Dremel (Rotary) Tool Recommendation?

Enclosures and acoustic damping to help quiet them.

Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Devonavar

Post Reply
intx
Posts: 175
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:57 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Dremel (Rotary) Tool Recommendation?

Post by intx » Wed Jul 28, 2004 8:58 pm

Has anyone used one? What kind of tool should I get?

Does brand matter that much if you don't plan on using it very often?

Would a cordless tool cut metal just fine?

What RPM speeds will I need? What difference does it make mostly? To polish a heatsink, what speed would I need?

How would this tool do? http://oemproamtools.com/King/8353.htm

PhilgB
Posts: 389
Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2003 4:25 am
Location: Welland, Ontario, Canada

Post by PhilgB » Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:15 pm

That one seems fine. Just don't get a Black and Decker Wizard. I'm not sure if they make larger versions, but the one I was using was terrible for cutting something as thick as a computer case. Batteries died in 3-4 minutes.

intx
Posts: 175
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:57 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Post by intx » Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:16 pm

isn't the black and decker wizard a corded tool?

badmojo
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:46 am
Location: Fresno, California

Post by badmojo » Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:28 pm

I got a Sears version of the adjustable speed Dremel (don't know the model) on sale for $39 and picked up a 135 piece accessory kit from Costco for something like $10. Does everything I need.

Zyzzyx
Friend of SPCR
Posts: 1063
Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Richland, WA
Contact:

Post by Zyzzyx » Wed Jul 28, 2004 10:06 pm

Most any of them will probably do fine. Not sure I'd deal with a cordless model though, never seem to have enough power.

If you're going to be doing lots of metal cutting, do yourself a favor and pick up a pair of metal snips. Check out this thread at the top of this forum, if you haven't already. I've had a dremel for years, but was so much happier working with metal once I bought some good snips.

Ralf Hutter
SPCR Reviewer
Posts: 8636
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 6:33 am
Location: Sunny SoCal

Post by Ralf Hutter » Thu Jul 29, 2004 6:35 am

badmojo wrote:I got a Sears version of the adjustable speed Dremel (don't know the model) on sale for $39 and picked up a 135 piece accessory kit from Costco for something like $10. Does everything I need.
That's exactly what I did too. It's identical to the Dremel, it's just been rebranded.

Oh, and BTW:

DO NOT GO WITH A CORDLESS GRINDER!!!!!

They suck for doing any sort of job that requires "balls". They don't have near enough torque and the batteries run down real fast. I have first-hand experience with this issue, trust me.

mg1394
Posts: 167
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
Location: Silicon Valley

Post by mg1394 » Thu Jul 29, 2004 6:43 am

I respectfully disagree with Ralf on this one, only specifically referring to the new Dremel 8000 cordless. It really is as good as the corded models, doesn't cost much additional, and is more convenient. The older, lower voltage models were POS.

swivelguy2
Posts: 404
Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2004 9:18 pm
Location: Illinois, USA

Post by swivelguy2 » Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:08 am

If you like dremels, try a roto-zip (I think roto-zip is an actual brand name, but maybe not). A roto-zip is like a jet dremel. :twisted:

sthayashi
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 3214
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:06 am
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Post by sthayashi » Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:10 am

Can you polish a heatsink properly with a rotary tool?

GlassMan
Posts: 168
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 4:55 am

Post by GlassMan » Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:06 am

CPU side, NO WAY, it will make the base wavy, so there will be almost no contact area. Thermal paste, even arctic silvers best is a poor replacement for metal to cpu contact. Google lap(ping) heat sink for how to increase metal to cpu contact. Careful you don't bend those fins to much.

mg1394
Posts: 167
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
Location: Silicon Valley

Post by mg1394 » Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:07 am

I suppose anything is possible by an expert, but I would not try to polish a heatsink. The polishing part would be ok, but there is nothing in the use of a rotary tool that would ensure the surface stayed perfectly flat, which I think is important. I respectfully suggest it's better to purchase quality heatsinks that have a smooth surface from a good milling machine. Very minor "scratches or mill marks" are handled nicely by good thermal paste.

hofffam
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:18 am
Location: Texas

Post by hofffam » Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:33 am

Glassman - isn't glass related to silicon, not silicone? The main ingredient of sand is silicon dioxide. Silicone is a synthetic polymer and although related to silicon, has nothing to do with glass.

