Dremel: cleaning up minis

Mantra

Mantra

New member
The thing I hate about this hobby is the cleaning up and de-flashing of new minis.
I have noticed that some people have mentioned the use of a dremel to clean up minis.
can you people advise me on which one to get and more importantly which \'bits\'(the tool) are most useful for our hobby. pictures (of the bits) and suppliers(UK) would be helpful.

Thanks.
 
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forrix

New member
yes it is true,a dremel makes the life of a modelmaker a LOT easier,when you get your dremel you get it in a carrying case,along with all kinds of usefull little bits and pieces.
the dremel has a wide selection(you can buy new ones when the original ones break,because this WILL happen)of files,mini sanders and little \'sandpaper meterial\'like orbes and square\'s,along with a wide selection of drills and cut-disks,it\'s a great tool and you won\'t regret getting one cause they ROCK!!,i have one myself and i can\'t imagine life without it!,from making really difficult(when done by hand)conversions to just drilling,and filing mold-lines of your minis,it\'s an all-rounder!
It\'s literaly a million and one use machine!
Have fun ...greetings ryan.::cool:
 
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finn17

New member
Hmmm...I am not so sure...

Check out this thread for more recent discussion on this subject.

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=5517

I have a a number of dremels and I use them only rarely with minis. They are too fierce and potentially dangerous with such small pieces.

And, sorry to sound like a boring old fart, but it is essential to wear eye protection and, if you are using a sanding tool, some sort of dust mask too.

Proper dremels are designed for working with much harder substances than lead/pewter and there are very few jobs that you can actually do with them. I would like to watch a video of someone trying to remove mould lines with a dremel...if only for the first aid tips...:D

I do have a small power tool which I do find useful. It\'s a Ryoby rechargeable tool, which is nice and slim and is powered by two rechargeable AA batteries. This is a toy compared to a Dremel, but is great for 28mm mini work. I mainly use it for drilling however, not filing or cutting.

It might sound stupid, but I have heard that a good suitable alternative is the rotary tools ladies do their nails with. They are much cheaper, re-chargeable, and have a more sensible power output for working with minis.
 
S

SaxonAngel

nada
Originally posted by finn17

I have a a number of dremels and I use them only rarely with minis. They are too fierce and potentially dangerous with such small pieces.

And, sorry to sound like a boring old fart, but it is essential to wear eye protection and, if you are using a sanding tool, some sort of dust mask too.

Proper dremels are designed for working with much harder substances than lead/pewter and there are very few jobs that you can actually do with them. I would like to watch a video of someone trying to remove mould lines with a dremel...if only for the first aid tips...:D
Click to expand...


*in a Yoda voice*
\"Foot Control! You must learn foot control!\"

http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/accessory_template.asp?SKU=221&Color=99CCFF

And all those overpowered problems go away. My dremel sat in the box nearly unused for 7 years before I got the speed control.

Since I got it, now and again I feel like a Luddite when I take out my hand powered files.

And yes, Wear eye protection and a dust mask. You will be grinding up little chunks of metal, or worse yet...Lead.

Cheers!




:innocent:
 
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forrix

New member
this makes sense,but there are power settings on a dremel.So you can set it to low,medium or fast to match the job at hand, there are a lot of people that say dremels are too powerfull for miniatures(especiallyfor 28 mm scale) but i\'ve found that the are a great help doing all sorts of things in this hobby,although it\'s now much harder for me to actually hold a dremel with my hands cut of and all!...,i would still encourage people to try them,(and you feel so manly wielding a powertool!)...greets ryan:D
 
mickc22

mickc22

Granddad!
Originally posted by SaxonAngel
Originally posted by finn17

I have a a number of dremels and I use them only rarely with minis. They are too fierce and potentially dangerous with such small pieces.

And, sorry to sound like a boring old fart, but it is essential to wear eye protection and, if you are using a sanding tool, some sort of dust mask too.

Proper dremels are designed for working with much harder substances than lead/pewter and there are very few jobs that you can actually do with them. I would like to watch a video of someone trying to remove mould lines with a dremel...if only for the first aid tips...:D
Click to expand...


