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Dremil tool question

C

Charles in SC

Well Known Member
I have read a number of posts about useing a dremil tool. What bit(s) are best for aluminlm? I have a die grinder ( a dremil on steroids for those that do not know) that I have been useing with a rasp type bit. This seems to work pretty good but I just wondered what works with the dremil. Thanks in advance!
Charles
 
Dremel

I found a 1" scotchbrite wheel for my Dremel at Lowes. Works great! I've also used sanding drums and steel cutters often.
 
Cutting

If you want cutting, not ScotchBrite polishing, then this is the best I've found... one of my favorite tools.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXM408&P=0

hour1010.jpg


Sometimes your local hobby store might stock the House of Balsa stuff.

The 2 inch wheel is larger than the Dremel body, so it's easier to see what you are cutting... The Dremel brand disks are not as large.

gil in Tucson
 
Several

You want to get several of the sanding drums, both sizes. The cutting disks from the hobby shop, specifically House of Balsa are the best. You can get them in quantity at most of the larger aviation events.

The small Scotch brite pads are also very handy. Try to find some of the carbide cutting bits. Like the ones you have for the high speed air tool.

I'd avoid those discount kits that have "100 pieces for $10." They are junk.

I highly recommend the Dremel portable with the Lithium Ion battery. It is nearly as powerful as the 'plug in' model but much handier.
 
Roto-Zip bits

RV_7A said:
I agree with Darwin on the Tungsten Carbide bits. While they work great for cutting holes for landing gear, punching holes where you cant get with a drill or unibit, etc. They work great for cutting through fiberglass parts.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/attachm...accessory-detail.htm?H=188537&G=66240&I=66304

-Jeff
Click to expand...
I prefer the Roto-Zip cutters (available at Home Depot). Check out the cutting edges, they are spiralled in both directions....

xb-tc5.jpg


http://bosch.cpotools.com/accessories/rotozip_accessories/xbits/xb-tc5.html

The Dremel ones are spiralled in one direction only, and sometimes tend to push up or down as they cut....

gil in Tucson
 
Last edited:
Roto-Zip ?

az_gila said:
I prefer the Roto-Zip cutters (available at Home Depot). Check out the cutting edges, they are spiralled in both directions....
Click to expand...

These are made for cutting tile. How well do they work on aluminum?
 
Mainly fiberglass

craigvince said:
These are made for cutting tile. How well do they work on aluminum?
Click to expand...
Very rough cuts only... I added it for the bit about using it on fiberglass, as one of the previous posts mentioned. It's great for plastics and fiberglass...

Even on aluminum, the coarse teeth don't load up as quickly, a bit like a vixen file...

But for the aluminum cutting, I prefer to use the Dremel with the 2 inch Tuf grind disk, followed up by a 2 inch fine sanding disk in an angle die grinder to "sneak up" on the final line.

Large holes in sheet are easily done this way too... just use a Unibit in the corners, and the Tuf grind disk between the corner holes.. clean up with the angle die grinder and a 1/2 inch Dremel sanding drum in the corners.

This technique can be seen in this repair I did recently on a Grumman Cheetah...

http://www.bondline.org/index.php/An_Example_Repair

gil A
 
Thank you for the clarification. Now I can order with confidence! ;)


az_gila said:
Very rough cuts only... I added it for the bit about using it on fiberglass, as one of the previous posts mentioned. It's great for plastics and fiberglass...

Even on aluminum, the coarse teeth don't load up as quickly, a bit like a vixen file...

But for the aluminum cutting, I prefer to use the Dremel with the 2 inch Tuf grind disk, followed up by a 2 inch fine sanding disk in an angle die grinder to "sneak up" on the final line.

Large holes in sheet are easily done this way too... just use a Unibit in the corners, and the Tuf grind disk between the corner holes.. clean up with the angle die grinder and a 1/2 inch Dremel sanding drum in the corners.

This technique can be seen in this repair I did recently on a Grumman Cheetah...

http://www.bondline.org/index.php/An_Example_Repair

gil A
Click to expand...
 
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