Smaller cut-off wheels then Dremel 409??

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hi,

I’m trying to find smaller cut-off wheels than the Dremel 409 that are
Just under an inch in diameter.
Does anyone know where to get something like a thin ¾” cut-off wheel?

Thanks!

2

Gee Kyle, my problem has always been that I want them larger than the 409’s. I know they make them larger, and some are even fiberglass reinforced to prevent shattering at higher speeds.

The truth is it doesn’t take me very long before a 409 is worn down to about the diameter you want, which for me is no longer any good for cutting track. So I change wheels and set the old ones aside for a rainy day and a different project.

I take it you are trying to get into a tight spot. My suggestion would be to wear down some 409’s.

Out of curiosity, what’s your project?

3

I’m working on my first layout and haven’t had a need for cut-off wheels so far,
that’s why I don’t have one yet that’s worn down to a smaller diameter. But you’re
right - that won’t be to difficult… [;)]

I’m in the process of making my Peco c55 electro-frog turnouts DCC friendly
And have to cut through the frog (shudder…).
With a new Dremel 409 I’m starting to cut into the guard rails by the time I’m
Done cutting deep enough through the frog to insulate it.

4

Who told you a Peco turnout needs to be modified? We have close to 20 Peco turnouts on our club layout and have had absolutely no problems with any of them, whether running on DC block control or DCC. All you have to do is insulate both rails that diverge from the frog, and leave the frog as it is. I did this with every turnout, whether Peco insulfrog or electrofrog, Shinohara, or Atlas, and we have never had any electrical problems with them.

5

Well, I did have some problems with poor electrical contact of the points on this
turnout. Believe me - if I didn’t have to do this mod, I wouldn’t have…

Are you in N or HO scale?

6

I was browsing at Home Depot earlier today and stopped at the Dremel section. There’s an attachment for the new Dremel that is an angle attachment for a saw blade. It lets you make perpedicular cuts to a flat surface. I didn’t open it to read instructions, but it looks like it would also accept a cut-off disk. That would work for cutting rails and a lot of other stuff.