I'm using just a dremel, and I can get a pretty good finish, mirror like and not cloudy at all.

But my problem is, the chamois bit disintigrates after a while, and sometimes I can see the streaks it leaves on the wheel.

So I went to home depot, bought an adapter for my drill and bought a big buffing wheel. I tried using this, but the buffing wheel just won't pick up any compound, like it's not heating the compound up enough to pick it up.

Any tips? Any suggestions??

 

I had this problem when I was polishing my tail lights. The drill wasn't spinning fast enough thus not creating heat thus not 'binding' the compound with the wheel.

I was told to apply a little water to try to soften the compound....didn't work. I even applied my own heat (propane torch) to melt the compound...still no luck.

I concluded that I needed more RPM so I threw it on the bench grinder and away I went.

 

Damn..heh I don't have these sort of tools. I do have a heat gun though, great fuggin idea man!

 

This happens when you have brand new sticks of rouge. Spin the drill at top speed and press that stick realllly hard into the buffing pad. It may take awhile but it will eventually get onto the buffing wheel.

You'll then start to see the color of the stick come onto the wheel.

Good luck, let me know how that works.

 

I've been using them for a while now -=o\

I don't wanna cut open the stick and use it that way, but it looks like I have no choice if I plan on using my drill rather than my dremel. The dremel chamois just disintigrate.

 

If you have a loose wheel, and you push really hard, it still wont work. The drill has to be spinning fast enough so that the wheel wont be so flexiable when you push on it.

Another thing i may suggest is to cut away some of the end of the stick of compound. If it is old compound, it may be hard and dried out....so if you cut or trim away some of it, you may hit some softer compound. Give that a try.

 

I polish motorcycle frames and ran into the same problem with those stupid home depot buffing wheels. They are not hard enough and are too big. It is not the rouge that is preventing you from getting the shine. First I assume that you sanded properly:
220 grit, 300 then start the wet sanding 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500 and finally 2000 for a good shine. Look for a buffing wheel through Year One they have some good ones. Get one with a smaller diameter maye 4 inches and give it a shot. You need the highest speed possible... maybe a drill rather than a dremel.