The Dremel Thread
 

Hi everyone. I did some searching around and could not find a detailed and specific thread about the Dremel. I got one during the holidays and I would like to get a bicycle specific list of uses and the correct tool/attachment for the job. E.g. Which one is best for grinding off surface rust? Etc.

I use the cutting wheel for cutting SIS compatible cable housing and cable. I'd use the wire brush for the surface rust at the highest RPM it would take, then use a fine sanding disk to smooth it out at a low RPM.

I can't answer for bike work, but in the gunsmithing world you can't REALLY screw something up without a Dremal.
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Second the recommendation as a cable cutter.

I have a pneumatic "dremel" tool. I got it at Home Depot so it's a husky brand. I was doing tech support at a 24hr race this summer when it came in real handy. We have tanks of Nitrogen on the trailer so I was able to run it off of one of those. Two people with the new Shimano hollow tech two cranks were having chain suck. I was able to quickly remove the cranks and grind the burs from the rings. Those guys were stoked to be able to keep riding and not get chainsuck. I went out and bought the high speed tungsten carbide bit 'cause the original ones weren't very durable.

Dremel comes in handy when taking of cable guides when converting to a SS :)

One sort-of-bike use is to make low cost hex bits that fit in sockets (so you can use a torque wrench) by cutting a straight section from a regular L-type Allan key.

A cut-off wheel will cut them clean and quickly. Keep the key cool by frequent dipping in water and feed slowly. The cut-off wheel will easily cut the hardened key that a hacksaw won't touch.

not a use suggestion (I use mine for everything in the shop) but I highly rec. getting the heavier-duty cutoff disks. They'll easily last 10 times as long as the others.

My Dremel gets quite a workout, as well. I used it to cut off my orthoglass forearm cast in 1996, since my 6-week wrist immobilization sentence ended on Thanksgiving weekend. I have also used it to elongate the mounting holes of a standard 130mm BCD chainring, to fit a 128mm Nervar Star spider. My son used it extensively to cut away rusted nuts and bolts when he replaced the entire front suspension and brake system on his 1969 Camaro.

Well, I found another use. I bought a replacement wheel for my Bridgestone on the rear, but the spacing was at 135mm and my frame is 126mm. I wasn't in the mood for cold setting, so I used the cutoff wheel to shorten the spacers by the appropriate amount and also shorten the axle. I used a fine grinding wheel to even out and smooth the edges of the spacers. It is now at 126mm spacing and fits great.

Absolutely. Also, the heavy-duty disks just wear out, they don't shatter like the thinner ones if you aren't completely steady while using them. BTW, WEAR SAFETY GLASSES when doing anything with a Dremmel.

If you need to hang drywall, the drywall bits make short work of outlet-box cut outs.

I use the heavy rotary disks for shaving/cutting brooks leather saddles.

Also, on that replacement wheel, used the grinding disk to grind down protruding spoke ends (nipple end). I used it grind down the heads of the rivets holding my cassette together so I could take it apart and customize it.

What they said. You can tell the stronger discs by the appearance of fibers on the sides of the wheel. Normal are smooth and are dangerous when they shatter.
Plastic goggles are better than safety glasses. Face shields are pretty good too, but some kind of eye protection is necessary, these things spin up pretty high.

My best use of the Dremel is cutting rusted nuts/bolts, and cutting slots in tubing. I've used one for precise drilling also, using ordinary highspeed twist drills.

I've used mine for eveything from cutting a muffler bolt on my truck to shaping and polishing Montana Sapphires prior to setting them into jewelry.

For bikes I have used my Dremel to tweak an old pair of Dia Compe brakes. I ground off the production seams and imperfections then buffed with rouge (and water) to give them a Dura Ace/Campy Record-like polish

Couldn't agree more. I had one of the lighweight ones break on me last night--after I pulled it from the piece I was cutting (to let it cool). It flew straight at the center of the lense of my protective goggles. :eek: If using the thinner ones, don't use while under the influence of caffeine :D

So which one?
http://dremel.com/HTML/products/acce...s/cutting.html

Good suggestion. You can also sandwich two of the non-heavy-duty cutting discs together to make a stronger, fatter cutting tool. They don't break as easily that way.

I used my Dremel (actually the black & decker version) to shorten my cowhorn bars and modify a brake lever so it would fit in the end of the bar. Also, the polishing tool is good for removing black paint and Nashbar logos :) from aluminum components.

And, that cone shaped grinder tool for removing lawyer tabs from forks.

A dremel is a necessity when fitting new, high security locks to old house doors. Metal bits always need to be trimmed or shaved.

456 or 426.

I like my Dremel a lot more since I got a flex shaft for it.

Among other things, I use my Dremel primarily for cutting cable housings and butchering Brooks saddles...:)