Dremel Qs
Tom Barstow
away from the newsgroup for several months and I've been saving them
up. Thanks for your help, and your tolerance. ]
I'm considering buying a Dremel (the standard variable speed one) and
would like a little advice.
How useful is it in general? Is it one of those how-did-I-ever-get-
along-without-one tools, or is it more in the category of I-thought-
I'd-use-it-more?
Also, I know very little about the accessories so I don't know which
of the packages to get. Model 395 is just the tool (the box is $6
extra), while Models 5950 and 3950 both have the box along with
20-piece and 40-piece accessory sets, respectively. Are the
accessory sets worth it (i.e., they're a practical selection and the
additional cost is way less than the cost of the individual items)
and, if so, which is the better buy?
Many thanks in advance.
Greg Tarcza
: I'm considering buying a Dremel (the standard variable speed one) and
: would like a little advice.
: How useful is it in general? Is it one of those how-did-I-ever-get-
: along-without-one tools, or is it more in the category of I-thought-
: I'd-use-it-more?
For me it is absolutely a how-did-I-ever-get-along-without-it tool.
When my 20-year-old one self-destructed a few months back while I was carving
out a wingtip block for a sailplane, I panicked and ran out and buy a new one
within the hour to finish the job! (It was a Sunday and I probably could have
saved about $5 to $10 if I could have restrained myself for a day!)
The most useful tools and bits for me are:
1. Sanding drum
2. rough, fat grinding wheel
3. metal, cutting tools (see note below)
4. cutoff disks.
The most useful accessory for me is the drill chuck to hold the tools.
Note: Visit your local dentist and ask him/her if he/she has any worn out
drill bits. Grab any of the metal bits that you can find. They are great for
making small holes or cavities in wood or plastic and for other odd jobs.
Greg Tarcza
===============================================================================
Greg Tarcza WA2OOD /
Hewlett-Packard Company Pikes /
P.O. Box 2197 Peak /-, /-,
Colorado Springs, CO 80901 Soaring / / / /
719-590-2471 Society / / /--/
/
gr...@col.hp.com /
===============================================================================
coffin@umbc8.umbc.edu or coffins@hfsi.com
without-it" category. Possible the "dang!-this-thing-comes-in-handy"
category would be more accurate. A typical application for me is using
the drum sander for shaping balsa cowlings. I also use the metal grinding
bits a fair amount and nothing cuts music wire as cleanly as the thin
cutting wheel.
I don't regret buying mine, but it didn't pay for itself in the first few
weeks. But, now that I've had it for a few years I realize that it makes a
small number of difficult tasks much easier. Definitely not a top drawer item,
but something that I want to keep.
Regards:
Simon P. Coffin
(whose .sig is still in planning)
Peter Ashwood-Smith
|> : I'm considering buying a Dremel (the standard variable speed one) and
|> : would like a little advice.
|>
|> : How useful is it in general? Is it one of those how-did-I-ever-get-
|> : along-without-one tools, or is it more in the category of I-thought-
|> : I'd-use-it-more?
For me its a how-did-I-ever-get-along-without-one tools. Especially the
carbite cutters. I'm forever having to cut something and a hack saw just
does not cut it (pun intended) most of the time. Just recently I used it
to turn some X type bolt heads that had become stripped into a standard
flat -- type bolt head which allowed me to remove the valve covers on my
OS 120. Took all of 10 seconds.
Peter
David A. Gell
>I'm considering buying a Dremel (the standard variable speed one) and
>would like a little advice.
>
>How useful is it in general? Is it one of those how-did-I-ever-get-
>along-without-one tools, or is it more in the category of I-thought-
>I'd-use-it-more?
I find the dremel in the how-did-I-ever-get-along-without-one class. I also
use the drum sander, cut-off wheels and Higley carbide cutters most often.
Also, the keyless chuck is very useful.
-----------------------------+--------------------------------
David A. Gell | 313.763.6221
University of Michigan | ge...@sprlj.sprl.umich.edu
Space Physics Research Lab | gel...@umich.edu
+----------------------------+--------------------------------
| Consistency is the hobgobblin of little minds |
Gary Dyrkacz
>From: trb@[128.127.2.119] (Tom Barstow)
>Subject: Dremel Qs
>Date: Thu, 05 May 1994 11:09:21
>I'm considering buying a Dremel (the standard variable speed one) and
>would like a little advice.
