I just tried my Dremel Work Station on a plastic boxcar to see if I could drill holes for ladders and such without the bit drifting. It worked great as long as I brought it down very slowly and with the bit turning at low speed so as not to melt the plastic. On metal though it drifts every time.
Given the apparent assumptions that a couple of posters have made I’m afraid I’ll have to clarify my statement about holding the workpiece with my hand:
What I should have explained more clearly is that I hold small work pieces with a pair of pliers, usually with the jaws covered in masking tape sticky side out. Unfortunately the pliers do nothing to stop my hands from shaking occassionally hence the reason for the thread. Contrary to the assumptions of some I do not hold small pieces with my bare hands! I am not a total idiot - close, but not quite[(-D].
I have already explained this once but there was a second post with dire warnings about what can ensue if you are using the bit a few fractions of an inch away from bare skin, so I figured I should explain myself in intimate detail.
Anyhow, thanks to everyone for their shared experiences and suggestions.
Dave
P.S. I will be away for a few days so please don’t think I am ignoring your responses. Back on May 16.
Dave,
Some info for You. Sears sells Dremel accessories, flexshaft etc.
Stores and catalog pick-up points near You:
http://www.sears.ca/store-locator
When I typed in Bradford I got ten.
Are You going bird watching or?
Take Care!
Frank
I also own a dremel workstation and l agree with what the others have said. I use either a pinvise or my regular drill press. By the way, using high quality bits willl reduce the wobbling, in my experience… Simon
Dave, Don’t take it personally. Many people do things without realizing how dangerous it is. I myself have done things, after which I said “Man, I can’t believe I was that dumb.” Sometimes after learning a painful lesson. Yes, folks, a heavy duty staple gun WILL put a staple through the web of your hand, fastening it to thr underside of your layout. Don’t know how I know that, though…
Several years ago, someone gave our club one of those Dremel drill press gadgets. We never did use it because it had too much free play and wobble, and did not hold the Dremel securely enough to be usable.
Thank you for responding, Zstripe. Creating a jig sounds like an excellent idea. [swg][tup].
One thing that I just remembered regarding drill presses: some jewelers use drill presses for their fine work. I’m assuming that their units must be of higher quality and am wondering what brands or model numbers they use? Over on the Atlas Rescue forum a modeler did suggest installing our small drill bits in a pin vise and then trimming the tightening-knob so that the pin vise can be mounted into a drill press’s chuck. Good idea, but not workable if the drill press is a “wobbler” for small sizes.
Not trying to come off as lazy but since I literally have 100+ holes to drill for handrails, the idea of doing each one with a pin vise is something I don’t relish as I’d rather continue metalizing my fleet and then get into installing passenger car interior lighting.
Frank:
Yes, we went bird watching at Point Pelee National Park on Lake Erie.
We saw 61 species in three days which is by no means a record in the hobby, but that was 12 more for us than last year. Never seen so many Scarlet Tanagers in my life!
We had a great time! Turned the big 60 on the 14th. Couldn’t think of a better way to do it!
Dave
Dave,
HAPPY [bday] belated to You. Glad You & Yours had a good time.
One More to add to the list:
Take care!
Frank
Frank:
Thanks for your help.
I know that Sears Canada sells the Dremel accessories. My problem with Sears Canada is that the company has raided their employees’ pension fund (quite legal here in Canada thanks to the federal government) to the tune of several hundred million dollars. In other words, the government has allowed Sears Canada to remove funds from the pension fund supposedly for reinvestment in the business. In fact what the company did was to use the pension fund withdrawal to pay huge dividends to its shareholders far in excess of the performance of the company. The pension fund is now underfunded by about 40% if my facts are correct. I am a Sears Canada retiree. If Sears Canada goes under, which by all accounts is exactly what the majority shareholder wants to have happen, my pension income will go down by at least 40%.
Spending money at Sears will not help my pension. It will only provide more cash for the majority shareholder to siphon off.
My not spending a few bucks at Sears Canada won’t make much of a difference, except to me.
Thanks for letting me rant!
Dave
Edit!
Great picture! Thanks!
Dave,
That sucks about the Sears Canada issue, that’s sad.
All I can say about Pensions, is in My experience, Thank God for Jimmy Hoffa, He was still alive when I was in the Teamsters Union and I don’t have any problem’s with my pension.
Take Care!
Frank