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I was thinking of buying a Dremel tool. What are some good modeling uses a Dremel tool can be used for? Any bits you would suggest? Is there are a particular model Dremel drill to recommend?

I got a 300 for Xmas. I've no had much chance to use it yet, but I have found it useful for building scenery. I don't think I am likely to use it much with Infantry, but maybe with vehicles I will.

I use my dremel all the time!

- Drilling holes (0.033" drill bit) for pinning
- Drilling crevases for mounting magnets
- Cutting large pieces off vehicles
- Cutting pieces off metal models
- Cleaning files with a brass brush
- Anything involving scenery

Absolutionis wrote:I use my dremel all the time!

- Drilling holes (0.033" drill bit) for pinning
- Drilling crevases for mounting magnets
- Cutting large pieces off vehicles
- Cutting pieces off metal models
- Cleaning files with a brass brush
- Anything involving scenery

Abso,

Can you recommend a particular kit?

I was thinking this would be a good start?
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=300-1%2f24

Are there any specific attachments or bits I should pick up? Other than the 0.033" bit?

I use a much older model of the following:
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=300+Series
The 300 series is useful if only for its adjustable speed.

The flex shaft attachment is useful for detail work; it's an optional accessory that I bought one day and have since never removed. It's totally optional, but it's a nice convenience:
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=225-01

Note that you can use standard drill bits on a dremel. For pinning, I use a 0.033in drill bit with 0.032in brass rods. The bits are really thin; be careful with the bit because it easily breaks.

For cutting, I use these:
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=409
They're cheap, they cut pewter, and they're mostly expendable. Just understand that if you're cutting metal, it's going to make the metal really really hot quite quickly. Don't hold it in your hand. You're going to break these often.

For mounting magnets, I use these:
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=9933
Get the right size for the magnet that you want to mount, and just imprint a hole of the appropriate size and depth.
Note that when drilling into plastic with anything, keep the dremel on the lowest speed setting and go slow. Otherwise, you'll melt the plastic and get gunk all over your bit. It's nothing catastrophic, but it's annoying to remove.

If your dremel doesn't come with it, you'll have to buy the correct size collets for the bits you'll be using. Just get like 2 or 3 of various sizes and they'll suffice for the wide variety of bits out there:
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/CategoryProducts.aspx?catid=5&catname=Chucks+%26+Collets

I've never really bought a "kit" of bits, but you may want to get one of those. I've always just looked at the bits available and bought them individually as I went on. You're going to break a few bits over time, so it may be better and cheaper to only buy the bits that you think you'll need. I just store all my bits in a labeled medicine container.

Nobody really NEEDs a dremel device. However, it's a great tool that I oftentimes find myself using just because I can. I heart power tools.

One final note if you've never used a dremel before. Dremels base their cutting "power" on speed, not strength. The unit isn't very strong, but it's fast. You can quite easily jam your bit in the piece you're cutting/drilling and get it stuck. Your dremel will only perform well when it's spinning at a decent speed.

The cutting wheel is the most vital unique use for a dremel (or similar - mine is actually a different brand) - it's the one thing you can't do with a hand drill or pin vice. (Well, ok, drilling into metal by hand also gets real annoying real fast )

Cutting wheels are very brittle - buy spares and be prepared to (accidentally) break lots of them.

Scenery and large vehicles are certainly the most common projects where a dremel is handy - for smaller stuff, hand tools usually do just as well.

I've said it in every rotary tool thread that has come up during my time on Dakka, so I'll give you the truncated version: Dremels are a waste of money. For occasional hobby use, cheap knockoffs are a much better buy - check out Harbour Freight. If you'll also be doing heavier work, you can buy a B&D RTX for half the price of the lowest-end variable speed Dremel, which has double the torque and WAY sturdier construction. The extra weight can be mitigated with a 3rd party flex shaft, which, with the addition of a few bits and various sized collets, will still cost less than a shoddily constructed 300 series.

I got a Dremel 4000 with all the bells and whistles (which I probably won't use) for Christmas. The speed goes low enough that if I use my pin vice to make a small indent I can use the drill to pin infantry. I also recommend the ez lock metal cutting disks, I haven't snapped any off yet like the little ones tend to do and they cut through stuff very nicely.

