Seeking Dremel pipe polishing advice

I own a Dremel and would like to shine up my pipe collection (stems and briar bodies). What would be a good method to follow, and does anyone have recommendations for the type of attachments that I should use for buffing and applying wax?

My current plan goes something like this:
1. Brown Tripoli Buff (Is this overkill for pipes that are already finished?)
2. White Diamond Buff
3. Carnauba Wax

I also own both a router speed controller and a variac. Would one of them work better than the other for adjusting the Dremel's speed?

DON'T use a Dremel on a pipe. Even at their lowest setting they run at such high RPMs you will gouge divits in your pipe regardless of how careful you are.

Be very careful w/ a dremel they have a tendency to eat pipes. To much concentrated heat in a small area. You would be better served using a buffing wheel w /tripoli, then white diamond, then carnauba wax. If you have a drill press or secure a hand held drill in a vice. 2000 rpm is about as fast as you want to go. Most bench top grinders/buffers are spinning to fast.
Good luck what ever you decide
Brian

They are dangerous little tools, capable of wreaking general havoc on pipes even with the most innocuous looking attachments. I owned one for a while, and the most use I got out of it was in cutting a frozen brass nut off of a pipe fitting, but I shattered three abrasive wheels in the process, and if I didn't wear glasses, that might have been a life-changing experience. I lost it in a move somehow, and I don't miss it one bit.

Thanks for the words of caution! I'll probably forgo the Dremel route. I have a hand held drill, so that's an option as well. Can the buffing wheels attach to it the way it is, or is there some kind of adapter that I'll need?

Check your local hardware store. They make all kinds of mandrels and attachments for hand drills.

All you need is an arbor for a buffing wheel. They are usually sold right next to the wheels in the hardware stores. Check the owners Manuel of your drill to see the max rpms. Its probably less than 2000.
One more word of caution: hang on to your pipes put your index finger in the bowl while buffing. I sent one of mine flying across the shop. Was not happy.

Couldn't help but laugh at the thought of that. I'm sorry for your frustration. I know I would of been angry too.

Yea it was a Preben Holm Ben Wade my father gave me. Dave Wolf at Walker briar works put it back together for me. Looks like new now.

The right way to polish a pipe with a Dremel is to don't. That said, I've done it before and I'll do it again. The little small diameter felt wheels at the lowest speed setting haven't caused me any problems. I just make sure to keep it moving. You also have to be very careful not to nick anything with the chuck. I've also used a standard 6" buffing wheel on a hand drill. I just used a big bolt and some washers and chucked it up. Worked fine. One of these days I'll get around to just buying a bench setup.

Great input everyone, thanks again. I'll probably give the hand drill a go.

How long will a mechanical buff/wax keep its shine? It seems like when I do it by hand with micromesh and Paragon or Halcyon, the results only last a few months before pipes look dull again. Vulcanite stems especially don't stay pristine for long in my system.