I've just started using a Dremel, and I have to say, it really seems to butcher the plastic in our Tacomas. Its hard to find a fine line between speed (RPM) and effectiveness. Between the melting plastic, the scarring, the inevitably sloppy lines and the perpetually breaking cutting discs, its hard to walk away thinking you did a good job.
So how are your skills? Do you feel the same? Any tips? What speed do you use for cutting, and which cutting wheels? I seem to break a lot of the cutting wheels that come with it and now I bought some hopefully sturdier ones.
One thing I will say...wear goggles. Those melted little gobs of hot molten plastic go flying in the direction of your eyes. I got nailed close to the eyes a couple times.
I've gotten (with practice) efficient with mine. I keep it on the fastest speed and work slowly. If you push too hard or at an extreme angle those disks shear off very easily. I use mine to cut and shape sheet metal a lot of the time for different projects I dream up around the garage. I've used it to cut out drywall and to sharpen the blades of my lawnmower. I'd like to get a cordless one.
What are you trying to do? I use my dremel all the time and have learned quite a bit about working with automotive plastics w/ a dremel (it's all about the tip that you use and having a soft touch). If your breaking disks your probably pressing down to hard or your letting the surface get too hot. My garage is always open if you need some help.
__________________ The greatest security a person can have comes from within himself, not from the outside. Nothing anyone can do for you can begin to match what you can do for yourself.
-Samuel Goldwyn
What are you trying to do? I use my dremel all the time and have learned quite a bit about working with automotive plastics w/ a dremel (it's all about the tip that you use and having a soft touch). If your breaking disks your probably pressing down to hard or your letting the surface get too hot. My garage is always open if you need some help.
Cool, Keith! Everything I have done so far is out of eyesight, but I will be cutting a nice big gaping hole in my dash console to mount the front plate of my inverter, so I would live to drive out there for your assistance sometime soon.
Cool, Keith! Everything I have done so far is out of eyesight, but I will be cutting a nice big gaping hole in my dash console to mount the front plate of my inverter, so I would live to drive out there for your assistance sometime soon.
Just shoot me a PM or give me call when your ready.
__________________ The greatest security a person can have comes from within himself, not from the outside. Nothing anyone can do for you can begin to match what you can do for yourself.
-Samuel Goldwyn
Get a good clean work area. Get comfortable. Don't Dremmel when you're tired. Have a steady hand. Wear safety glasses, those cutting discs can fly apart. Get the Dremel Flex Shaft attachment, it's much easier to hold in your hand. It's great for doing detailed work. http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-225-Fle.../dp/B0000302Y8
Try some of the toothed burrs instead of the abrasive cutoff discs. And as said, work slowly without a lot of pressure. Also, try lightly "dabbing" the cutter into the work. It allows you to clear chips that would normally gum up, and reduces the heating -which also reduces the melting/gumming.
ALWAYS wear eye protection with any pwr tool, but ESPECIALLY with high speed cutters and any kind of grinding (abrasive) cutting tool. (I have a friend who, in a hurry, grabbed the Dremel w/ abrasive wheel to trim off a sliver of wood. The wheel shattered, he wasn't wearing safety glasses. He was extremely lucky. The chunk of wheel that sliced thru his cornea, and the resulting infection only resulted in cataracts -at age 28. He could have lost his eye. Instead, he had cataract surgery, and thru the miracles of modern opthamology, has his vision back -thru a plastic lens, which doesn't focus for near and far like a human one.)
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2012 DC PreRunner SR5 V6 Pyrite Mica
Get the reinforced disks... they look black as opposed to the brown coloured ones... I have never shattered one. Just like everyone said, take your time... the more you use it the more comfortable you'll feel with it.
Get a good clean work area. Get comfortable. Don't Dremmel when you're tired. Have a steady hand. Wear safety glasses, those cutting discs can fly apart. Get the Dremel Flex Shaft attachment, it's much easier to hold in your hand. It's great for doing detailed work. http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-225-Fle.../dp/B0000302Y8
I use the Dremel EZ-lock system too.
As pretty much always (in these matters at least), PB is right.
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2005 Silver Double Cab TRD Off Road SB, bed extender, OEM argent tube steps, Pace Edwards Jack Rabbit tonneau, Pop & Lock tailgate lock, Alpine CDA-9857, iPod Video 80GB, Scanguage II
The chunk of wheel that sliced thru his cornea, and the resulting infection only resulted in cataracts -at age 28. He could have lost his eye. Instead, he had cataract surgery, and thru the miracles of modern opthamology, has his vision back -thru a plastic lens, which doesn't focus for near and far like a human one.)
there is an upgraded lens called a "ReStor" lens that allows you to focus at distance as well as near (the equivalent of a bifocal so you can read).... http://www.acrysofrestor.com/
there is also a lens called "CrystaLens" model AT-45 that allows you to do the same although not as well as the ReStor lens. http://www.crystalens.com/
a new lens coming to market sometime soon is the Synchrony lens made by visiogen. here is a 3d model of this lens that is basically like a mini-telescope that will help you focus to read that newspaper again without glasses. http://www.visiogen.com/aboutSeamlessSightVideoMPG.asp(with Video)
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