26/03/2016

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6:CabaretMechanicalTheatre

NewsFeed

Home
Store
Automata
CardCutouts
Books
Badges
DVDsandCDs
Downloads
Terms&Conditions
PostageandPackaging
Exhibitions
Current
Upcoming
Previous
VirtualExhibitions
CMTTouringExhibitions
Making
Workshops
CabaretMechanicalMovement
DVDVideos
DugsAutomataTips
CMTDiscountforSchools
MakingAutomatawithFood
MoreHintsandTips
Artists
PaulSpooner
RonFuller
PeterMarkey
MattSmith
TimHunkin
LucyCasson
KeithNewstead
WillJackson
CarlosZapata
JohnLumbus
PatrickBond
PierreMayer
KazuHarada
ArthurGanson
NormanTuck
PascaleMichalski
FiHenshall
Blog
About
History
Contact
Links
Archives
Newsletter
SiteMap
SupportCMT
Searchthiswebsite...
GO
Browse>Home/Dug'sAutomataTips/21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6
December19,2011byDugNorth
http://www.cabaret.co.uk/21rotarytooltipsandtricksforautomatamakersdugstips6/

1/8

26/03/2016

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6:CabaretMechanicalTheatre

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakers
Thehighspeedrotarytoolcandotheworkofdozensofothertools.Withtherightbitsandaccessories,thislittlepowerhousecancut,carve,engrave,
drill,grind,sand,brush,andpolishavarietyofmaterials!Herearesometipstohelpautomatamakersgetthemostfromarotarytool.
1:ChoosingaRotaryToolTrytochooseonethathasatleasttwospeedsmoreifpossible.Dependingonthematerialtobecut,differentbitswill
workbestatspecificspeeds.
2:WearEyeProtectionBecauseoftheextremelyhighspeedatwhichthetooloperates,itisessentialtoweareyeprotectionatalltimeswhenusinga
rotarytool.Someoperationsrequirehearingprotectionandaparticlemaskaswell.Itisalwaysagoodideatowearsturdyleatherglovestoprotectyour
hands.
3:LettheToolDotheWorkThespeedofthespinningtoolshoulddotheworknottheforceyouapply.Alwaysuselightpressureandmake
multiplepassesifneeded.Thiswillgiveyoumorecontrolandkeepyourbitsfromwearingoutquickly,orworse,breaking.

TipsforSandingWood
4:SandwiththeDirectionofSpinWhensandingwood,movethetoolinthesamedirectionasthedebristhatisbeingthrownfromthespinningbit.
Thiswillgiveyouthesmoothestfinish.
5:ReplacingSandingDrumsUnscrewandremovetherubberdrumfromthemandrelcompletely.Dusttherubberwithtalcpowder,slipthenewsleeve
ontherubberdrum,andscrewitsecurelytothemandrel.

6:SandingCamstoShapeSandingdrumsaregreatforshapingwoodencamprofiles.Sometimesyoucandothiswhilethecamis
mountedintheautomatonagreattimesaver!

7:SandingFineDetailsinWoodSpeciallydesignedradialbristlebrushesallowyoutosandfinecarvingswithoutloosingdetail.You
canmakeaninexpensiveversionwithasmallsectionofanabrasivecleaningpadscrewedtotheendofamandrel.

TipsforCarvingWood
8:SetUpforCarvingAflexibleshaftattachmentmakescarvingwitharotarytoolmucheasier.Theseshaftsworkbestwiththetoolsuspendedfroma
hanger.Youwillbemakingsomedust,sowearaparticlemaskandplaceafannearbywhileworking.
9:RoughingoutCarvingsSandingdrumaccessoriesaregreatforbringingacarvingtoshapeaftersawingitout.Startwithalarge,coarsegritdrum
andmovetoasmallerdrumwithafinergritofsandpaperasyourcarvingbecomesmoredetailed.

