Introduction: Dremel Micro Mini Disc Sander
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About: I’m a maker, crafter, tinkerer, putterer. Jewelry artist & jewelry hacker Tool fiend & tool hacker A bit of a web geek. Just an all around crafty-sort I love to make videos and share my discove…
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.
26 Comments
10 years ago on Introduction
This is a neat idea..
HI,
I am also making a Rotary tool at home using a brushless motor and a pin vise, following is a build log.
Build Log - Homemade Rotary tool
11 years ago on Introduction
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!!!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Yep, good advice for sure. A few moths back, a disc broke when I was using it correctly (not modified). Fortunately, I had the unit turned 90 degrees clockwise from the way I was working in this video.
12 years ago on Introduction
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
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Thanks for the safety warning, about staying out of the plane of the disk! See my comments above, about when one disc broke and WOULD have shot right into my neck , if I hadn't followed your advice!!
A HUGE thank you! You really saved my neck, dude!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Isn't that why dremel says not to apply pressure to the face of the disc tools
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
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!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
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.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
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.
11 years ago on Introduction
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.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Wow, those are perfect! Thank you for posting the link!
I must post a followup photo of what happened when one my Dremel Disks really did break in half while I was cutting something ...It shot off across the room, just as someone warned me about in these comments!
When I saw how sharp the edges of that broken disk were ... it was pretty scary to think of the damage it would done to me, if I hadn't had the unit facing perpendicular to my body. (flat side of the disk toward me). It spun in parrallel line to my body, so it shot off to the left, fortunately! I'm really glad I heeded the advice in the comments, or it would have flown right into my neck! My safety glasses would not have been sufficient protection... that's for sure!!
10 years ago on Introduction
Nice easy going on video, learned a thing or two. Like a slow boat to China. Here in the Netherlands we have a supplyer called Proxxon (German, good quality stuff), they sell ready made sanding disks for the Proxxon drill used as a vertical hand sander for the Dremel. The pieces of sanding paper have a glue on the back side, and are being glued to the rubber base. Their merit is ready made disks, cheap; their disadvantage is availability in restricted coarseness (80, 100 and 150, I think) and coming loose in a really short time if you do not steer your hand properly. Very often the rpm is too high, and the piece of sanding paper is gone. I converted a piece of steel for the Dremel tool, glued to this steel base a piece of sticky backside sanding paper receiver (made from a 110 mm diameter disk) and used circled out pieces of backside sanding paper (by scissor). This is tedious. Your solution is so better than mine. So you saved me money and time. Therefore: thanks.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I haven't logged into Instructables for awhile, and was so happy to find these nice comments! Thanks for taking the time to add your thoughts. I've seen many Proxxon tools that I've been longing for, for years now! They make some neat stuff. I'm on the hunt here for a DIY version of their tabletop hot-wire foam cutter, in fact!
Thanks for the feedback!
12 years ago on Introduction
enter the dremel contest
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
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!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
we have to be its rules lol
12 years ago on Introduction
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!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
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!
12 years ago on Introduction
nice ible
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Thanks dude!