Do they make good metal cutting bits for the Dremals?

[eno]

I just went up to Loes hardware and asked if there are bits that work well for light metal cutting work with the Craftsman dremil tool. He told me all he had for dremil is for wood/tile and only thing for metal would be for my cordless drill.

Please someone tell me there are descent bits that work on a dremil that can do light cutting work like opening up a fan port , really just taking the fan grill out of the case to try to help with airflow on my Media Center case.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

What is your case made out of? Aluminum or steel? Also, pick up some cutting oil (Rapid Tap is the best I hear, although I haven't been able to find any). Using cutting oil makes a ton of difference. Trust me. I've cut, shaped, and otherwise worked with steel, aluminum, plexiglass, and wood so far with my dremel. Don't get one of those damned Lithium Cordless dremels. They suck.

If you are doing light work on metal, such as shaping it, etc., then grab some of the diamond wheel points (like #7103, 7105, 7122, or 7144). If you need to cut into metal, use the reinforced cutting wheel, and a tungsten carbide cutter (like #9901) for finishing it up.

That is my input on the work that I've done so far. And use the oil. It makes all the difference. Especially when drilling holes for screw holes and stuff. The difference is amazing.

 

[mindwreck]

the fiberglass reinforced cutting blade should handle all of your cutting needs. I recommend getting them off ebay. I've bought packs of several items off ebay and it was much cheaper than getting them at my local hardware store. ex. I bought a bunch of tungsten carbide cutters for about 15 bucks on ebay while my local store was asking 8 bucks for 1 cutter.

 

[eno]

Excellent Input. Thank you. I will look into it based off your recommendations. Thank you very much.

Silverstone Media PC case. Steel.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

*Just about falls from chair*

I converted the Dragon to the use of a cutting agent. WOW!!

OP, for working any metal with hacksaw, drill or high speed rotory file, Rapid-Tap is the best.
It is transparent, only a trace of it is needed and it cleans up easily. Cost? <$5 for 4oz.

For working aluminum bee's wax is an excelent cutting agent. Neither bee's wax or Rapid-Tap
is to be used with sanding drums,stones or fiber cut-off disks.

Keep the vacuum cleaner handy for cleaning up the metal dust. I will tape the nozzel close to
the area being worked. The rush of air keeps the area of work visable and it cools the cutting
tool. Both big pluses in my little world.


...Galvanized

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

Sorry for hijacking this thread a bit, but I'm also looking for some advice on using a dremel. Will buying a basic (~$50) dremel come with everything I need to drill some holes in the bottom of my case? All I want to do is drill some holes so that I can mount my Zalman HDD silencer to the bottom of my new Lian Li. Do I need this Rapid-Tap stuff for that too?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

The largest drill that will fit in the Dremel's collet is 1/8" and that size of hole is a very tight fit for a 6-32 screw.
A Dremel makes a very poor drill motor. High speed burns drills and at low speed there is no real torque. I've tried and won't try to drill with a Dremel again. It can be done but it's a pita.

Your Lian Li is aluminum. Bee's wax is the best cutting agent for aluminum but to just drill a couple holes........No it's not needed. To open up a fan hole with a high speed rotory file, Yes it's needed for the work to progress well.


...Galvanized

 

[PClark99]

this can come in pretty handy.


http://www.jab-tech.com/nibbler-pr-1393.html

 

[Zepper]

OP:
Yup I use the ceramic cutting wheels, diamond wheels, the carbide cutters in the 9000 series, etc.

Scrawny P:
As G-Y said. Follow the Dremel bit-guide re. speed for the various bit types. Use a center punch (back the work with a piece of scrap hard-wood when punching/drilling) to start and use a good self-starting bit (Ti coating is nice too) and you should have no problem drilling up to 1/8" in sheet metal of most kinds with a Dremel-type tool. Shouldn't need to go over 5000 rpm for drilling. Less would probably be better.

.bh.