Silicone Polishing Wheels for Rotary tools

Silicone polishing wheels are designed to be used with a mandrel.

The mandrel size you need depends on your rotary tool, flex shaft, or micro motor.

To mount the wheels, screw the tiny screw into the silicone wheel with a small red washer on either side.

Then, insert the screw into the bottom of the mandrel and lightly tighten with a flat-edged screwdriver.

These silicone polishing wheels come in four grits, each with a different color:

Coarse = White
Medium = Black
Fine = Blue
Extra Fine = Pink

They also come in two profiles: square edge and knife edge.

To prepare a piece for polishing, start with coarse and progress through to extra fine.

For best results, don't move to the next grit until the surface is even.

Also, clean off any dust from the previous grit before moving on.

Square edge wheels are great for smoothing flat edges, but getting an even surface with a round moving tool takes practice.

I find running the wheel faster with a feather-light touch gives a smoother finish.

Lightly brush the wheel across the surface in an even sweep if it bumps, you're probably going too fast.

Make sure the square edge of the wheel is perpendicular to the flat edge, not angled.

If the wheel moves slowly or stays still on the metal, it can create an unwanted wavy finish.

These wheels also work well on curved surfaces and quickly clean up tool marks in hard-to-reach areas.

They aren't designed to finish large flat areas that's what sanding sticks are for but they excel at finishing small or hard-to-reach flat spots.

Knife edge wheels are great for reaching small or hard-to-access areas where you want precise control over the abrasive's contact with the metal.

They're excellent for creating attractive beveled edges and rounding off square corners.

Knife edge wheels remove metal quickly, making them ideal for smoothing unwanted solder blobs.

Be careful when using them around your designs, as they can remove a lot of metal in a short time.

The wheels are worn down as you use them and they do lose the definition of the knife and square edge.

You can run the wheels against an old file to re-do the edge to the angle you want.

These wheels produce thick dust, and inhaling airborne dust should be avoided.

I prefer to use them inside a polishing tent to prevent dust from spreading around my workspace and to protect my lungs.

Check out my tool tip on making a DIY dustproof polishing tent for guidance.