I thought about just buying a small hobby drill but the Dremel is versatile enough that I can use it for other things too.

I have something very similar to this: http://www.proxxon.com/us/html/28500.html

It's a good little tool. I've found plenty of uses for it, but for miniatures it doesn't come up that much- that said, the times that I have used it, it has saved me hours of work.

I recommend a dremel for working with metal. I do NOT recommend one for working with plastic.

When I was changing the arms on my carnifexes, the arms were thoroughly fused to the model with plastic glue. I used a dremel to empty out the arm sockets for new arms.

Although this was on plastic, the high speed of the dremel melts it so you have to be careful, and clean the gak off've your drill bit before it sets.

Pointless unless you are working alot with metal.

Needle files, razor saw, pinvice, scalpel. Thats all i have apart form GS tools.

Oh yeah, and i work alot with metal.

FTL

I recommend the smallest, battery powered one you can find. I have a variety of dremel-esque tools that I use quite often & I've found that the 7300 MinMite is the best for miniature stuff. It has 2 speeds (Higher works great for metal whiloe the lower is good with plastic), and is very lightweight. It is also compatable with almost all of the dremel type bits.

I have the Clarke rotary tool from Machine Mart, it was only £30 or so, and came with 40 bits or so. Still need to try them all out and see what they do , but slow and gentle with plastics, set on the lowest setting is something I've already figured out as I melted part of a Baneblade armourplate. It does make for awesome bio-damage though, as long as you don't overdo it and make sure you get the plastic off the bit before it solidifies. Don't do this with your fingers.

My own army (Baneblade was my boyfriends'.. ) is almost entirely metal and requires a lot of pinning and adjustments, so this has been pretty useful. Make a guide hole before using the drill though, or it'll probably slip and drill a hole in your table.

I wouldn't pay a bunch of money for a name brand, it's a really simple tool and a no-name will work as well. Save that money for buying attachments. drills, circular saws, and find yourself a couple of end mills! I use them ALL the time.

A word of caution when you cut your first metal miniature. They get VERY hot VERY quickly and you can easily blister your fingers (especially if you use an abrasive disc instead of a metal saw) Cut a little, dip it in water and repeat


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I have a couple of ball end mill bits that I think came in an engraving set. I used one to carve the head out of a cadian head until only the helmet was left and put it on a kroot. Easy as could be.

A good, simple Dremel is a must have for modeling IMO! Be in metal or plastic there are a multitude of jobs that can be done or just plain made simpler with the aid of one of these guys!

No need to go for the gusto- Lowers sells simple starter Dremels for cheap and usually with a slew of attachments.

I don't know where I would be without my dremel and airbrush now.

Yah i dont use any of these only a scalpel a file of some sort and glue oh and the occasional pin or needle and im fine but i love the modeling process and the making. In fact i do it mostly for the making

They are not necessary but if you work a lot with metal, conversions and scenery it is well worth considering.

If you can get one with changeable speed it would be a bonus. Mine is fixed speed so have to be careful on plastics.

I highly recommend a dremel. It is useful for many things, warhammer or not! Great little tool. Also, do you have a air compressor? Have you considered a pneumatic pencil grinder? same size as a dremel, if not, smaller.

Just an update on Dremel...

first the good news:
I got a 300 series model which is more than up to the task. Several bits are very useful. The fine tip tungsten cutters and grinders are great at mold lines (slow speed). Nylon bristle wheels are good at cleaning off loose plastic for a smooth surface for priming
The drill bit kits comes with a bit even smaller than the standard bit that comes with the GW hand drill, and much larger ones. I used the smallest to drill out the small holes on a SM flamer. A larger bit was used to drill out a perfect size hole. An even larger bit was used on a dred's multimelta. I also gouged out the lines on all my meltas for a rougher "melted" look. The meltas looks well used now. I like that look better.
I took absolut's advice and got the flexible shaft. GREAT idea, I just hang the dremel tool on a hook on my table, and use the flexible shaft which is easier to hold; almost like a pencil.
Although I haven't used it yet, there is a carbide flush drill bit PERFECT for making recess for rare earth magnets. This will be handy for my land raider crusader to switch out the bolters and flamers.

