scotchbright = aluminum oxide?

[prkaye]

Dremel makes an "aluminum oxide" wheel - is this basically the same thing as scotchbright? Is it OK to use this material on our aluminum parts?

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/attachme...=66349&I=66350

[bsacks05]

Scotchbrite is a nylon scrubbing pad much like you would find in a grocery store for cleaning pots and pans. There are no metal particles in it which could lead to corrosion of aluminum surfaces. I used scotchbrite for scuffing surfaces prior to priming because paint does not like to stick to the shiny surface of aluminum. The pads can also be used to clean off light corrosion from aluminum surfaces.
The dremel bit you mentioned could be used for grinding severe corrosion from aluminum but I doubt you would need it for your RV project.
http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/sc.../scrubber.html

[flytoboat]

Phil,
Craftsman makes a schotchbrite accessory for Dremel tools. I'll try to get the product number tonight. Sears is the only place I've found it.

[prkaye]

I use teh Scotchbright pads all the time too (I could hardly have gotten most of the way through my fuselage kit without knowing what a scotchbright pad is!) - what I'm wondering abotu is the dense scotchbright wheels for benchgrinders (I've also seen these by the generic name "unitized wheel"). I have one of these too. I'm just wondering if they're made from the same stuff as this dremel wheel - superficially the material looks quite similar.

Don - if yuo could get that product number for me, that would be great! I'm thinking of getting a Dremel for the sole purpose of the 561 multipurpose cutting bit, which looks like it might be a good choice for cutting things like the hold for my pitot mast, or even holes in the panel...

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/attachme...188549&I=66359

[gpiney]

The Dremel part number is 500. I look around the web to find the best deal. I buy 5-6 at a time. Great for smoothing out edges nothing else can get into. Great for lightening holes.

[flytoboat]

Phil,
The Craftsman number is 53142.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...?keyword=53142

Once you get a Dremel, you won't know how you lived without it. I recommend this kit from Harbor Freight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93243

Some of this won't last, but it will be a cheap way to find out what you should buy from the Dremel display at HD or Lowes...

[rv9builder]

Does the Craftsman 53142 or Dremel 500 work as good as a "real" Scotchbrite Wheel? I've been looking for something like this for years!

I've tried other types of grinding tips in my Dremel, but they always get clogged up with aluminum and are useless after about 15 seconds.

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by rv9builder

Does the Craftsman 53142 or Dremel 500 work as good as a "real" Scotchbrite Wheel? I've been looking for something like this for years!

I've tried other types of grinding tips in my Dremel, but they always get clogged up with aluminum and are useless after about 15 seconds.

I used a whole lot of 2" scotchbrite wheels (the blue ones) in a 90 degree air die grinder thoughout my RV project. IMO, it was one of the best tools I had. These days, you can get the wheels at Sears or Harbor Freight.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

[BJohnson]

Aluminum oxide is oxidized aluminum, which is a ceramic and is inert to the Aluminum. Aluminum oxide is the white material that forms when aluminum corrodes. The presence of Al203 will not induce any more corrosion.

[gpiney]

Originally Posted by rv9builder

Does the Craftsman 53142 or Dremel 500 work as good as a "real" Scotchbrite Wheel? I've been looking for something like this for years!

I've tried other types of grinding tips in my Dremel, but they always get clogged up with aluminum and are useless after about 15 seconds.

I've gone through a couple already. They look, feel, wear and act like a medium scotchbright wheel. Who knows, maybe 3M makes them for Dremel?