http://www.cabaret.co.uk/21rotarytooltipsandtricksforautomatamakersdugstips6/

2/8

26/03/2016

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6:CabaretMechanicalTheatre

10:CarvingwithStonesWoodcarvingbitsoftenleavearoughsurfaceonwoodssuchasBasswood(a.k.a.Lime).Tryusinggrinding
stonesforthefinalstagesofcarving.Thepink/orange/brownAluminumoxidestonesremovematerialalittlefaster,whilethedarkergray/blue/green
Siliconcarbidestonesremovematerialmoreslowly,butleaveasmootherfinish.
11:CleaningWoodCuttingBitsandSandingDrumsManyprofessionalwoodcarversrecommendusingchemicalovencleanertocleansawdustout
ofmetalwoodcarvingbits.Youcanalsotryburningthewoodoutwithasmalltorch.Toclearoutstones,sandingdrums,andsandingdiscs,runthetool
againstanabrasivebeltcleaner.

TipsforCuttingMetal
12:CutMetalAgainsttheDirectionofSpinWhencuttingmetalithelpstomovethetooloppositetothedirectionthatthedebrisisbeingthrown.
Mountthepiecetobecutinavise,andholdthetoolfirmlywithtwohandsbecausethetoolwillattempttoclimbupandovertheobjectbeingcut.
13:DealingwithBrittleCutoffWheelsIfyourebreakingthethincutoffwheelswhencuttingmetal,stacktwowheelstogetherandscrewthemboth
tothemandrel.Forthethicker,fiberglassreinforcedcutoffwheels,asmallwasherplacedoneithersideofthediscwillincreasetherigidityofthe
wheel.

14:RemovingStrippedScrewsBrassscrewsarefairlyeasytostrip.Useacutoffwheeltomakeanotchacrosstheheadofthescrew,
thenbackoutscrewwithaflatheadscrewdriver.
TipsforGrindingandShapingMetal
15:DeburringTubingandOtherCutEdgesRegardlessofhowyoucutmetal,aburrand/orsharpedgecanbeleftbehind.Usesandingdrumsor
grindingstonesinyourrotarytooltoquicklysmooththem.

16:RoundingtheTipsofPinwheelsPinwheelsthatarelessthanperfectcansometimesjam.Roundingoverthejammingpinends
canhelp.

17:SculptingMetalThereisnothingharderthandiamond.Whenusedinarotarytool,diamondcoatedbitsallowyoutoshapealmost
anykindofmetal,evensteel.

http://www.cabaret.co.uk/21rotarytooltipsandtricksforautomatamakersdugstips6/

3/8

26/03/2016

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6:CabaretMechanicalTheatre

TipsforDrilling
18:DrillingitTightSpotsIfyouneedtodrillaholesomewherethatishardtoreach,adrillbitinaflexibleshaftattachmentwillsometimesfitwhere
othertoolscannot.Therightangledrillingaccessorywillalsoallowyoutoreachsomeverytightspots.
19:DrillingHolesinGlassYes,youcanusearotarytooltodrillholesinglass!Youwillneedadiamondholecuttingbitandlubricant.Youalsoneeda
multispeedrotarytoolsoyoucanuseaslowerspeed.Applylightpressure,drillforafewsecondsatatime,thenapplymorelubricant.Carefullyrepeat
thisprocessuntilyouvepenetratedtheglass.
TipsforGettingMostoutofYourTools

20:BreathingNewLifeintoOldToolsYoucansavemoneybypickingupsecondhandtoolsandrestoringthemyourself.Byusing
grindingstones,brushes,andpolishingbuffs,youcansharpen,clean,andpolisholdtoolsbackintoworkingorder.
21:Accessorize!Therearemanyaccessoriesthatcanbeattachtoarotarytool.Whenusedinconjunctionwiththerightbits,arotarytoolcanbe
transformedintoawoodcuttingsaw,miniaturerouter,walltilesaw,planer,drillpress,glassengraver,andmore.Heresahandyonlinebitfindertool.
Thehighspeedrotarytoolisaversatiletoolthatcangrowwithyouandyourprojects!
ForalistofmaterialsandfurtherreadingvisitDugsToolsandReferencespage.