I am certainly not a chemist so I am no authority in this....

GlassMan
Posts: 168
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 4:55 am

Post by GlassMan » Thu Jul 29, 2004 2:04 pm

Would you believe a spelling error, would you believe to much silicon dust and too many silicone fumes? Fixed now thanks

edit silicone is a polymer with organic silicon molecules

intx
Posts: 175
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:57 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Post by intx » Thu Jul 29, 2004 2:09 pm

sthayashi wrote:Can you polish a heatsink properly with a rotary tool?
someone mentioned 10C improvements after polishing a heatsink with a dremel. Personally I believe it was partially reseating and possibly dust-cleaning. But considering it's 10C, I don't think it made things any worse and likely better in some ways.

hofffam
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:18 am
Location: Texas

Post by hofffam » Thu Jul 29, 2004 2:22 pm

Glassman - I most certainly believe you!

sthayashi
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 3214
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:06 am
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Post by sthayashi » Thu Jul 29, 2004 7:42 pm

Actually, I was more asking for the benefit of the original poster. But how would one polish a heatsink with a dremel? They don't make 1000+ grit grinders attachments, do they?

zoob
*Lifetime Patron*
Posts: 380
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 7:12 pm
Location: Toronto, ON
Contact:

Post by zoob » Fri Jul 30, 2004 9:17 pm

Hey intx,

Grab a Mastercraft Rotary Tool from Canadian Tire. 3 year warranty, 5k - 35k RPM.

If you're doing cutting, buy some Wiss snips aswell, and use the Rotary Tool to deburr and file the edges down.

markkuk
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2003 3:12 am

Post by markkuk » Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:37 am

sthayashi wrote: But how would one polish a heatsink with a dremel?
With a felt polishing tip or wheel (Dremel parts #414, #422 or #429) and polishing compound (#421).

Ralf Hutter
SPCR Reviewer
Posts: 8636
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 6:33 am
Location: Sunny SoCal

Post by Ralf Hutter » Sat Jul 31, 2004 6:05 am

markkuk wrote:
sthayashi wrote: But how would one polish a heatsink with a dremel?
With a felt polishing tip or wheel (Dremel parts #414, #422 or #429) and polishing compound (#421).
No.

The heatsink will not be flat enough if you do this. You need to polish the heatsink while keeping it as flat as possible. This is why you need to lap it on a very flat surface (such as a piece of 1/4" or thicker glass sheet). Polishing it with a rotating felt bob will leave it with a bunch of wavy areas, which is counterproductive to efficient heat transfer.

jimveta
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:05 am

Post by jimveta » Sun Aug 01, 2004 5:51 am

hello! just wanted to give out some safety tips, if you don't already know, after some unpleasant experiences with my ac/corded dremel kit:
- if you use the cutting wheel, only use the strongest/hardest one (which is stone i think)
- when using the cutting wheel, never, ever cut in a direction that's in line with your body or anyone else's -- when i used the weaker wheel (some kind of layered composite i think), it suddenly broke off from its hub like a donut and shot off, ricocheting violently off nearby walls, like one of those kung-fu ninja discs
- wear long sleeves when using the cutting wheel or polishing or sanding bits; better yet, wrap a towel around your forearm -- when you use your opposing arm to hold the work piece, tiny flakes of metal (those sparks essentially) can embed in the surface of your skin.
- avoid using the cutting wheel if possible :)

intx
Posts: 175
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:57 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Post by intx » Sun Aug 01, 2004 10:51 am

jimveta wrote: - avoid using the cutting wheel if possible :)
:D what do you use then?

bchung
Posts: 24
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2004 4:36 pm

Post by bchung » Mon Aug 02, 2004 1:55 pm

intx wrote:
jimveta wrote: - avoid using the cutting wheel if possible :)
:D what do you use then?
I use my friends old Gorton mill. For surfacing, I bought him a 2" fly cutter.

