The best drill speeds for every step of your nails.
1. Product Removal — 25-35K RPM
Need to remove gel polish or acrylics fast and smooth?
Turn up the speed! High RPMs make removal quicker and easier without overheating the nail.
2. Cuticle Prep with a Flame Bit – 12-15K RPM
When cleaning up the cuticle area, a medium speed is your best friend. It gives you better control and keeps the work neat and safe.
3. Cuticle Polishing – 5-7K RPM
Time to smooth things out! A low speed is perfect for polishing the cuticle and making the skin look soft and clean.
PRO Tip
If your drill doesn’t show exact speeds, no stress! Just eyeball it.
Say your drill maxes out at 35K RPM — turning it all the way up is full speed. Halfway is around 17K, and a third of the way is about 10K.
You don’t need to be exact, just get close to the recommended speed.
Work smarter, not harder!
Working with Your Podo Disk — Pro Tips
- Angle matters: When you’re covering larger areas like heels, hold your disk at about a 20–25° angle.
- Detail work: For cracks, calluses, or small spots, tilt it steeper — around 60–70° for better control.
- Go-to angle: Keeping the disk at around 45° usually works great for most services.
⚡ Pro tip: Never go straight 90° to the skin — that’s a fast track to overheating and possibly hurting your client.
Speed Settings
Size matters when it comes to your disk and your e-file speed:
- XS (10 mm): up to 30,000 RPM
- S (15 mm): up to 30,000 RPM
- M (20 mm): up to 25,000 RPM
- L (25 mm): up to 20,000 RPM
The smaller the disk, the faster you can safely run your e-file without losing control.
Pressure & Technique
- Light hand always wins: Let the speed do the work. If you’re pushing too hard, you’re doing it wrong.
- Use the edge: Work with the edge of your disk, not the whole face — it gives you way more precision and keeps the skin cooler.
- Smooth moves: Glide it lightly across the skin, either side to side or in gentle downward strokes. Keep your angle steady.
🚨 Heads up: If you feel heat building up, check your pressure and adjust your angle — something’s off.
Prep & Aftercare
- Center your grits: Always place your disposable abrasive dead center, and leave a little metal showing around the edge for better control.
- Work on dry skin: Pedi disks are meant for dry pedis. You can soften the skin first with keratolytics if you want, but it’s not a must.
- Clean it right: After each client, disinfect and sterilize your disk properly — no shortcuts!