DugsAutomataTips,TechniquesandTricks
AquarterlycolumnbyautomatamakerandenthusiastDugNorth
Copyright2011DugNorth
Warning:Thetopicscoveredinthiscolumnincludetheuseoftoolsandmaterialsthathavethepotentialtocausedamagetopropertyand/orbodily
injury.Yoursafetyisimportantanditisyoursoleresponsibility.Alwaysreadandfollowthesafetyinstructionsthatcomewithtoolsandmaterialsyou
use.Wearsafetyglasses,useguardsandotherformsofsafetyequipment,followsafetyprecautions,andusegoodjudgment.Seektheguidanceof
experiencedoutsidesourceswheneverrequired.
FiledUnder:Dug'sAutomataTips
Tagged:
Comments
11Responsesto21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6
1.DugNorthonDecember21st,20111:26pm
Areaderwrotetometoprovideadditionalinformationfortwoofthetips:
Tip#11:UsingatorchtoburnthewoodoutofburrsismainlyrecommendedforTungstenCarbideburrs(theaggressive,pointyones)
thatbecomeclogged.Neveruseatorchonastone.
Tip#2:Ishouldhavealsohighlightedtheneedfordustcontrolmasksand/ordustcollectorsespeciallyifusingexoticorfound/recycledwoods,
whichcancauseallergicreactions.Thesolutioncanbeassimpleasanairfilterstrappedtoaboxfan.
ThankstodeanSfortheseimprovementstothearticle!
Dug
2.MikeMcCarthyonJanuary16th,20129:53pm
http://www.cabaret.co.uk/21rotarytooltipsandtricksforautomatamakersdugstips6/

