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Dremel Applications
Grinding
Sharpening
Cutting
Sanding
Drilling
Routing
Carving
Engraving
Grinding
Generally when grinding something, unwanted material is being removed from a surface with a spinning stone or an abrasive point. If grinding to a smooth finish, it may be necessary to start with a more abrasive stone and graduate to a finer stone.
Metals, welded joints, rivets, stone, glass, ceramics and porcelain are all materials that can be worked on with a grinding stone. One common use of grinding stones is to sharpen.
View Dremel Grinding Accessories
Sharpening
When a typically sharp instrument grows dull, the cutting edge begins to round over. Eventually, more force is needed to make a cut and the cut surface is rougher. To tell if a blade needs sharpening, look at it under a really bright light. A tool that is dulling will reflect light because of the rounded edge. Burrs and nicks show up as bright spots. A blade that doesn't reflect any light is sharp.
The first step in sharpening is grinding. Generally, in relation to sharpening, grinding involves stones with between 60 and 300 grit. The stones we have fall into this category. Aluminum oxide stones are 60-90 grit, and silicon carbide stones are 100 grit.
The second step in sharpening is honing. Generally, that will involve grits between 300-700. If what you are sharpening requires a fine edge, the edge can be polished with grits between 700 and 1200 and if an even greater edge is required, stropping can be completed with a fine leather. Sharpening takes the round away and restores the blade to the proper angle and shape.
Always move completely across the blade and if the blade is something that spins (like a lawnmower blade), be sure to check the balance before you use the blade.
View Dremel Sharpening Accessories
Cutting
Cutting creates an opening in a surface, like slotting, or can actually be a separation of pieces like what is easily achieved on a scroll saw. Cutters and blades should be sharp. When using a sharp edge, only a small amount of the cutting edge is actually in contact with the material. As a blade or cutter dulls and the cutting edge rounds, more of the edge is in contact with the material; therefore more force is needed to make a cut. As a cutter dulls, it is likely the cut surface will become more and more rough.
Several factors play into how a cutter functions, including the material being cut, how the cutter is held into the material and the speed and force used to get the cutter through the material. Most cutting applications will require high speeds; however, there are very hard materials that will be more effectively cut at slower speeds. The slower speed will reduce the heat and wear and tear on the cutter when working in hard materials. More force will not make a dull cutter perform more effectively.
Take a few passes in scrap material with any new cutter to see the best cutting angle and to completely understand how the cutter should be angled for optimum performance. If the cutter "chatters" in the material being cut, it is generally an indication that more speed is needed.
View Dremel Cutting Accessories
Sanding
Sanding usually takes place in stages. Start with a low grit like 60 to 80 and move up the scale gradually to grits like 180 or 220. It is generally best to sand with the grain of the wood. Going over wood with a damp cloth in between grits will raise the grain and provide a smoother finish.
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Drilling
Drilling a hole is best accomplished with a drill bit. A drill bit is fluted and designed to make a hole in material that corresponds with the diameter of the drill bit. When making a hole in any material and the accessory being used is not a drill bit, the hole can easily be twice the size of the diameter of the accessory.
View Dremel Precision Drill set
Routing
Routing involves hollowing out and removing material. Routing should also only be done with the Router Attachment or Shaper/Router Table. The Router Attachment can edge and rout down the middle of a work piece. It can also be used for freehand routing. When using the Router Attachment, the user is controlling the tool and the work piece is stationary.
The Shaper/Router Table will rout edges or lines down the center of the work piece; however, it cannot be used for freehand routing. In this instance, the user is controlling the work piece and the tool is stationary.
Piloted bits can only be used to rout edges, while straight bits and v-groove bits can rout down the center of a work piece.
View Dremel Routing Bits
Carving
This really is cutting something into a desired shape or fashioning it by cutting into it. Carving can be accomplished using high-speed cutters, tungsten carbide cutters, structured tooth tungsten carbide cutters, diamond wheel points or engraving cutters. Carving can be done in a number of materials, including wood, acrylic, soft metals and stones. Choose an accessory that is tougher than the material you are carving into. In many instances, it will be most effective to make more frequent, less aggressive passes than to remove too much material at one time. For added control when carving, try using the
Dremel 225 Flex-Shaft Attachment
with a pencil grip for fingertip control.
View Dremel Cutting/Carving Accessories
Engraving
Engraving is cutting, carving or etching a design or letters into a material. This can be accomplished using high-speed cutters, tungsten carbide cutters, diamond wheel points or engraving cutters. Engraving can be done in a number of materials, including wood, acrylic, soft metals, stone and glass. Choose an accessory that is tougher than the material you are engraving. In many instances, it will be most effective to make more frequent, less aggressive passes. For added control when engraving, try using the
Dremel 225 Flex-Shaft Attachment
with a pencil grip for fingertip control.
View Dremel Engraving/Cutting Accessories
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