# Can I use my Dremel to make shiny metal look like satin nickel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102 "2005-01-10T21:33:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/1 "2005-01-10T21:33:02Z")
I bought a cabinet that came with knobs that are shiny metal. I replaced all of the 32mm knobs with satin nickel knobs but one of the original knobs is only 18mm. Naturally after hunting around town for an 18mm satin nickel knob, I have returned empty handed. Can I use my Dremel to create the satin (brushed) look? If that would work, which attachment should I use? I’m pretty handy but I’ve never attempted something like this. Crap…sorry if this is the wrong forum. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/2 "2005-01-10T22:37:10Z")
What I would worry about would be that the shiny metal is just a thin coating on a hunk of base metal. If it’s too thin, you’d just end up grinding it off. However, you probably could use the wire brush attachment to do this. Given that you apparently have a bunch of surplus shiny 32mm knobs that you’ve replaced, there will be no harm in experimenting on them. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/3 "2005-01-10T23:16:45Z")
You could experiment with whatever wire brush wheels you’ve got, or just give them a rub with something like #400 emery cloth. In the process, you’ll also take off the (typically) clear lacquer coating that keeps them shiny. Once you sand it off and hit your desired satin finish, it may rust in fairly short order unless you spray them with clear lacquer. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/4 "2005-01-11T01:57:20Z")
The green side of a kitchen scrubby sponge should do the job very nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/5 "2005-01-11T02:21:51Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > The green side of a kitchen scrubby sponge should do the job very nicely. Good point. Synthetic steel wool like that (3M makes it) provides a gentler approach. It probably doesn’t matter on something as small as a drawer pull, but it’s easier to get fine, uniform scratching on a large suface by hand, than it is with a small rotating wire brush. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/6 "2005-01-11T04:03:41Z")
Having done something similar once, I recommend practicing on one of your discarded knobs, and starting with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper, progressing up to 600 grit. Sand back and forth, not in circles, to get that brushed finish. The Dremel will leave swirls. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/7 "2005-01-11T13:22:55Z")
:smack: It didn’t occur to me to just use sandpaper or synthetic steel wool. I can see your point LifeOnWry about the Dremel leaving swirl marks. I think I’ll just practice with the discarded knobs using the suggestions above and see which one results in the closest look to the new ones. Thanks to you all for your advice! ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/8 "2005-01-11T14:42:18Z")
Just for the hell of it, try dipping a sacrificial knob into a mild acid solution. sometimes the microscopic pitting looks really cool. It also stains it unevenly, giving it that antique look. Think: Muriatic also drain cleaners(drano) Outside, of course. have fun ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/9 "2005-01-11T15:03:04Z")
There are clear spray finishes in semi-gloss, satin and flat finishes. I used a semi-gloss spray from Rust-oleum to tone down the shinyness of some brass hardware and it worked fine. It has held up better than I thought it would. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/10 "2005-01-11T15:36:09Z")
[THIS](http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@1889594807.1105457105@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddadddihgkdldcgelceffdfgidgml.0&MID=9876) is the 32mm knob that I bought to replace the larger knobs. I am trying to get a finish as close to this as possible on the little 18mm knob. The one thing I have going for me is that with such a small surface area, if it’s not perfect it won’t be glaringly obvious. Drano on the knob? Hmmmm, that sounds like it could yield interesting results. Maybe I’ll try that on another project. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/11 "2005-01-11T15:36:13Z")
I found a [28mm (1-1/4 inch) knob](http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.asp?page=48504&category=3,46742,46561&abspage=2&ccurrency=2&SID=) at Lee Valley Tools. Would that provide enough contrast in size? I don’t know where you live, but they regurlary ship to the U.S. and Canada and can handle international orders. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/12 "2005-01-11T15:37:23Z")
28mm = 1-1/8 inch (sorry.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-my-dremel-to-make-shiny-metal-look-like-satin-nickel/284102/13 "2005-01-11T15:47:00Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > I found a [28mm (1-1/4 inch) knob](http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.asp?page=48504&category=3,46742,46561&abspage=2&ccurrency=2&SID=) at Lee Valley Tools. Would that provide enough contrast in size? > > I don’t know where you live, but they regurlary ship to the U.S. and Canada and can handle international orders. Unfortunately the 28mm is too big. Not to mention that the screw for the knob was already built into the cabinet with no access to it. So I need a knob that is small enough to fit a (roughly) 3mm screw. It’s for a little slide out panel on a wine cabinet and anything larger than 18mm would look a bit obnoxious. Apparently, in this world, no one uses 18mm knobs and when they do they only purchase them with a brass or some raunchy unacceptable finish. 😛 Thanks for the link though.