4/8

26/03/2016

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6:CabaretMechanicalTheatre

Neverthoughttousethegrindingstonesforthefinalstagesofcarving.Thankyou!Howaboutatips/techniquesonusingsmallhobby
motorsbatteriesorpluggingintoawallsockettopowertheautomatons?
3.MarieFontanaonJanuary23rd,201211:42pm
Thanksforyourtips,whichhavebeengreatlyappreciatedasIbegintomakeautomata.
Hereisavideoofmythirdattempt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXIkeeRec9E&feature=gupl&context=G271092bAUAAAAAAAAAA
MarieFontana
4.DugNorthonFebruary1st,20126:25pm
MikeGreatidea!Iwillgivethatonesomethought.
DugNorth
5.DugNorthonFebruary1st,20126:29pm
MarieGladthetipsareprovinguseful.Keepupthegoodwork!
Dug
6.IggySaturationonJuly1st,201212:14pm
Greattips.Heresoneforyou,ifyouhaveasinglespeeddremelyoucanmakeitcontinuouslyvariablebyusingatriacbasedlight
dimmer.IntheUS,somethingliketheLutronCredenza.Youcannotusethetriaccontrolleronthemultispeedmodelsastheelectronics
inmultispeeddremelsarethesamething,andtheywillinterferewitheachother.
http://www.lutron.com/Products/StandAloneControls/DimmersSwitches/CredenzaLampDimmer/Pages/Overview.aspx
Avariacwillworkevenonmultispeedmodelstogiveyouextracontrol.
Mostdremelsspeedcontrolsaresteppedincrements.Areasonforcontinuousisthereisnofeedbackcontrolonmostdremelmultispeedmodels,
exceptthenewer4000.Underload,therecommendedspeedmaybeslowerthanexpected,sonowyoucanadjusttoyourneedandtechniqueas
needed,ratherthanlimitedbythetool.
7.DugNorthonJuly11th,20129:27pm
Iggy,
Fantastictip!Dremelhasrecommendedspeedsforjustabouteverybitandeverymaterial.Youveprovidedatipthatshouldalloweven
thesimplestmodelstoworktheirbest.Icantwaittotryitmyself!
Howdoesonetellatriacfromvariacbaseddimmer?IcheckedtheCredenzalampdimmerspecificationguideonlineandcouldntfindthistypeof
information.
Dug
8.rebeccasmithonAugust6th,20126:00pm
OMGTHANKYOU!!Youknowabout3yearsagoIboughtaplasticgadgetcalledEngraveItasseenonTVbutIboughtitat
Walgreensfor10bucksbecauseitlookedlikefun.ANDitwassofunIbasicallyburneditoutwithinaweek.
Batteryoperated(thespringconnectionforthebatterywasslightlycrooked&meltedintotheplasticcasingXDXD)lightwithjusta
singleneedlesize,Ietchedonanythingthethingwouldworkinto.ItwasthemostfunIdhadinYEARSdoingsomethingwithmyhands.SoI
finallyJUSTboughtsomethingIthoughtwouldworkinasimilarwayanditsaminslipmaskinkitfromBiltema,andslipmaskinmeanssander&
slipmaskinmeansgrindingmachine(thisisinSweden)andithasawholebunchofthoselittlestonesandersliketheoneyouareusingonthat
littledemonmaskface.Ijustwentonlinetolookuptheproperwaytousesomeoftheseattachmentsandyourtips/techniques&tricksno6IS
PERFECThelpandadvicefora100%novicesuchasme!!! WhenIhadthatsillylittleEngraveIt,IDIDtakeacrudelycarvedwooden
spoonIgotinMorocco(forlikeadime)andengravedlittledesignsalloverit.SpiritBearsandgeometricnativeamericanstylepatterns.
WheneverIshowedittosomeone,theyassumedIhadboughtitforalotofmoneyandthatitwastraditionalnativeamericanartLMAO!Isaid
no,firstIcoloreditwithsharpies,thenIusedanengraveittoetchthroughthecolorstomakethedesign/contrast.Nowthatwaskindofagood
feeling.ApparentlyImadeARToutofnothingbutcheapwood,cheapengraveItandSHARPIES!??yay?
ThefirstthingImgoingtogrindonisarectangularknifeholder,thekindthatisa3dimensionalrectanglewithjustdifferentsizedslits/slotscut
intothetop.Therestisjustaplain&fairlyuglypinelookingblockofnothing.Itsbeensittinginacabinetfor2yearsbeingabsolutelynon
contributingLOLsoIthinkitneedstostepupandearnitskeep.
Thanksagainforyoursandertipsdugandforexample,theveryfirsttiponmovinginthedirectionofthespinofthecircularsander,I
probablywouldnothavefiguredthatoutanditseemslikeitwillmakeabigdifferenceinthelongrun.
IamsoexcitedhahaIjustrememberhavingsosomuchfunetchingonthings.Reallyjustahandheldsingleneedlecheapythingwouldhavebeen
http://www.cabaret.co.uk/21rotarytooltipsandtricksforautomatamakersdugstips6/

5/8

26/03/2016

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6:CabaretMechanicalTheatre

fineformyentertainment,but,honestlyexceptforartstores(whicharewayoutofmybudget)Ijustcantfindsomethinglikethat.Theyguysat
Biltemasuggestedthisminislipmaskinandithas10differentshapedsandingstones(liketheoneuseusedupthere,samethingbutalldifferent
shapes)aneedle,acoupleofdrilltips,aroundthinglikethecircularsanderatthetop,somebuffers,oneofthosethingsthatlookslikeanLandit
doesntsaywhatitisandIhavenoideawhatitis,ateentinywrenchlookingthingthatisnonadjustable,andalittlesquarestone(sharpening?no
IDEAitalsodoesnotsaywhatthatisfor)HEYyourveryfirstpicturehasthelittlewrenchandtherectangleofstonewhatarethosethings
for?Myspinmaskinisverysimilartoyours,onlycheaperqualityandnewer.Lotsofthesametipsandstuffthough!!
ItsnotbatteryoperatedsoIllbestuckwithacord,whichIkindofhate,becauseIwantedtogooutintothewoodsandsitaroundaloneandetch
intolittlesticksImightfind,but,atleastIcanhavemuchfunathome.
9.rebeccasmithonAugust6th,20126:15pm
eewwsorryforthelongpost,IcantypesoquicklyIlosetrackoflengthSORRY

