 1: Find an appropriate size bottle cap!

Yep. I said it. A bottle cap. You need a plastic one. Rummage around in your recycle bin. Look for empty bottles in the cabinet and bathroom. These are just a few that I found that work perfect for my project.

Comments

[vicco72]

Simple but brilliant! Thank you for sharing, I have being using different dowell diameters, will be doing a couple of this in the morning.

[audreyobscura]

Such a good idea!

[justsayingno]

Thanks!

[paganwonder]

Good thinking! Now in my dremel kit...very handy!

[justsayingno]

Let us know how it works!

[ringai]

Try using plain old sandpaper and 3M 77 spray-on adhesive. It works a treat. I use it to mount small sanding disks on a blank #2 morse taper mandrel on my lathe. It works great for removing cyanoacrylate from pen blanks.

[justsayingno]

I will keep that in mind, but there are two issues with just adhesive. 1) I have to cover the screw on the mandrel so that my surface is all smooth. With velcro, it sinks into the middle and when I put my sandpaper on, there is no bump. Just like the foam covers the screw in riseabove's tute. 2) I have 12 grits to use and plain adhesive takes too long to get off! Hence velcro.

[jschumaker]

Could you use a Sharpie and write on the side of the cap?

[justsayingno]

Actually, I've discovered that I can write right on the hook part (the non-fluffy side). I have to use a silver Sharpie, since my velcro is black, but if you have the white kind, you can write with any color sharpie!