Old and beat-up, but the auto-feed still works, even if you always have to check for pitch/yaw of the head. He actually has a surface grinder too, but hes never used it. 1/10000 parallel flatness would be nice, if I ever got motivated.

Not too good at machining though, took me 3 hours to mill/finish an aluminum replacement for my NCU-1000 contact/mounting plate. Probably more, since it took me a while to come up with a way to mount a pentium cooler on an athlon. 5-6 Celcius increase in temperature going from copper to aluminum though :(

Gooserider
Posts: 587
Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2003 10:45 pm
Location: North Billerica, MA, USA
Contact:

Post by Gooserider » Sun Aug 08, 2004 9:09 pm

If you have a GOOD air compressor, I would also suggest taking a look at air powered grinders. Harbor Freight usually sells a little pencil job that takes 1/16" shaft bits and works great for fine detail work. It is about the size of a fat ballpoint pen and is much easier to work with than a clunky motor tool.

A die grinder is bigger, and will take 1/8" or larger bits for rough work.

For cutting, I use a 'muffler cutter' aka 'whiz wheel' that works far better than any dremel because its about 3" in diameter and spins faster. With care and practice it will make amazingly small holes. For real small stuff I use a dremel cutoff wheel in my air pencil grinder. BTW, I disagree with jimveta, and strongly reccomend the composite wheels, I find they last better and cut more effectively than the stone ones. The rest of his advice is pretty good, the only other important thing to note is that a cutting wheel MUST be kept in line with the cut any side load or twisting of the wheel out of the cut line will cause the wheel to break or shatter.

Of course, if you want the ULTIMATE, get a Foredom brand motor tool w/ remote shaft, which is expen$ive, but possibly the best of the class - it is what the tool and die guys will use professionally.

Gooserider

Elixer
Posts: 520
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2004 10:31 am
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Contact:

Post by Elixer » Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:08 pm

mg1394 wrote:I respectfully disagree with Ralf on this one, only specifically referring to the new Dremel 8000 cordless. It really is as good as the corded models, doesn't cost much additional, and is more convenient. The older, lower voltage models were POS.
I totally agree with Ralf on this one. Unless you have a special need for a cordless dremel stay away from them. Cordless power tools are annoying because you have to wait for the battery to charge, the batteries always die down after a few years, they're more expensive, and they're generally not as powerful. My $.02.

jimveta
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:05 am

Post by jimveta » Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:17 am

yes to be honest, i probably did twist the wheel inadvertanly which led to it breaking. i could have the wrong impression but it seems that the composites seem to have higher tendency to vibrate/resonate than the stone when i can't hold the work and my drill hand still enough.. however, i'd just take gooserider's advice on this because i haven't used them all often enough nor properly (just the few times i need some case/chassis modding) :)

problem is, it's hard to stabilize the work piece with a free hand which is why i avoid using the dremel cutting wheels. however, with a bench vise or some similar clamp setup, i'd guess the wheels are ok. i just use the rotary bit instead. even when i can't stabilize it well enough, it won't break-- the cut will just be ugly :lol:

so all in all, i use tin snips thanks to the article in this forum :) whenever i can. and the dremel rotary bit instead of a punch to cut the initial slot.

GlassMan
Posts: 168
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 4:55 am

Post by GlassMan » Fri Aug 13, 2004 1:10 pm

Don't hold your work piece, always clamp it down. If it's small enough to hold its light enough to be thrown by the tool, then they are racing to see which one will slice you first.

Post Reply