View Full Version : Just purchased a dremel
http://au.dremel.com/html/home_fr.html
Can this cut aluminium and steel side panels? do I need to purchase a special blade for it?
telexen
05-01-05, 12:15 AM
It probably came with some cutoff wheels. They're not very strong and won't have a fun time (will wear down VERY fast and break easily) ... but they will cut through aluminum and steel casing.
It's recommended that you buy reinforced cutoff wheels for it though.
Excelsior
05-01-05, 01:04 AM
^^ What he said.
Reinforced cut off wheelsa re the only way to go. Honestly, I tried buyign a 30 pack of the cheapos during my first mod, and I got through about 20 not before I was a 12 inches from where I started cutting. The non reinforced will break and wear away very fast. not true of the reinforced.
They should sell them wherver you bought the dremel from.
so what are the normal wheel cutters for? timber?
firebat45
05-01-05, 01:43 AM
they are so Dremel can say "Everything you need to get started" while keeping the costs down.
those are just cheap accesories to give away with the dremel so you feel that you can use it without buying more stuff. not much use other than for wood maybe. the fiberglass reinforced cutting-disks are what you want. get the extra large ones if you can. they still wear down fairly fast if you're cutting steel and they are fairly expensive as well. but they are more than worth it
question, when I cut my side panel, how am I going to secure it to a flat surface? what do you guys use as backing or what ever, I'd like some detailed description
don't forget that there cant be anything underneath the panel when you're cutting it. i find the best holder for the sidepanel is just to leave it on the case. the whole case won't budge and it catches alot of the filings. you may want to line the inside of the case with something to catch the filings or just clean it out really well when you're done. having a lot of support for the panel from behind is not that important since you shouldn't be pushing down hard when cutting
well i do my best to bring people my most ingenious ideas ;)
socket7
05-03-05, 04:14 AM
Quick tip for you. Take your time while cutting! I've always found that once I start cutting, the tool will have a speed it likes to cut through the material. If you try and force the tool to cut faster then that, you will start breaking wheels. Let the tool do the work, and you'll save yourself a lot of headaches.
Brad84cnc
05-03-05, 11:19 AM
A trash can is a good place to cut on since its open in the middle and it helps in clean up. But i found it easier to use tin snips to cut out the hole then use the dremel for cleaning it up.
the garynator
05-03-05, 12:18 PM
i would like to reiterate the fact that letting the tool do the work will get you a whole lot farther than forcing it... I've been able to do a 120mm hole with only 2 NON-reinforced cutting wheels before...it's a matter of practice though...when i started i went through a 30 pack on about 24 in. of cutting(non-reinforced)
I've been able to do a 120mm hole with only 2 NON-reinforced cutting wheels before...
were you cutting paper or something? well i've always worked on steel which is a b**** to work on with a dremel but congrats for that. you must have some good dremeling skills :)
trailnut
05-03-05, 12:41 PM
Please, please, please don't forget to wear safety glasses while cutting. Steel or aluminum shards in the eye is no fun. Trust me.
troutbumoh
05-03-05, 12:59 PM
What about the aluminum cutting bit that they sell? Will this work as well? I think its like a tungsten carbide bit.
What about the aluminum cutting bit that they sell? Will this work as well? I think its like a tungsten carbide bit.
those bits are not for cutting straight lines. i generally use them to drill out rivets and stuff like that, when a regular drill bit just doesn't do the job fast enough
SolidxSnake
05-03-05, 06:17 PM
get a jigsaw instead... they are MUCH easier to cut things like that
get a jigsaw instead... they are MUCH easier to cut things like that
have you personally done it? just curious.
when u cut a side panel with a jigsaw, where and how do you place the side panel? how do you start the cut?
ghettocomp
05-04-05, 05:00 AM
To get the best value for my money, I shop a little and usually I will buy the kits of cutting wheels. For some reason the Home Depot I purchase Dremel stuff from will sell the starter kits for a lot less than the than the total cost of the equivalent number of wheels purchased separately
Electron Chaser
05-04-05, 06:17 AM
have you personally done it? just curious.
when u cut a side panel with a jigsaw, where and how do you place the side panel? how do you start the cut?
I have cut most of my holes using a jig saw. Lay out your cutlines, drill a 1/2" or larger starte hole in a corner inside the layout of the pattern. Then use your jig saw and cut as close to the line as possible. Then go back and use the dremel to do any finish and clean up work.
Susquehannock
05-04-05, 12:37 PM
question, when I cut my side panel, how am I going to secure it to a flat surface? what do you guys use as backing or what ever, I'd like some detailed description
What I typically do is use a C-clamp to affix the work to my workbench; which
has a piece of scrap plywood attached. I usually work on the part hanging
off the bench but nice to have the plywood underneath in case the toolbit breaks through.
http://server2.uploadit.org/files/Susquehannock-trc1.jpg
http://server3.uploadit.org/files/Susquehannock-spin3.jpg
Safety First ......... safety glasses & dust mask are a must. Look at
the pile of metal dust. You don't want to breath that stuff in or your next
chest X-ray will look like christmas.
Hearing protection is good too. You won't see my plugs in the image because
they're still in my ears. ;)
SolidxSnake
05-04-05, 06:12 PM
You don't want to breath that stuff in or your next
chest X-ray will look like christmas.
you are a poet at heart rofl.
have you personally done it? just curious.
when u cut a side panel with a jigsaw, where and how do you place the side panel? how do you start the cut?
You drill a hole to start, like electron chaser said... then you cut INSIDE the lines, so you can file it down if you miss the line... and then you can mold it if you want (I personally like it without molding, thank you)
If you can afford it, get a grinder. It cuts through cases like butter :).
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