Now the bad news. The switch on my 300 seems to be faulty. It sometimes doesn't run or even turn on, on the lowest speed, and even when it does, it's slower than what the RPM should be on the slowest speed; you can stop it with your fingers. It also will suddenly speed up or pulse on medium speeds. I got the 300 series because it seemed much easier to hold than the 4000 (next model up for 10 bucks more) but the flex shaft eliminates that advantage of the 300. The 4000 also has a much more advanced speed control, and overall seems more than just 10 dollars better.
Long story short, I'll be returning the 300 today for a 4000.

Absolutionis wrote:I use my dremel all the time!

- Drilling holes (0.033" drill bit) for pinning
- Drilling crevases for mounting magnets
- Cutting large pieces off vehicles
- Cutting pieces off metal models
- Cleaning files with a brass brush
- Anything involving scenery

I use mine for all these same things (except I haven't tried cleaning my files, that's a great idea). I got this one:
Dremel 1100-N/25 7.2-Volt Stylus Lithium-Ion Cordless Rotary Tool Kit with Docking Station

It has worked out really well, and the extra control of the stylus grip really seems to help.

I've got a multi-pro something. It's pretty old, but it goes up to speed 10 (whatever that is exactly. It's really fast, like 35,000 RPM or something)

Buy a whole bunch of sanding tools. It excels at that. I've never been able to use my hands as well as the dremel. Those blades that are really thin are for cutting things, afaik, and they're incredibly useful... Drill bits, of course. Go to home depot and get a big set, the dremel can handle them.

Mine has this weird hose attachment thing that lets you use the bit farther away from the dremel, whatever you would need that for. Don't buy it

This, actually: http://www.dremel.com/en-us/tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=3956-02

The hose is different, as is the box, but it's the same thing

I use mine to drill out gun barrels, make bullet holes, scratches, and to make holes. For instance I just made some grotesques and the dremel was good for making holes so I could use some computer wire for hoses going into their flesh.

oadie wrote:I've said it in every rotary tool thread that has come up during my time on Dakka, so I'll give you the truncated version: Dremels are a waste of money. For occasional hobby use, cheap knockoffs are a much better buy - check out Harbour Freight. If you'll also be doing heavier work, you can buy a B&D RTX for half the price of the lowest-end variable speed Dremel, which has double the torque and WAY sturdier construction. The extra weight can be mitigated with a 3rd party flex shaft, which, with the addition of a few bits and various sized collets, will still cost less than a shoddily constructed 300 series.

QFT

I bought the Dremel 300 for around 50 british pounds. A month later i bought a set with over 200 parts, including the drill and a flex shaft attachment for less than 20 pounds, and it works just as fine as the dremel.

Dremel tools are a bit overrated - at least, when it comes to slicing through plastic, tin and other stuff used for scenery. The difference of the mini drills are the parts inside. On heavy usage, some of the cheaper variations parts might break. But you hardly run into such issues, if you're only gonna use it for mini's and alike.

EDIT:
A tool to look for, however, are the Engraving Cutters. I haven't found a better tool for my models, when i'm looking to magnetize my Carni'es etc.
- If you, on the other hand, wanna cut stuff, most minidrills comes with the little cutting wheels/discs. Any of those are prefect for cutting up stuff, with great ease!

I've never had luck with the abrasive cutting discs, in metal they heat the model up EXTREMELY fast. (then they break and fly apart on you) Using them on plastic parts, they just melt their way through.
My best cutting tools have been steel circular saws, a fine tooth for metal and a coarser toothed one for wood/plastics. I don't see them in stores very often, but I recently picked up some similar saws that are supposed to have diamond in them and I look forward to seeing how they do.

@Julian
Well, there's truth to that. I've had plastic melt on me aswell, and have had my fingers burned too. But i usually get by from not being too impatient.
- But you may be right about the steel circular saws. I got one of those in the 200+ kit i bought. Haven't done any modelling besides drilling ever since, though, so i haven't had the chance to try 'em out.

I recall seeing those saws on Dremels homepage, btw.