Dremel

[mattrock]

My painting has really progessed by leaps and bounds since I began a few years ago and my wife pointed out to me that my bases have not really kept up. (I typically base with sand, static grass...and for my really SPECIAL projects, maybe a touch of clump foliage here and there...that\'s it).

To underscore this, and because I have not really delved much into major conversion work either, my beautiful wife bestowed upon me the gift of a shiny new Dremel Stylus for Christmas (I right fine gift).

Here\'s my question: For those of you who posses strong dremel-fu, what bits are indispensable and what do you use them for? Tell me all the uses for a dremel in the hobby...I wanna get a lot of use out of this guy and I\'m sure I\'ll learn something from you guys that I hadn\'t even thought of before this.

Thanks

 

[Sand Rat]

Haven\'t run across a bit I haven\'t used yet -

And heres a nice one if you want to look tanks hull bits look cast rather than smooth -

Take a thin coat of Testors liquid model Cement (the one in the glass jar that you brush on) and put it on the plastic - then take the metal brush from your dremel and run it across the surface - the glue softens the plastic and the brush gives a pitting effect which works well.

 

[Dragonsreach]

First thing I\'d suggest is to get a different type of collet. This ONE trust me on this, it\'ll save you a sh*t load of trouble swapping bits.

 

[Shadzar]

diamond point set.

i find i use it more often than my other bits. at lower speeds it gets the job done with plastics without melting them.

of course watch the video here and check out the projects area.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/tools/tool-detail.htm?H=188091&G=66204&I=69808

not really used that model before.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Dont use the stone grinders on mini\'s. The mini\'s are too soft and will simply clog up the grinding stone.

 

[mattrock]

So are you guys primarily using the dremel to clean mold lines, etc? is it useful in that regard or will it damage the mini to do that?

I had always thought it had more application on basing and cutting/conversion work, but if it\'ll speed up cleaning that\'d be great because that is my least favorite step in the mini-art creation process. (See: I friggin hate mold lines).

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Two facts about Dremels -

Good news - they remove a TON of material quickly.

Bad news - they remove a TON of material quickly.

Great tool, just use with caution on such things as mini\'s. You can chew thru a lot of a mini real fast. Diamond tips can help slow that down a bit..

 

[freakinacage]

actually shawn, the stylus has a really low speed setting which will even allow you to drill plastic without melting it! bloody brilliant thing!

dagnabbit dr - that multichuck is brill! i have sadly bought a load of collets though! ack

 

[airhead]

There are some hard rubber bits that look like erasers. Great for mold lines.

There are some wild bits that look like static charged whiskers that are actually bits of carbide. Great for removing lots of material in a hury. Don\'t get close - it eats anything.

 

[mattrock]

Yeah...the stylus is pretty slick as far as dremels go....(while I\'ve never used them in this context, I\'ve used them for lots of other stuff).

It\'s fully adjustable from about 4k RPMs to about 35k RPMs (estimate). And its cordless!

 

[Shadzar]

4k-35k?

seems contrary to their published stats. i haven\'t measured but i think the low speed of all dremel rotary tools is 5000 rpm.

the site claims the stylus model goes up to 25k.

you really shouldn\'t have to turn it up on minis. slow and steady and follow the arrow.

PLEASE! follow the arrow. it indicates the direction you should move the dremel across surfaces. going against the direction could cause it to skip and you might hit your hand with it. even the cotton polishing bit will burn your hand at 5k. heaven forbid a stronger or sharper bit like a cut-off wheel or diamond disk.

i don\'t know if there site still lists it been a while sicne i really looked it over, but the bits should be color coded or were for various abrasivenesses and uses.

carbide bits one color, aluminum oxide another, etc. each color made for a respective material to work with.

if the site no longer has this then i will dig my book out and give you a run-down of the color coding, what its made of, and what its made for if you want. maybe yours came with a book that still had this bits catalogue in it, but i have seen some models that don\'t.

and if you plan on using any pads or disks i would suggest getting a few extra mandrels, and maybe buying some spare motor brushes ASAP in case they outmode your model and no other current model uses the same brushes.

i am forever losing mandrels.

 

[mattrock]

5k-25k - you got the numbers right. I didn\'t bother looking at the true specs...as I noted it was an estimate. Still a nifty little critter as dremels go.

 

[No Such Agency]

I mostly use high-speed cutters for mini work:

I\'ve even converted a mini from sleeves to bare arms with one, oh so carefully... that was nerve-wracking! (I\'ve also taken minor divots out of a few figures\' feet, and my work gloves)

 

[Shadzar]

#100 above is what i used to removed the head from the BfM marines to place the skaven heads on with. it even made a straight groove that the heads fit right into as if it was molded for the socketing.

i would suggest also a set of drill bits if not included.

the diamond point set i got and use most often was like $5

search http://www.homier.com for diamond and you will see many to choose from.

i am thinking about getting the 50 piece set sometime soon as well.

they have other rotary tool bits as well as a few knock-off dremels as well.

doing a search for rotary on that site you will find a whole tool case, and some bits for $6. it includes the 20 pc diamond point set, and is only $1 more and comes with lots more stuff, including the roatary tool!

lol

the rotary tool i got from them was the \"Woodworker Variable Speed Carving Tool\" for its vice and flex-shaft. so i can jsut mount the corded thing to a work area and use the shaft and have the real dremel for on the go.

also the place i got my 10 pc needle file set for $3.

BTW i like buying from this place.

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