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Just wanted to see if anyone knows of some sort of smaller electric tool that can be used on plastic. I like the small bits that come with a Dremel, but a Dremel simply works at too high of speeds and tends to quickly melt the plastic. A pin vice is good, but much too slow and hard on the hands if you need to work a lot of plastic. Anyone have a solution?

I use this one for drilling and whatnot:



edit.

wrong one, I meant this one:



http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=74042

Get a dremel with multiple speeds. Even the mini-mite has two speeds. On the new models the high speed is definitely too high and will melt the model, but the lower speed works just fine. On my older mini-mite, both the low and high speeds work fine without melting the plastic.

What are you trying to do with the plastic, I've never had problems with the dremel. Things didn't work out well when I took my belt sander to resin though.

The only time I can think of melting plastic with the dremel was using a cutting wheel, but you should be cutting the model with that unless you want that effect to show damage.

Hmmm... thought I posted this is the modelling section. Sorry bout that.

I'm shaving sundry chapter specific bits, hollowing out SM arms/legs/helmets, stuff like that. Can be done by hand, but electricity makes it go much faster. I've tried the Dremel, but its slowest speed is still a lot faster than I really feel comfortable with on the smaller bits.

I'll give the Tamiya stuff a look.

I got a $20 black&decker cordless drill at Ace a few years ago and it works great for drilling plastic, metal and resin.

You might want to try plain old water. Dip your bit into some before you start (and now and again as you are working)and it should help to keep the part and the drill cooler. I've used this trick for years. Hope it helps!

when i was drilling thru plastic i was using a my dads huge power drill... then again i was using it on a stompa sooo prolly a bad idea for you o_o

I have:

1. Pin vice for pinning - easy to use

2. Cordless drill - works great, operates at multiple speeds although a little ungainly for detail work.

3. Arlec supertool (a cheap dremmel type) for other purposes

OK I HAVE YOUR ANSWERS!
Either A. buy a cheap end low power knock off dremel. Thats what I use on plastic. Only when the going gets tough do I bust out the 7 speed super destroyer lol.
B. oddly enough, goto the beauty section at any store and but the *GASP* nail detailing kit. Thats right a nail buffer. Its super low speed/torque is perfect for slow and easy sanding/grinding and detail work. Thats the very first "dremel" I had and it works great for that type of work

KingCracker wrote: oddly enough, goto the beauty section at any store and but the *GASP* nail detailing kit. Thats right a nail buffer. Its super low speed/torque is perfect for slow and easy sanding/grinding and detail work. Thats the very first "dremel" I had and it works great for that type of work

very good advice.

My rotozip at 30Krpm turns plastic into dust.

Maybe that is the problem, just don't muscle through the plastic, use short quick strokes with any power tools. The longer you expose plastic to contact the hotter it will get.

KingCracker wrote:OK I HAVE YOUR ANSWERS!
Either A. buy a cheap end low power knock off dremel. Thats what I use on plastic. Only when the going gets tough do I bust out the 7 speed super destroyer lol.
B. oddly enough, goto the beauty section at any store and but the *GASP* nail detailing kit. Thats right a nail buffer. Its super low speed/torque is perfect for slow and easy sanding/grinding and detail work. Thats the very first "dremel" I had and it works great for that type of work

Are the bits interchangeable in the nail buffer?

I've got a pin vise that's got a plain end. When I'm drilling in plastic, I like to chuck it in my cordless drill to speed things up. It's not plastic melting fast like my Dremel is. Even at slow speeds, my Dremel will melt it's way through instead of actually drilling. If you've got a pin vise like that, it will easily take all the Dremel bits with no problems.