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I like magentizing models partially because it's a money saver but mostly because I don't like being locked into a single build for models with options.

My issue is that over time it is just murder on my fingers because I've been drilling the holes for the magnets with a pin vise or more usually just my hand and the drill bit. I recently caught a tutorial on Miniwargaming that discussed the use of a dremel tool to drill the holes for your magnets.

Can anyone recommend a good solid dremel tool that's none too expensive ($50 would be my limit and it would have to be kick ass at that price) and can work well with the plastics and pewter models? Or if you have alternative advice on what to use to drill holes, etc that would be welcome as well.

Thanks.

Huh. Feels like this is coming up a lot, lately. Just made a long post on another thread this morning...

Regardless, I'll give the quick and dirty, again. Rotary tools are NOT drills. They can be used as such, but it's really not what they're meant for. These are high speed, low torque tools, well outside the ideal parameters of a drill. That said, if you're going to do so anyway (and it certainly IS doable, if not ideal), you'll want a variable speed model dropped to its lowest setting.

The best tool for your money is, in my opinion, the Black & Decker RTX rotary tool. Less than $40 at Walmart (unless they recently jacked up the price), twice the torque of a Dremel, variable speed, accepts Dremel accessories and bits, and doesn't suffer from the quality control issues and gross overpricing of recent Dremel models (look up product reviews - many complaints of Dremel speed controls crapping out in the firs week). For the price of the lowest-end variable speed Dremel, you can get an RTX, a third-party flex shaft, and a multi-pack of collets that will let you fit any shank size and, therefore, damn near any bit on the market, Dremel or otherwise.

The only downsides are the higher weight (a flex shaft, strong hands, or short-term operation all eliminate this issue), and somewhat higher heat and noise at higher speeds (which you rarely need for modeling work).

Go with a B&D RTX if you want the most bang (or "whir," in this case) for your buck. Note that I am in no way affiliated with B&D, I simply hate companies that charge you $90 for a brand name when the tool gets bogged down cutting through tissue paper.

Dremels are great for metal figures, although you'll want to use a vise or gloves as the metal heats up rapidly.

You generally don't want to use a dremel on plastic as the RPM is too high and melts the plastic. Micro-mark has an alternative for pin vise on plastics:

http://www.micromark.com/ULTRA-TECH-PRECISION-POWER-SCREWDRIVER-AND-UNIVERSAL-CHUCK-COMBO,9714.html

I have the B&D RTX. It works wonders on metal figures, although I woul recommend not using it on plastic. A Pin Vice is really the best tool for plastic models.

Power screw driver with drill bit. I use it on plastics, metals and tons of other stuff. I got it for less than $10 bucks with all the bits and everything. I think it actually came from target or walmart or somewhere.

Completely agree with what's been said here that a rotary tool is not a drill. While I love my (very old) Dremel, even at its lowest speed it's too fast to use for drilling minis with any degree of control or safety.

Does the B&D work at significantly lower RPM's?

Breotan wrote:Dremels are great for metal figures, although you'll want to use a vise or gloves as the metal heats up rapidly.

You generally don't want to use a dremel on plastic as the RPM is too high and melts the plastic.

rogueeyes wrote:Power screw driver with drill bit. I use it on plastics, metals and tons of other stuff. I got it for less than $10 bucks with all the bits and everything. I think it actually came from target or walmart or somewhere.

Agree. low power Power Screwdrivers and either an adjustable chuck or Hex-bit drills are much more manageable than a full on rotary tool.

Dont cheat yourself and go cheap. I bought a non tradename setup and it was next to pointless.

I don't know, I have a dremel and love it! I'm at work so I don't know the model but it's cordless and small. It fits very nicely in your hand and you don't need the flex shaft. You do have to use the lowest setting for plastic, but after the first time it melts some plastic(a little bit-no real damage) you learn how to avoid it every time. It is by far the best thing I've spent money on. Although it is a little more than $50 bucks- I think it was about $80. Oh, and I've had it for a few years and never had any problems with it.