Using Dremmel for cleaning blades

[HaroldBuck]

My sister bought me a Dremmel (sp?) rotary tool for my birthday because she saw
me scraping a stack of blades manually last winter. Which attachment would be
best for cleaning glue out of foil and epee blades (e.g., a sanding disc; if
so, what size?)?

Thanks!

-Harold

[Fencerbill]

In article <20020912223558.25407.00004567@mb-md.aol.com>, haroldbuck@aol.com
(HaroldBuck) writes:

>My sister bought me a Dremmel (sp?) rotary tool for my birthday because she
>saw
>me scraping a stack of blades manually last winter. Which attachment would be
>best for cleaning glue out of foil and epee blades (e.g., a sanding disc; if
>so, what size?)?

Dremels are widely used for cleaning out blades. For Epees, you have a choice.
For Foils, pretty much everyone uses the 0.025 thick cutting wheels. Anything
thicker won't get down into some foil blade grooves. You have to have a steady
hand because if the tool twists, the wheel breaks. Most reputable armorers
would STRONGLY advise you to use a full face shield. Goggles will protect your
eyes but could leave your face vulnerable to injury.

There are thicker cutoff wheels made of impregnated fibreglass that can be used
for epees except right at the tip. The fibreglass wheels are much less
vulnerable to breakage, but cost more each.

I usually use a pipe full of acetone to clean blades. But I still run the
Dremel cutoff wheel down the groove to get fresh metal to make sure the glue
sticks.

Bill Hall

[Sam & Sandra Signorelli]

in article 20020913000702.14335.00000892@mb-mj.aol.com, Fencerbill at
fencerbill@aol.com wrote on 9/12/02 9:07 PM:

> In article <20020912223558.25407.00004567@mb-md.aol.com>, haroldbuck@aol.com
> (HaroldBuck) writes:
>
>> My sister bought me a Dremmel (sp?) rotary tool for my birthday because she
>> saw
>> me scraping a stack of blades manually last winter. Which attachment would be
>> best for cleaning glue out of foil and epee blades (e.g., a sanding disc; if
>> so, what size?)?
>
> Dremels are widely used for cleaning out blades. For Epees, you have a choice.
> For Foils, pretty much everyone uses the 0.025 thick cutting wheels. Anything
> thicker won't get down into some foil blade grooves. You have to have a steady
> hand because if the tool twists, the wheel breaks. Most reputable armorers
> would STRONGLY advise you to use a full face shield. Goggles will protect your
> eyes but could leave your face vulnerable to injury.
>
> There are thicker cutoff wheels made of impregnated fibreglass that can be
> used
> for epees except right at the tip. The fibreglass wheels are much less
> vulnerable to breakage, but cost more each.
>
> I usually use a pipe full of acetone to clean blades. But I still run the
> Dremel cutoff wheel down the groove to get fresh metal to make sure the glue
> sticks.
>
> Bill Hall

I've used the diamond wheel, myself. It's about the same diameter as the
regular cutoff wheel, but more durable. The first one I had finally broke
(in the center) after about 6 months of use. They're a ***** to find,
though.

Sam Signorellli

[Amy & Joseph Kormann]

Sam & Sandra Signorelli wrote:
> I've used the diamond wheel, myself. It's about the same diameter as the
> regular cutoff wheel, but more durable. The first one I had finally broke
> (in the center) after about 6 months of use. They're a ***** to find,
> though.
>
> Sam Signorellli

Won't it cut through the blade? I must admit I've only used a borrowed
dremmel once and thought it was a neat tool.

--
Amy and Joseph Kormann

[David Neevel]

The standard cut-off wheels could cut through a blade as well (the other chief
armoring use for them is to cut tangs). You won't have to worry about slicing
the blade in two with an accidental slip the the hand, though-- you'd need to
leave the wheel over one spot for some time to start really cutting into it. In
the case of cheap blades that sometimes have the groove made to shallow for the
wire to adequately seat down into, the wheels can be used to grind it deeper
(though this could probably be considered illegal by the letter of the rules,
which forbid any grinding beyond the tang.


-Dave

Amy & Joseph Kormann wrote:

> Sam & Sandra Signorelli wrote:
> > I've used the diamond wheel, myself. It's about the same diameter as the
> > regular cutoff wheel, but more durable. The first one I had finally broke
> > (in the center) after about 6 months of use. They're a ***** to find,
> > though.
> >
> > Sam Signorellli
>
> Won't it cut through the blade? I must admit I've only used a borrowed
> dremmel once and thought it was a neat tool.
>
> --
> Amy and Joseph Kormann

[LTranter]

What attachment could be used to polish rust off of a blade?

L

[Purple Fencer]

What attachment could be used to polish rust off of a blade?

L

Gad! What a necropost!!!

I use the deburring wheel on my bench grinder to clean...soft enough not to damage the blade, yet nice & fast to do all the hard work.

Using the bench grinder also allows me to use 2 hands on the blade to keep it steady.

Don't know what Dremel attachment is similar.

[stillchris]

I have used a wire brush attachment on a Dremel. Worked well, lots of dust.

[Mustache Wax]

Also, there is a buffing wheel that could be used for light rust, or if you are particular about your blade's appearance. I'm not, but some may find it useful.