Polishing compound

[moshooter]

just wondering if someone could tell me if the polishing compound is suppose to be kinda hard or not. I just bought a dremel and polishing kit and the compound in it is hard and flaky you can get it out but then its like powder. Its a sears kit but the dremel is a dremel brand.I don't think its suppose to be that way but I was already home when I found out, and I have never bought any before so some help would be appreciated.

[TRIGGER_1]

Mine was the same way.....its hard stuff huh.......

I used Flitz that comes in a tube and a felt cone tip on my Dremel to polish the feed ramp....

[Tarheel]

...shep, the Dremel compound should be moist and easily applied to a polishing felt tip. It will appear to be a bit flaky, but should spread similar to peanut butter onto the cone/wheel.....medium firm, yes...hard no. Sounds to me like you have a container that has dried out beyond the norm. My little container is six months old and the compound is the same as the day it was purchased. I wrap a piece of Scotch tape around the lid and container after use. The compound has about the same consistency as rubbing compound, but much more gentle on the surfaces you are working on. I would take it back and let a Sears rep compare it to another sample.

Tarheel

[TRIGGER_1]

I wonder if there is a way to soften up the Dremel compound......mine was fairly hard when it was new.....
It may have set in storage a long time before I bought it....

[moshooter]

I didn't think it should be that way but thought I would ask. I thought maybe I could mix a little water with it and re hidrate it but I didn't know maybe I'll take it back.

[rar0]

As Tarheel said the red (jeweler's rouge) should be soft enough to spread on the polishing tip...the idea is to get the compound into the fibers of the tip for polishing....this is true of all the polishing compounds (Flitz, Jeweler's rouge etc.)

Water probably won't soften compound....may need a  petroleum based fluid (mineral spirits etc.)to cut

[moshooter]

where do you guys buy jewelers rouge?

[rar0]

That's the red stuff you get in the small plastic container with the Dremel kit....also can find it at online machine shop catalogs like ENCO in stick form.....I think Harbor Freight also carries it....or you can Google it....the stick form is harder and you have to rub the stick on the felt tip...

It's a very fine polish for buffing jewelry.....hence the name....

it is abrasive so go lightly when using it with a power tool like a Dremel or you'll reshape things (which you don't want to do!!!)

[eb_311]

I use Blue Magic metal polish from Schucks Automotive for about $5. I've done four barrels and the internals of two Remington 870's and still have 3/4 of my jar left. After stripping the black and smoothing some factory flaws, I only had to hit it with the dremmel (and apply compound) four times and it was a perfect mirror finish. Maybe it's just me, but the dremmel compound sucks.

[rar0]

I use Blue Magic metal polish from Schucks Automotive for about $5. I've done four barrels and the internals of two Remington 870's and still have 3/4 of my jar left. After stripping the black and smoothing some factory flaws, I only had to hit it with the dremmel (and apply compound) four times and it was a perfect mirror finish. Maybe it's just me, but the dremmel compound sucks.

Not familiar with Blue Magic but it sounds similar to jeweler's rouge in function....biggest thing to remember is to go very slow when polishing -- no matter what U use..so as to not remove metal or reshape contours, curves parts etc...no matter what compound U use....