Just curious what if anything people here have used the dremel router attatchment for. I just happened on one for $12 on clearance. Got it and a 1/4″ router bit. All the time thinking I’m just buying this because it’s cheap, but I’ll probably never use it.
Not too long after that I needed to make some pockets in some oak legs and used it to precisely cut them out. Took lots of shallow cuts to do it, but much easier, and a nicer finished result, then trying to drill out most of it and chisel the rest, or trying to do it with my full size handheld router.
Anyway turns out I really like this tool. Seems great for small projects, easy to adjust, reasonably precise, ect. (though I’m not sure if there’s anywhere to buy bits for it around here).
What type of projects have you used it for, and what type of bits do you have for it?
What are your impressions of it?
Replies
I used mine once, when I was routing out a recess in a door frame for the plate that receives the latch. It was nice because it's small and light for holding horizontally at near-shoulder height (this was a Dutch door, upper part).
You might be surprised who carries bits for it. The Dremel is a popular tool for the "everyday man" (mainly due to the number of commercials they run during the holiday season) and I've seen the bits and grinders, etc., in all the local (read: small) hardware stores in our semi-rural area.
My impression is that I want to be very careful using the bits, as it doesn't seem it would take much pressure to break one.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I agree, gotta be real careful. That 1/8" shaft can't take too much abuse.
But, being a mechanical designer I know the lateral (thrust) forces on those little bitty bearings in a dremel if you try to take a heavy cut.
Lots of people around here cary lots of bits for the dremel, just haven't seen much for router bits. Store I bought the router base from only sold the 1/4" straight bit.
Honestly I haven't looked much yet. More curious what others have used.
Dremel as a router is fragile, slow and underpowered. About a year ago I bought a rebuilt PC "trim router" which is small and light enough to do all the Dremel stuff but with some authority. I got 1/8" and a 3/16" carbide bits to use with it. Both are solid carbide and have 1/4" shanks.
Well, obviously that'd be a better way to go if I find I use it all the time. But, for me it's an occassional thing only. Not sure I could justify the expense for something I'll rarely use.
If I do find I use it a lot though I've already thought about upgrading to a small router. It worked great for what I did, but was slow due to the multiple shallow cuts I had to take. I'm sure you use yours quite often. Mine'll likely be once every few months to a year.
I use mine all of the time, used it last night as a matter of fact. I do alot of inlay type stuff and I use it to hog out the bulk of stuff, typically with the 1/8" bit. As has been responded to, it will not take alot of pressure because it flexes, so alot of light passes is necessary.
I also use it for cutting grooves in very small drawers to receive the bottoms as well as cutting profiles in the pieces that hold in mirrors and glass . The router base and guide seem to work well for small delicate work.
Billy, I used my old Dremel with a 1/8 " bit to rout out recesses for strike plates and cylinder lock face plates also flush mounted toilet stall door hardware on 30 doors and jambs laminated with black formica
Ihad to make the appropiate templates, but used only one router bit for every thing.
I still have that same bit (Highspeed steel) but since have purchased others in carbide. They are around and will earn their cost if you don't 'push, them. Stein
Incidently when doing formica, lube with vaselene. Also just rout out the borders and peel off the bulk of the material with a small chisel. Ed.
That same Dremel is probably thirty years old and still cuts nails, screws ,padlocks hardened steel tubing ,cast iron with those thin cut off wheels. I also sharpen old holesaws and dress up drillbits too.
Edited 9/17/2003 10:05:10 PM ET by steinmetz
Like several of the other folks, I use mine for rough cutting recesses for strike plates, hinges, etc. None are more than 3/32nds deep.
The dremel router is so easy to guide that I can cut about 1/16th away from the knife cut outline and finish cut simply with a chisel. It works great for this kind of work.
The Ace Hardware near me has a pretty good selection of Dremel bits. Round over, v-groove, etc. Nothing too exotic, though. If you're looking for some really teeny spiral bits for inlaying, etc., then check out Stewart-MacDonald Guitar Supply http://www.stew-mac.com . They also make a heavier duty router base (aluminum/brass), which I've got. It's great, but I use my Dremel as a router all the time, and you mentioned yours won't get much use. I wanna say I spent about 30 bucks for mine about 5 years ago. Not sure how much they are now...
I used the router attachment and 1/4" bit to cut a narrow rabbet the full length of one flat side of several 8' pieces of quarter-round MDF, three shallow passes per piece. I wouldn't recommend that particular operation to anyone.
I've also used the Dremel to sharpen lawnmower blades and hedge shears, cut-off small bolts and screws in hard-to-reach places, polish and buff various nooks and crannies, and carve grooves in I-forget-just-what.
My Dremel tool sits unused for months at time. When it does venture out, there seems to be a flurry of jobs for it to do before it goes back into hibernation.
By the way, trimming that quarter-round was my first time working with MDF. I wasn't prepared for the the dust storm that accompanied the trimming. The tiny old Shop-Vac that I pressed into service for dust collection valiantly gave its life in the effort, howling in pain as it died. But some light did shine through all of that dust. When SWMBO saw how long it took to trim down each piece, and the ensuing mess, she readily approved the purchase of a new shop vacuum, router and router table.
What? You have to ask to buy a tool? LOL
I've had a dremel router attachment and it works really well. I recently got the spiral bits and the guide and used it to cut holes it the drywall. It worked well too.
Ultimately it isn't as good as a trim router but for $12 it's a lot cheaper.
Like everyone has said be careful of flexing the shaft on the bit.
Len
Well, I have to ask to buy BIG tools.
Little tools like the router base just magically appear. LOL
I picked that one up for $12 because I'd looked at them and knew they usually cost $30 anywhere I'd seen them. My 8 yr. old likes to build things this is much safer then the big router, so maybe I'll get some roundover bits or something and have her help me do some of the work on a small shelf she wants built.
That's great. I stopped asking for toys when I was eight and asked for tools. I still have my dremel that my father bought for me when I was 10. After that I was hooked. I have the dremel lathe, table saw, jig saw, and most of the accesories, all by the age of 12.
They mostly sit gathering dust now but the lathe gets dragged out once a year so I can turn Christmas ornaments for the family.
Enjoy,
Len
There's a dremel lathe, table saw, and jig saw???
Wow, time to do more shopping. LOL
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