Just been given a dremel by the old man!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Right chaps...
For my Bathday, the old man has just sent me a 7100 Dremel and extra bits.
Any idea how to (safely) use one? What should I do first? Should I upgrade my life insurance now?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Don't ask that Lewis fellar .

Sure you are allowed to operate powered machinery ??

IanS

[Subedai]

I was given one of the cordless types a few years ago. I find it extremely useful for chamfering the edges of thick card terrain bases and drilling small pilot holes for curtain wires hooks. It was once used for fast-filing the chain armour off of a 25mm figure. I still have to find a use for one for 10mm or smaller figures so apart from that it has stayed in the box.  

[Norm]

Nice gift. I use a third party one. Start off with the lowest speed setting.

i had a few tanks and the hole where the turret goes was not deep enough to allow the turret just to drop in, so I drilled out a bit deeper. I have also used it for drilling into wooden bases when making scenery such as fencing. I have also used a cutting wheel / disc.

i wear glasses and if I didn't, I would probably wear safety goggles just to stop anything flying towards the eyes.

[Techno]

Any idea how to (safely) use one?

Don't ask me !   (Thank you, Ian  )

Seriously tho', Will.  
Probably the worst that you can do with a Dremmel is 'burr' down a figure and send a sliver of metal into your eye.
If I didn't wear both glasses and the optivisor.....
When using the metal burrs (especially tungsten carbide ones, 'cos they EAT through the metal and send tiny metal shards everywhere)....I'd definitely use a pair of safety goggles.

That'd be my biggest recommendation.

Don't 'force' the Dremmel to do the work by pressing too hard....You're far more likely to slip and send some burr or bit into your free hand/fingers doing that. (And muck up what you're trying to do.)

Use a relatively light touch....It's 'safer', and you'll be less likely to clog the burr with metal from the friction.....Let the Dremmel do the work,

Hope that makes sense !

(Happy Birthday !  )

Cheers - Phil

[jimduncanuk]

Right chaps...
For my Bathday, the old man has just sent me a 7100 Dremel and extra bits.
Any idea how to (safely) use one? What should I do first? Should I upgrade my life insurance now?

Count your fingers before you start, do a job with it, count your figures again, any mismatch in results will imply you are doing it wrong.

Honestly, be 'bl**dy' careful with it.

[Aksu]

My biggest scares have been with the cut off wheel (disk) type bits. They can shatter quite catastrophically.
Eye protection is a Very Good Idea. Anyway, I've used the dremel more with terrain projects, less so with figs or models.
Cheers,
Aksu

[Leon]

We've got one in the unit we use for a few things and I'd echo the 'not too much pressure' from above.  I've broken loads of drill bits just by pushing on it too much and it snapping.  You then get a chunk of drill bit heading off into the unknown and jagged stump heading for your hand.

[Techno]

My biggest scares have been with the cut off wheel (disk) type bits. They can shatter quite catastrophically.

Good point, Aksu !
The carborundum discs are very prone to shattering, especially if you're trying to grind through anything and you don't keep the disc absolutely straight.
The slightest sideways pressure on those and they're in bits.

Have to admit, I tend to use those discs as big, flat 'sanders', rather than cutters, nowadays. They last longer like that.

Cheers - Phil

[Fenton]

We got the click in system and a diamond edge cutter thingy , much stronger  than the  original discs

http://www.dremeleurope.com/gb/en/dremel®ezspeedclicdiamondcuttingwheel-354-ocs-p/

[fsn]

I bought meself a Dremel a few months ago and it has changed my life!

Though I do need to remember not to hold very small things that I'm drilling.

[WeeWars]

Fenton, your link led me initially to this man who obviously knows how to handle a Dremel in a wet environment.

[WeeWars]

Though I do need to remember not to hold very small things that I'm drilling.

That's the problem I'd like to solve: how to keep 10mm figs steady and at the correct angle when coming into contact with a bit rotating at 10,000 RPM.

[Fenton]

We got the click in system and a diamond edge cutter thingy , much stronger  than the  original discs

http://www.dremeleurope.com/gb/en/dremel®ezspeedclicdiamondcuttingwheel-354-ocs-p/

Stupid tablet. Stupid copy and paste

[Fenton]

This should hopefully be better

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dremel-Speed-Clic-Cutting-Kit/dp/B0035PVTHA