Advice needed: Preparing white metal with a dremel

[Eludia]

So...

1. I have a white metal mini (Falkar, by Andrea).
2. I have a dremel with some wire brushy bits and also some soft fluffy wheels.

I have seen it mentioned several times in my quest for knowledge that a dremel is a good tool for preparing white metal minis. The problem I have is that I'm a little unsure of the technique. The last thing I want to do is reduce my lovely new metal mini into a shiny metal ball so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,
Billy

 

[Helm]

If you use a softer steel brush at slow speed it should be finer personally I use a brass one or if it's fine moulding a brass suede type brush by hand
Steve

 

[Eludia]

Tried it today on a hidden part...whoa, that thing can chew through metal.

I'm thinking that I best resign the Dremel to DIY tasks about the house and stick to my emery board and fine wet n dry for getting rid of mould lines. I don't want to go down the steel wool route, I can't stand the stuff...some people have a fear of cotton wool; well I have the same fear about wire wool (please don't judge me)

Billy

 

[JonP]

If you want to get rid of the seam lines the best things to use in a Dremel are miniature grinding burrs like these;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30pcs-Dia...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item4d009bddf3

If you use conventional grindstones the white metal will clog them and they will overheat and wire brushes are too large and you don't have much control over them.

Hope this is of use.

 

[Eludia]

Cheers Jon, I actually have a set of those. I might give them a go.

Just had a look at your site btw...nice products

Billy

 

[JonP]

Cheers Billy, much appreciated.

 

[Tecumsea]

I agree with Jon, I have some of these given to me by my dentist years ago. Be careful to hold the Dremel very firmly as these things can do damage if they slip.

Keith

 

[garyhiggins]

When cleaning up white metal figures, I just use a scalpel(No 15 blade),brass wire brush(frm Tiranti),and needle files. A dremel seems a bit radical to me.
Best wishes, Gary.

 

[valiant]

round section needle files for me, all the way!

Steve

 

[DEL]

Scalpels, needle files and very fine wire wool followed by washing up liquid and an old toothbrush.
Old school but safe as houses particularly on a 54mm.
Cheers
Derek

 

[ChaosCossack]

I tend to do cleaning of flash with a blade, files and emery boards but once it's all cleaned up I 'burnish' the whole figure with my Dremel using the small, wheel type wire brush (the steel one) on low rpm. I hold the wheel at about 45 degrees to the model surface and use very light pressure and keep the wheel moving... not resting in one spot for too long. This polishes the surface, removing that dull porous look. I don't get too crazy around small detail, textured areas and the face so as not to soften the detail. I stay away from the cup shaped brush... I find it leaves swirl marks on the surface.

I hope this is helpful

Colin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I use carbide scraping tools from a model horse dealer. Best thing I have found for metal, resin, or putty.

Colin

 

[Eludia]

Thanks for the tips folks. I have found nylon polishing brushes the most forgiving so far for general surface prep of white metal but I've still been using my trusty needle files, emery board and wet n dry for getting rid of mould lines. I haven't found anything safer/better....yet

Billy

 

[Eludia]

I use carbide scraping tools from a model horse dealer. Best thing I have found for metal, resin, or putty.

Colin

I just googled "miniature carbide scraper" and came up with this:

http://www.teng.co.uk/bd-5500-linear-solid-carbide-mini-scraper.html#.UvPa7H8gGK0

Not a bad price

Billy

 

[theBaron]

While my Dremel has its place on my bench, and it's very useful, I'm wary of using it for something like this. I agree more with those who use knife blades, files and fine grades of sandpaper, for cleanup. The main problem with the Dremel in this application is that even at the slowest RPMs, it's very difficult to maintain effective control, and one slip and your piece is ruined. I don't recommend using it to drill holes in a piece, either, at least not free-hand. Invest in a drill press stand for it, if you want to use it to drill stock. Any tiny motion out of true along the axis of the drill bit, and you've got shrapnel.

Prost!
Brad

 

[socko47]

One of the issues with white metal is it's softness. It clogs not only rotary cutters but hand files. Both require frequent cleanings with a file brush or card. Rotary can clog quite firmly. Something to try, run your Dremel in reverse with a sharp burr for less reduction and a smoother finish. Heat is always a concern with the Dremel on either white metal or plastic. Think lubricant. Soapy water for plastic is frequently used.

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I just googled "miniature carbide scraper" and came up with this:

http://www.teng.co.uk/bd-5500-linear-solid-carbide-mini-scraper.html#.UvPa7H8gGK0

Not a bad price

Billy

You can probably get them a wee bit cheaper here.

Colin

http://www.riorondo.com/tools/scrapers.html

 

[P GREEN]

Hi Billy
My preferred weapons for clean up are some good quality files exacto knife and scotch brite pads, used a dremel can take detail off if your not careful ,stay away from steel wool unless I have no other options as per to represent actual polished metal. The scotch brite pats do the same as steel wool with no messy fuzz. Glass fiber brush is really cool but glass fibers can get in your skin and itchy as hell

Best regards
Paul

 

[Mark Dollery]

Hi Bill, agree with all the above, but if you use the glass fibre pen for clean up, wear surgical style rubber gloves as Paul says, itchy as hell if they get to the skin!
Mark D

 

[kewdo]

I use a blunt modelling knife to scrape. Because its blunt it doesn't cut into the figure. I use needle files ...gently. And in my drimmel I use the edge of a 1 or 2 mm drill bit to gently take off the flash lines. Ive tried drimmel grinders but they are too fierce. The edge of a drill used with out pressure is gentler. Kewdo