What are people buying?

[Count Belisarius]

I think the 4000 has more flexibility on speed settings. It's what I will get when I finally give in and get one...

[Essex Boy]

I think the 4000 has more flexibility on speed settings. It's what I will get when I finally give in and get one...

I agree with Count Smurf. The greater the range of speeds the better. I have the 4000.

E

[grizzlymc]

See, the wealth of nollidge we have here.

So oh lord of the arboreal forests of the Essex Taiga, I note that you were talking about a pilot hole and a final. I had not even thought of this, having in mind just whizzing a 4mm bit into the placcy. So I should get a 1mm or 1.5mm bit for the pilot hole, and the idea is to gently pump the hole to get the cuttings out?

Normally, I do this on holes about 100mm diameter and I'm not drilling plastic and white metal.

[Essex Boy]

See, the wealth of nollidge we have here.

So oh lord of the arboreal forests of the Essex Taiga, I note that you were talking about a pilot hole and a final. I had not even thought of this, having in mind just whizzing a 4mm bit into the placcy. So I should get a 1mm or 1.5mm bit for the pilot hole, and the idea is to gently pump the hole to get the cuttings out?

Normally, I do this on holes about 100mm diameter and I'm not drilling plastic and white metal.

Exactly that.

Like I said, I'm totally in the dark in this matter, so I'm erring on the side of caution. I've always found it safer, where there is doubt, to start with a small pilot hole - in fact, I suppose that's the norm. 1mm, probably.

As with everything, once you've plunged in a few times you'll get a feel for it.

[grizzlymc]

And the same approach for my COTOTS white metal planes?
Will any bit do, or are their special ones?

The wisdom of the Master of the high peaks of the Essex Cordillera is as unmatched as the mighty mountains!

[Etranger]

TBH, and given that the plastic used by shapeways etc might be brittle, I'm wondering if you could just get away with a good pin vice & a range of drill bits, the ordinary High Speed (HSS) bits will do for most purposes. Although I've got both a Dremel & a cheap knockoff copy I rarely even use them.
I find my pin vice so useful that if I'm putting up cuphooks etc around the house it's just as quick to use that to drill a pilot hole as it is to get out a proper drill.

[grizzlymc]

And, of course, these South Australian medicos are no slouches - in the case of this Alien, he owes me some good advice as it is his fault my planes have multiplied from 4 to 20.

Excuse my ignorance, but how does a pin vice differ from a hand drill? And yes, the shapeways plastic bends and then snaps, hence I shall be gluing the wheels back on my PZLs. Ive also got some more brittle resin planes en roue.

[Essex Boy]

And the same approach for my COTOTS white metal planes?
Will any bit do, or are their special ones?

The wisdom of the Master of the high peaks of the Essex Cordillera is as unmatched as the mighty mountains!

White metal is a bit different. Same stuff re pilots and shite, but definitely slow to medium speed and plenty of 'dabbing' if it's a deep hole. The metal clogs something awful if you're not careful and you'll either have an aeroplane spinning on the end of your drill bit like a propeller, or you'll rip the work out of the vise.

I've only used HSS twist drills. They're multi purpose.

Oh yes, and whatever you do, wear eye protectors. You can't really badly hurt yourself with any of the tools.......but stuff flies around like crazy.

Oh, oh yes........get the chuck accessory. Using collets restricts the tools you can use. The chuck means you can use any tool up to 3.4mm.

I'm sure other Dremel users can think of more helpful stuff.

And, it all sounds vastly more difficult than it actually is. After ten minutes you'll wonder how you ever survived without your Dremel.

Iain

Oh, oh, oh yes. A flexi drive is invaluable.

[grizzlymc]

I take on board the wisdom of the Old man of the deep and vast Oceans of Essex, wherein lurk all manner of enormous creatures.

[Etranger]

Excuse my ignorance, but how does a pin vice differ from a hand drill? And yes, the shapeways plastic bends and then snaps, hence I shall be gluing the wheels back on my PZLs. Ive also got some more brittle resin planes en roue.

Same thing really. https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/products ... lsrc=aw.ds is a fancy one, you should be able to find one for $10 or so.

You get much finer control than with a Dremel etc, & I find that you can 'feel' the pressure that you need to drill a hole a lot better. Works with plastic, soft metals (up to brass) & resin.