Using a dremel for the first time

[Asheron]

I finally got enough courage to cut my case and boy did it take me a long time.

My case is an antec 1030b, i think its steel.

I used a dremel with cut off wheels but i broke a few in the process. Good thing i had goggles on :)

Whats the best direction to cut and is it better to cut from the outside or inside? I was making cuts from the inside with high speed.

Can anyone recommend a better wheel type or technique?

I did get the holes cut out quite neatly though and i dropped 3 Degrees from my Cpu and Case. Im happy. And its looks great.

I plan on making a blowhole up top and possibly a window on the side.

Any dremel experts out there?

[Diggrr]

The best replacement I've seen for a dremel cut off wheel is their metal one that has diamond abrasive on it. It has about 6 little holes around it's center for keeping it cool.
They're a little pricey (I haven't found one locally yet), but will easily outlast dozens, if not hundreds of those little abrasive wheels. It also looks to have a more agressive cut to it (a larger abrasive).

Sounds like you've got some great plans going on for that case....great luck to ya.

[BinarySuperman]

now some one tells me, do you have any idea how many of those wheels i have cracked, man can someone post a link to one of those metal ones.

[Monaco]

well if you are cracking wheels a lot you are doing something wrong. You cannot turn corners or apply too much pressure, you have to let the high RPMs do the work for you. Gotta be slow, too.

Try the reinforced cutoff wheels, they slowly grind away to nothing but I rarely snap them.

[Diggrr]

http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/bit_template.asp?SKU=545&Color=CC0000

You still have to take care not to twist it while in the slot you're making, and take your time...let the tool do the cutting, don't force it hard into the work to make it cut faster.

[Darrenct]

Dremel has Cut-off wheels that are made for doing metal... I did my whole case without breaking a single wheel. Here's a picture of one I used

[Element-Xero]

whoa i really want one. Got a link?!

[BinarySuperman]

here is a pretty good deal...
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1213276567.1012115645@ @@@&BV_EngineID=cccjadcefdiggljcgelceffdfgidgjm.0

EDIT: Click on the first one, portable....

[BinarySuperman]

im still gonna buy a jigsaw for my window mod. dremels take to long...

[Element-Xero]

no no, not a dremel, a metal wheel that Darrenct used and didnt break through his entire case mods. I got a dremel :)

And for the record, NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER (ever) buy the portable one. I originally bought that one, and i litterally had to recharge it for 4.5 hours after ever 10 minutes of use. Awful. I have the Model 235 (65 bucks at HD with bits and stuff) 5000-35000 rpm. The cordless also only goes to like 7000 i think.


still need that wheel link if anyone has it....

[Darrenct]

I wouldn't recommend using the cordless for anything besides maybe cutting a bolt. I did have one for about two years... The same model that is still out. Anyway, I was trying to make a pure plexi case, and I used my cordless to cut it. I put so much stress on the thing that the battery terminal melted in to a puddle of plastic... That didn't stop me though... I kept using it until it burned the terminals inside the Dremel. The thing doesn't work any more, I wonder why?

Needless to say, I now own the corded version($50 at home depot) and can cut whatever I want without a hassle.

[Darrenct]

Here's a link to the cutting wheel I used:
http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/bit_template.asp?SKU=426&Color=CC0000
It is Dremel catalog part number: 426

It is Fiberglass reinforced, but it's not invincible. After you use it for long enough it wears down to nothing, but I've never had one break apart on me like all the other cutting disks do. It is a large diameter. That makes sharp corners a little bit difficult, but I got mine to look pretty good.

They stock them at Home Depot(or Lowe's, or Whatever), but you have to buy some of the other cutting disks with them.

[BinarySuperman]

well i was screwed over as well, i also got the cordless one, andi do hate recharging, im wondering if they have a cord which plugs in where the battery should go, and i think i know how my bike was stolen now, damn dremels!!!!:mad:

[Darrenct]

Well, I know many of us heard about the amazing things a Dremel can do, so we went out and bought ourselves a cordless... Little did we know... The Cordless Sucks!

There is a solution though. You can convert your cordless into a Weak corded version.
Go down to Rad Shack and find yourself a transformer that converts wall power to the same Voltage and Amperage as your Dremel Battery...
Voltage can vary by 1 or 2 volts, but make sure the Amps are close to the Specs.

It only takes a couple screw to open up the Dremel, Solder your power supply to your Motor and you have yourself a Corded Dremel. You have to remove the switch, but it is easy to stick in your own.

[Darrenct]

Originally posted by BinarySuperman
and i think i know how my bike was stolen now, damn dremels!!!!:mad:

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get a U-Lock for my bike... I'd like to see a cordless Dremel Try and get through one of those.
Of course my Bike is worth half as much as my car!

My Bike(except mine is black, I just don't have a pic of mine):