wire wheels for Dremel-type tools

[BTL-A4]

I need some more wire wheels for my rotary tools. On the ones I have all the bristles have come off. I've heard Weiler ones are good; do the bristles stay on? I've also heard superglue (CA) will help keep them on. Thoughts and comments welcome! Thanks!

 

[hobie18]

Whoa. Okay a little info please. What are you using? On what? Over-speed? Super glue may be a band-aid... after the horse has left the barn.

 

[RTM]

I try to run my wire wheels at lowest or next lowest speeds, otherwise I get a metal shower.

I’ve tried Dremel, Craftsman, and some other brand prior. Currently running Widget Supply cup and wheel brushes, and they seem SLIGHTLY better. Someone recommended Foredom, will try them next, when the 36 pack runs out.

 

[dnschmidt]

Slow the speed down. There really is no gain in using higher speeds with a wire brush. They work just as well at the lowest speed setting of the Dremel as they do at the highest and you avoid the shrapnel. The same is true using wire brushes on right angle grinders. Wire brushes are the one tool that doesn't seem to do any better at max rpm. All my welding right angle grinders dedicated to wire brushes are variable speed and all at set at around 5,000 rpm which is about half speed for a right angle grinder.

 

[jayemm]

I just checked mine and the little Dremel wire wheel (~3/4" dia) is rated for 15,000 rpm max. The little cup brush is 35,000 rpm max.

 

[frank001]

I put a bead of hot melt glue on both sides where the wire attaches to the hub. Pretty much eliminates the problem of wire flying off.

 

[Wamsutta]

Osborne makes some little wire wheels for Dremel. 1/8 shank.

By the way, a variable speed Dremel is a necessity for wire wheels.

 

[RoninB4]

-Have used plenty of brass wire wheels in electric/pneumatic hand held moto-tools. The brass wire wheels from Dremel roundly **** and I consider them disposable but haven't tried the hot glue trick, Haven't used Foredom products in decades so I have no idea if quality has suffered. Best advice is from above posts regarding slower speed, full face shield, and heavy gloves while standing out of the flight path,

 

[Sumboodie]

I can't think of any use for those little things.
4.5" grinder with a wheel is the smallest i normally use.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I’ve never had an issue with Dremel brand accessories. I’ve used Dremel wheels to the point I’ve worn the bristles to nothing, they still all attached.

 

[finn]

I get really nervous running a wire wheel on anything without a guard.

That said, there’s no guard on the arbor / belt drive / washing machine motor I put together when in high school in about 19968. There is a full face shield hanging off of it though.

 

[PCustoms]

I can't think of any use for those little things.
4.5" grinder with a wheel is the smallest i normally use.

I get really nervous running a wire wheel on anything without a guard.

That said, there’s no guard on the arbor / belt drive / washing machine motor I put together when in high school in about 19968. There is a full face shield hanging off of it though.

WTF do either of these posts have to do with the OP questions about 1/8" shaft brushes for a Dremel?

 

[finn]

WTF do either of these posts have to do with the OP questions about 1/8" shaft brushes for a Dremel?

Dremmels don’t have guards, do they? Mine don’t, anyway.

In my opinion, they’re not suitable for wire wheels

 

[MiteyF]

I can't think of any use for those little things.
4.5" grinder with a wheel is the smallest i normally use.

Seems obvious to me, but... small parts. Nuts and bolts, finger screws, crevices where nothing else will reach. Go clean a brass finger knob off a hand plane with your angle grinder and tell me how much skin you still have on your fingertips when you're done, or what county the knob landed in.

 

[MiteyF]

Dremmels don’t have guards, do they? Mine don’t, anyway.

In my opinion, they’re not suitable for wire wheels

You just have to (HAVE to) wear safety glasses, and be OK with picking a few stray wires out of your beard now and again.

 

[BTL-A4]

Sorry, I thought it was obvious what I was talking about when I specified that I was using a rotary tool: a smaller, handheld power tool with a 1/8" shank that has lots of different type of bits that can be used to various tasks such as buffing, polishing, material removal, etc. I don't own a Dremel brand, but that's what everyone seems to call them. Here's a photo for you:


Note the missing bristles. I think slowing it down will help (thanks for the tip!), but it seems to me if a tool is made to go a certain RPM, it should work at that RPM.

I was hoping someone would tell me what a good brand of small wire wheels is so I can buy them. My research has pointed to Weiler, but I thought I'd ask around here and see if anyone had another brand, or could confirm from experience that Weiler was a good choice. Hope that help clarify things for everyone.

 

[floyd]

I use dremel brand wire wheels and they wear down but I haven’t had any come apart like in you last pic.

 

[PCustoms]

Sorry, I thought it was obvious what I was talking about when I specified that I was using a rotary tool: a smaller, handheld power tool with a 1/8" shank that has lots of different type of bits that can be used to various tasks such as buffing, polishing, material removal, etc. I don't own a Dremel brand, but that's what everyone seems to call them. Here's a photo for you:


Note the missing bristles. I think slowing it down will help (thanks for the tip!), but it seems to me if a tool is made to go a certain RPM, it should work at that RPM.

I was hoping someone would tell me what a good brand of small wire wheels is so I can buy them. My research has pointed to Weiler, but I thought I'd ask around here and see if anyone had another brand, or could confirm from experience that Weiler was a good choice. Hope that help clarify things for everyone.

It was obvious to me...

How hard are you working/pressing on these brushes? Your pic looks like a combination of high rpm and high load to me.

I can look Monday to see what I have at work, but in the past I've used the fordom branded ones, those were cream of the crop

 

[The Cobbler]

I can't think of any use for those little things.

nor did I until I acquired a dremel tool.

 

[Sumboodie]

nor did I until I acquired a dremel tool.

The little metal brushes i mean.

The Drexel, well mine is an M12 Milwaukee, but same thing, I use for fine work, like maybe trimming a piece of plastic on a bezel, etc.
99% of the time it's a cutoff wheel. I bought a maybe 250 pack on eBay probably 20 years ago, still have maybe 100.

 

[RTM]

I bought a maybe 250 pack on eBay probably 20 years ago, still have maybe 100

So used it maybe 15 times, based on how often I break disks?

 

[Sumboodie]

So used it maybe 15 times, based on how often I break disks?

I've never broken one that I can recall.

Edit... broke 1 when it fell off the bench.

 

[MiteyF]

The wheels specifically designed for cutting plastic (which I assume sumboodie is NOT using) are fragile little pieces of garbage. The wood, composite, and metal cutting discs last a long time and are much better. Slow, but much longer lasting.

 

[PCustoms]

The wheels specifically designed for cutting plastic (which I assume sumboodie is NOT using) are fragile little pieces of garbage. The wood, composite, and metal cutting discs last a long time and are much better. Slow, but much longer lasting.

What wheels are you talking about?

I've always used the little brown abrasive wheels that explode with ANY side loading

 

[MiteyF]

That's what I mean. The thin, red/brown abrasive wheels "meant for plastic" that explode once the very thought enters your mind.

Dremels are great. Those wheels however, make me anxious just looking at them.

 

[Sumboodie]

That's what I mean. The thin, red/brown abrasive wheels "meant for plastic" that explode once the very thought enters your mind.

Dremels are great. Those wheels however, make me anxious just looking at them.

The ones I have are like mini 4.5" wheels. Maybe 1.5" or so, maybe 0.060" thick.