DREMEL cutting wheels?

[devnill]

if you are using one of the standard brown cutting wheels, it shoulldnt breeak unless you are pressing too hard. put the speed at a low setting and let gravity to the work. if you are still having problems, use a fiberglass reinforced.

i usually use a dremel and a chainsaw file so i can get better control when its needed

[Olcaytug]

if you are using one of the standard brown cutting wheels, it shoulldnt breeak unless you are pressing too hard. put the speed at a low setting and let gravity to the work. if you are still having problems, use a fiberglass reinforced.

i usually use a dremel and a chainsaw file so i can get better control when its needed

Are you talking about chainsaw sharpener tips? Actually they are grinding tips made of some hard material. The grinding is slow so you can control it easily, and I think it prevents overheating (Otherwise it would ruin the chainsaw blades.)

I'm using these thin tips for the details of the picks.

* I hope I'm right about overheating *

Regards...

[pretender]

I've never really had problems using the #420 brown cutoff wheels unless I just made a plain ol' dumb mistake. Sure, they're fragile...but I don't think the engineers necessarily had millimeter-precise grinding in mind when designing 'em.

Easy way to avoid snapping wheels is to keep the Dremel itself static, and move your work, instead of the tool. Can't recall offhand, but I think I just held the infernal thing between my knees or something when making 'em at the computer.

I've found that they're much better than even files a lot of the time; particularly trying to work with that stainless steel wiper blade stuff.

Wouldn't suggest trying to use a Dremel to cut out the major portions of a pick; bench grinder is much, much better for that.

Best of luck, and remember to avoid overheating yer work.

[pick_maker]

#426 reinforced cutoff wheels is what you want.

[NKT]

I think I just held the infernal thing between my knees or something when making 'em at the computer.

Hmmm.... best hope the tool doesn't bind, or the disc shatter and throw bits into your legs. Or the tool slips, and...

If you want to do it safely, pop your Dremel in a vice, and use it like that. Just tight enough to grip well, and put some rubber or electrical tape around it so it doesn't mark.

I bought a snake attachment, and hung my £15 dremel knock-off on a stand that came with it. I tend to clamp the work, and I have no issues with wheel breakage now. I did with my old tool, as the bearings were shot, and so the wheel fluttered, wearing down very fast and causing breakage on deep cuts.

[pretender]

had it all happen, actually.

disc doesn't cause any damage to me, heck - it's a few chunks of less-than-sharp abrasives. took a few chunks to my stomach, shrugged, put a new one on and resumed.

problem with a vice - or any fixed attachment point - is that you really have to change the angle a few times for some stuff; specifically snake picks.

you want dangerous - try cutting down hacksaw blades on a grinder and getting a nice big shot of iron filings in your eyes...., that was a bad week.

[Dent]

"but I think I just held the infernal thing between my knees or something when making 'em at the computer. "

Just wanted to say I had a relative using a dremel and was cutting something held by his legs(in his lap) and something slipped or got away from him, and the dremel tip cut into his femoral artery and he died(bleed out) before he could get to a hospital(He didnt put a tourniquet on before the ambulance got there though).

I'm not crazy so I know this is a freak accident, but still I always wear safety glasses and have everything secured and well away from my appendeges when working with a dremel or any power tool really.

It's definatly happened before(someone killing themselves with dremel) so don't discount it.

[pickin]

Haven't used the dremmel yet for making picks ... in fact I just made my first 2 tonight with a bench grinder.

The use of the flex shaft will be a definite for me when I do use the dremmel though gives more pen like control over the tool.

[NKT]

It's not the disc shattering that's the issue, it's the bits hitting your face, making you flinch (or removing your eye), so you drop the high-speed tool which rips a hole in your thigh. Then you bleed to death in 3 minutes because you are unconcious from the pain.

Or you could spend £10 on a clamp, which will also lead to better work, as it will hold either the tool or the workpiece, and is also great for bending wires.

[lockstocknbarrel]

Dremel #426 are the Ducks Nuts... have used these for years
I'm on my 3rd dremel tool.
1 240v tool
2 cordless battery tools

[madhabit]

One word: (ok, more like a sentence)
Dremel-copy Diamond cutting wheels (sounds more expensive than it is, really)
they don't wear down easily at all, and I even use their flat sides sometimes instead of those tiny grinding wheels for dremel tools.

On the other hand those things are dangerous (if you don't handle them right that is; always wear protection glasses and making sure nothing can hit you in the face, bla bla.. security.. unfortunate 'vasectomy'-accident.. and so on ).
A small sharp piece of H.S.S. hacksaw-blade almost hit my eye, the first time I tried to make a pick.

[Wade]

know what you mean, the little brows discs that i use one shattered and a piece hit me right between the eyes

[CapnCurry]

Is it worth trying to use a Dremel to file a key? It seems like a quick zap or two with one of the tungsten carbide cutters would save a lot of time with a pippin file... anybody out there with a Dremel tried this yet?

These are the kinds of cutters I'm referring to; it looks like they're about the right shape: http://www.mytoolstore.com/dremel/tungcrbi.html

[Bahrg]

Can't recall offhand, but I think I just held the infernal thing between my knees or something when making 'em at the computer.

You grind metal in front of your computer? The fans will suck in all the metal dust, and that just isnt good for the computer in any way shape or form.