Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey Guys,

Here is a video where I go over the various tools I have used when I do my conversions. I thought of doing a text and picture blog, but for the amount of information that I cover in this tutorial, it was just way easier filming it in a vid. This may help people that have never used this type of tool before or at least showing some of the bits I have found to be extremely useful when modding the metals and plastics Games Workshop uses. I hope it helps someone out there, please comment either here or on the video if it does. Thanks




Cheers and thanks for watching,

Cat/

Very useful!

Also, nice paint job on the warbike

I use a Dremel type with a long neck adapter, it allows me to drill out barrels and weapons, install magnets quickly. It has also been brilliant for modding, grinding and finishing metal mini's or pinning Metal mini's together. It is also quite good at going damage when making tanks e.g. Scratches and dents, bullets holes etc.

It is useful, but not a necessity. It falls under the "Nice to have" Category, like an Airbrush or a Miniture Bandsaw.

thanks, helped me a lot!

I used to use a dremel, but then I stopped. Now matter how careful I was, or how much lubricant I used, it seemed like the dremel was always waiting for me to get careless so it could shoot across the surface of what I was working on and do some serious damage. I just used a pin vice instead.

Now if someone has an idea on how to clean models with a dremel without scraping the crap out of plastic, I'd be intensely interested.

A few years ago by boss game me a little cordless dremil kit for a Christmas present…. I thought “what the heck am I going to do with this?” … never gave it a thought after and it was put away…..
I find myself using it now almost every day.. it’s the smaller cordless one and I love it…. Comes in handy when modeling for sure…..
I've had it four + years now and have bought every little bit that is aval.....

Very very useful, thanks much!

I use my dremmel 5 or 6 times a day. It is an indespencible tool.

thanks for the advice

Thanks Cattafish, i've been putting off using my dremel, but this has really helped me know what/how I should use it.

Per chance do you know the accessory number for the cutting disc? I bought lots of of the grinding type ones, but they seem way too thick for using on models.

Thanks again

Cool I look forward to watching this later when I get the chance.

Hangfire wrote:Thanks Cattafish, i've been putting off using my dremel, but this has really helped me know what/how I should use it.

Per chance do you know the accessory number for the cutting disc? I bought lots of of the grinding type ones, but they seem way too thick for using on models.

Thanks again

Micro-Mark is where I bought my saw blades... these are the ones with teeth and are not the sanding disc type that melt the plastic.... they list them from 36 teeth to 140 teeth....
I have the 1" dia 68 teeth and it's been great....

Thaks a lot!But it is a bit long though (like 10 minets long)!

I've had a dremmel sitting in my tool chest for ages...never thought to even approach a mini with it!

Thanks!

TO THE TOOL CHEST!

Not bad. I have a Stylus as well and it's one of the best investments I've made (second only to W&N brushes).

I will say though, that I noticed you don't talk about the wire brushes, specifically the #428. I use this to lightly polish ALL my metal miniatures and it's makes painting them a breeze. May want to talk a bit about that or try it out, if you haven't.

NiallCampbell wrote:I've had a dremmel sitting in my tool chest for ages...never thought to even approach a mini with it!

Thanks!

TO THE TOOL CHEST!

I bought my Dremel specifically for mini conversion. Don't tell my wife that...I had to sell it on the other features (mower sharpening, blah blah).

I'm very jealous of Catattfish's impressive array of accessories!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, those cutoff wheels you mention you don't use are what you use when cutting metal figs. The saw blade used in the video to cut plastics will get ruined if used on metal minis. Trust me. I know.

The Dremel is really the power source, the real magic comes in the accessories!!!!

I use a dremel occasionally, but i have found a few disadvantages. The drill bit gets really hot and melts the plastic and then the plastic gets stuck on the drill bit. a bonus is it comes of quickly.

all the bits are really helpfull though, they can cut through the models for converting and they sand them down nice and quick. Dremels are also good to help strip the models of paint.

Hey Monk,

You are absolutely correct on the heating up of the bits! You can't force drill bits through this type of plastic with a higher speed. As you say, it overheats, then distorts the plastic!

Catattafish wrote:Hey Monk,

You are absolutely correct on the heating up of the bits! You can't force drill bits through this type of plastic with a higher speed. As you say, it overheats, then distorts the plastic!

yeah, i only really use it for bullet holes or objective markers (it makes a really realistic shotgun blast through a body!).

Very very useful for drilling out barrels, though, when you don't have a pin vice.

Necroshea wrote:I used to use a dremel, but then I stopped. Now matter how careful I was, or how much lubricant I used, it seemed like the dremel was always waiting for me to get careless so it could shoot across the surface of what I was working on and do some serious damage. I just used a pin vice instead.

Now if someone has an idea on how to clean models with a dremel without scraping the crap out of plastic, I'd be intensely interested.

Are you using a single speed dremel or variable speed? That sounds like me back when I was trying to use a single speed dremel for mini's, get a variable speed and you'll fall in love with it!!

If your having these problems and using a variable speed though you should stay away from real power tools :