*in a Yoda voice*
\"Foot Control! You must learn foot control!\"

http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/accessory_template.asp?SKU=221&Color=99CCFF

And all those overpowered problems go away. My dremel sat in the box nearly unused for 7 years before I got the speed control.

Since I got it, now and again I feel like a Luddite when I take out my hand powered files.

And yes, Wear eye protection and a dust mask. You will be grinding up little chunks of metal, or worse yet...Lead.

Cheers!




:innocent:
Click to expand...


alternatively, those with the skills to do so can run it through a dimmer switch, make sure you house it in a non-conductive box so it\'s safe
 
S

supervike

Super Moderator
tis funny...

Originally posted by finn17

It might sound stupid, but I have heard that a good suitable alternative is the rotary tools ladies do their nails with. They are much cheaper, re-chargeable, and have a more sensible power output for working with minis.
Click to expand...

Way up high, in the wife and my closet, I stumbled across what I thought must have been her \"rotary tool for nails\" (it being pink and all) and thought it would be great for my minis. It turns on, and seems to have quite a bit of power, because it will shake itself right off the table.

The odd thing is that it seems to be rather blunt, with no sharp edges anywhere to do your nails.....I cannot see how to apply it to my miniatures....

So, I guess I\'ll just put it back. I\'d ask my wife on how to use it with my miniatures, but she just would say I spend too much time with those little toys....I wonder what she meant?



lollol
 
Valander

Valander

Member
I have a Dremel \"Mighty Mite,\" (smaller, hand-held, rechargable kind), and I use it all the time for cleaning up minis (yes, Finn, even mold lines, and I\'ve yet to have any injuries from it!).

The most important thing is to have the right kind of bit for what you\'re doing. I have a set of various cutting, grinding, and polishing bits. The most used are a green stone, which is designed for soft metals, ceramics, and glass. They\'re \"Silicon Carbide\" stones from Dedeco International, if that helps. (this one, to be exact: http://www.dedeco.com/cart/product.asp?product_id=3000) They have them in all sorts of shapes and sizes--I usually use a bullet-shaped one, but have also used barrels and disks, depending on what I\'m working on.

I\'m not sure about where you can get them in the UK, since I got this set as a gift.
 
F

finn17

New member
Sounds like my Ryobi...

I certainly don\'t have so much concern about the battery/rechargeable ones..I get a lot of use from my Ryobi.

Angela, I don\'t have a foot control, but they do sound very useful:D I do have a dremel with variable speed, but that control is contained in the body of the tool and is fiddly to alter mid-task.

I don\'t think it is the speed of the tool however, so much as the available torque. Even on low speed a mains powered Dremel will hurl a mini across the room if it \'bites\'...the battery ones just seem to stall.

supervike, just be thankful she doesn\'t have a mains powered one...:innocent:
 
M

Mosch

Active member
Orginal gepostet von t_haye2
...DremelDremelDremel....

If it was a man, i\'d marry it.
Click to expand...

Tammy, I never thought I\'d give you advice, but after that post I really want to give you a single good advice: Be very careful how you use your Dremel.
 
A

AegisFang

New member
Just got to say I love mine. I got a craftman one, I bought a few years ago has a lever that lets you get the speed you want not just setting like high low etc. I really enjoy it, also I recomend getting the pen looking thing you can attack to it. It makes life easier.


AegisFang
 
QuietiManes

QuietiManes

New member
If you\'re only going to use it for cleaning flash etc you may want to think about picking up an engraver instead. Pretty much just a small version of a dremel, probably much harder to find. Look to better modelling shops, craft shops, jewellery supply shops etc. Sorry no links for the UK. Most of them look like a mini dremel with a cord to a powerbox. The ones without the powerbox apparatus are usually bigger in hand, which might not seem like a big deal, but after cleaning a few of these little figures you\'d notice a big difference.

The only advantage being they\'re usually alot smaller and wear much better I.E. it wont wear out as fast. Disadvantages being it spins at the same rate or faster (foot pedal speed control still a good idea although some come with variable speed settings and would be worth the extra bit of $$) and there\'s usually an upper limit of about 1/8th inch diameter for your bits, which shouldnt matter at all if it\'s just for mini\'s.
 
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