>How useful is it in general? Is it one of those how-did-I-ever-get-
>along-without-one tools...
Absolute must for me. If it wasn't for the cord, I'd make a holster for it
when I'm building models. I have what I consider a reasonably well equiped
workshop, but I still find the Dremel tool indispensible for many tasks. This
includes non-modeling as well.
As a few others have mentioned, get a model with the chuck rather
than the collets. Although most of the time you will use the 1/8" shank bits,
I often use mine to drill holes in tight spots where I can't use the drill
press or my hand drill. Moreover, changing bits is a lot easier. Trying
to find the right wrench in a workbench loaded with junk isn't worth it. I am
often moving rapidly from one bit to another.
I also recommend getting a variable speed model. When I use the sanding
drum the bearings don't seem to like the high speeds. The sanding drum may
be a little off center.
>Also, I know very little about the accessories so I don't know which
>of the packages to get.
I bought a tool with I think about forty different pieces. I probably
haven't used about a third of them. My favorites:
*The cut-off wheel abrasive disk (get lots of extra wheels.): I use this for
cutting through small shafts, screws, and tubing. Also extensively used for
roughing out plastic cowls and canopies.
*Sanding drum: Most used of all accessories. Primarily for rough shaping and
sanding of plastic and wood parts.
*Rasps: pear shaped. 3/32" straight, 1/4" straight, 3/64"? straight. Used for
finer detail shaping than the sanding drum. Used for tight spots or corner
work.
*Saw blade: I don't think this one is sold any longer in the kits. Liability
problems. This tool can definitely be dangerous to work with. It has a
tendency to bind and then run over the top of work piece...especially nice new
clear canopies. Fingers and arms also a possibility. Best used for cutting
through narrow sticks.
*Grinding wheels: "wide ones, narrow ones!?: I don't use them for modeling
much. I use a bench grinder to true up the ends of cut-off rods, screws
etc. However, for some small parts that I can't use the grinder for, I will
use these.
You should also remember that the Dremel tool is for light duty work. I have
been tempted to get a heavy duty system with the flexible shaft, to use
for both modeling and other tasks. However, I'm not sure how effective they
are.
Gary
Opinions are mine as usual.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gary Dyrkacz
dyr...@anlchm.chm.anl.gov
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Iskandar Taib
>How useful is it in general? Is it one of those how-did-I-ever-get-
>along-without-one tools, or is it more in the category of I-thought-
>I'd-use-it-more?
Oh golly, yeah! Its something I've used so much I'd be pretty lost
without it. That and my bandsaw.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iskandar Taib | The only thing worse than Peach ala
Internet: NT...@SILVER.UCS.INDIANA.EDU | Frog is Frog ala Peach
Bitnet: NTAIB@IUBACS !
Iskandar Taib
Gary Dyrkacz <dyr...@anlchm.chm.anl.gov> wrote:
>In article <940505110921@panacea> trb@[128.127.2.119] (Tom Barstow) writes:
>*The cut-off wheel abrasive disk (get lots of extra wheels.): I use this for
>cutting through small shafts, screws, and tubing. Also extensively used for
>roughing out plastic cowls and canopies.
I got my hands on a Tuf-Grind wheel - reinforced, sold by House of
Balsa, I think. No more shattered wheels. One trick I've heard of is
to soak the wheels in thin cya.
>*Sanding drum: Most used of all accessories. Primarily for rough shaping and
>sanding of plastic and wood parts.
Yes!!! Very very useful, and not just on models.
>*Saw blade: I don't think this one is sold any longer in the kits. Liability
>problems. This tool can definitely be dangerous to work with. It has a
>tendency to bind and then run over the top of work piece...especially nice new
>clear canopies. Fingers and arms also a possibility. Best used for cutting
>through narrow sticks.
I do use mine a fair amount. Cutting spars on old wings is one use.
>*Grinding wheels: "wide ones, narrow ones!?: I don't use them for modeling
>much. I use a bench grinder to true up the ends of cut-off rods, screws
>etc. However, for some small parts that I can't use the grinder for, I will
>use these.
I use mine for grinding crankshafts..