10.DugNorthonOctober6th,20129:55pm
HiRebecca,
Iappreciateyourenthusiasm!
Theroundthingthatlookslikeacircularsanderatthetopmaybeacutoffwheel,butImjustguessing.TheLshapedthingsounds
likeanAllenwrench,butImnotsurewhereitwouldbeusedonyourtool.Thetinywrenchisforscrewingdownthecolletnutonsomemodels
ofrotarytool.Thecolletholdsthebitandthecolletnutholdsthecolletontherotarytool.Thelittlestoneisusedtocleanthegrindingbitswhen
theyhavebecomecloggedupusuallywithmetalparticles.
HereisagreatposterpublishedbyDremelthatshowsmostofthecommonbitsandaccessories:http://www.dremel.com/en
us/customerservice/ManualsAndLiterature/Documents/2011%20Accessory%20Poster.pdf
Ihopethishelps.Bestofluck!
Dug
11.T.R.HartonOctober27th,20122:51am
IdbelostwithoutmyDremel.JustincaseanyofyoumoldandcastyourfiguresIcanrecommendlinks.Mostofmyartsuppliesare
fromhardwarestoresbutsomethingsarehardertoget.
AsAlwaysthanksforthetipsDug.Ireallylikedthevideospotonyourwork.
T.R.Hart
Commentsareclosed.

CMTNewsletter
SignuptoreceiveCMTNews
viaemail!
Enteryourname...
Enteryouremailaddress...
Submit

CafePress
YoucanpurchasetshirtsandothermerchandisefeaturingoriginalPaulSpoonerdesignsandourBarecatlogofromourCafePress
Store.
Joinour
Facebookgroup

Subscribetoour
YouTubechannel
Followus
onTwitter

Categories
http://www.cabaret.co.uk/21rotarytooltipsandtricksforautomatamakersdugstips6/

6/8

26/03/2016

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6:CabaretMechanicalTheatre

Artists
Collectors
Dug'sAutomataTips
Europe
Events
Exhibitions
FarEast
HintsandTips
InspiredbyCMT
NewProducts
News
ShowNews
SimonTait'sMews
Spooner'sGarden
TheMagicofCabaret
TheMechanicalMagicofCabaret
TheRideofLife
UK
USA
Workshops

Archives
January2016
October2015
July2015
June2015
March2015
January2015
November2014
July2014
April2014
February2014
January2014
December2013
October2013
September2013
August2013
July2013
June2013
May2013
April2013
March2013
February2013
January2013
December2012
November2012
October2012
September2012
August2012
June2012
May2012
April2012
March2012
February2012
January2012
December2011
November2011
October2011
September2011
August2011
July2011
June2011
May2011
March2011
February2011
January2011
December2010
November2010
October2010
September2010
August2010
http://www.cabaret.co.uk/21rotarytooltipsandtricksforautomatamakersdugstips6/

7/8

26/03/2016

21RotaryToolTipsandTricksforAutomataMakersDugsTips6:CabaretMechanicalTheatre

July2010
June2010
May2010
April2010
March2010
February2010
January2010
December2009
November2009
October2009
September2009
August2009
July2009
June2009
May2009
April2009
March2009
February2009
January2009
December2008
November2008
October2008
September2008
August2008
March2008
January2008
October2007
September2007
August2007
June2007
May2007
April2007
March2007
February2007
January2007
December2006
November2006
October2006
September2006
August2006

OtherSites
Blogs
DugNorth
KineticWorld
Makezine

Friends
EngineeredArts
CopyrightCabaretMechanicalTheatre19962010SiteMapLogin

http://www.cabaret.co.uk/21rotarytooltipsandtricksforautomatamakersdugstips6/

8/8