I Need A Drimmel Tool, Help

I need one of those tools to grind, cut, smooth small irregular groves holes ect. I think it is called a drimmel (spelled correctly?)
For example I have a steel plate about 3/16 thick that needs an elongated hole in it about 1/4 inch by 2 inches. Anyone with suggestions on a good tool or tool kit you have had good luck with? Or other type of tool that I should get that would help or work.

 

Dremel Tool. Expensive because they make you buy a whole kit to get the tool.

Very handy for precision work but heavy use will kill them.

For your job I might try a carbide bit in a full size router.

 

If you have an air compressor, and I know you do, a die grinder with a nice carbide bit is the ticket. 10 times the metal removing power of a Dremel.

 

Yeah, Dremel.is too weak for 3/16' steel.

 

A little details please.

 

I do have one of those small air die grinders that will accommodate up to 1/4 in. shafts.
Any suggestions on maybe a kit or set of carbide tool bits?

 

You can find off-brand knock-off dremel tools, I have a kawasaki myself. You gotta get a big one but there is a reason they are shown cutting a slot in a screw. Not much oomph and the disks disappear quickly.

The die grinder is definitely quicker.

 

This

 

I picked up the ones I use as a swap meet 20+ years ago. I'm pretty sure they came from China but they seem to be holding up well.

Some options from Amazon:

• Obviously Chinese but highly reviewed enough to not be total garbage: https://www.amazon.com/YUFUTOL-Carbide-Engraving-Polishing-Drilling/dp/B01N1YAX4Z
• Maybe higher quality?: https://www.amazon.com/Tungsten-Carbide-Cutting-Grinding-Engraving/dp/B097BRDSZT

 

Thanks for all your help, I would never get anything done without you folks. I have a set on order.

 

Got a couple of Dremel tools for fine work. Slow and only for light work. Have used the hand die grinder with those carbide bits. They do the job.

Dave

 

What they said. I have a couple Dremel type tools, newest is an actual Dremel brand kit from Costco. I have a knockoff I got at a garage sale I consider sacrificial. The Dremel tools are great for small light duty stuff but a true die grinder is needed for heavier stuff. I’ve burned up a couple of the knockoffs overworking them. Stay away from the cordless Dremel, weak and the charge doesn’t last long, I had one.

 

Had a coupon at Harbor Freight years ago and got a knock off
Dremel tool. A stiff breeze would stall it out. Got rid of that one.
The actual Demel has some gusto for small fine jobs. Nothing too serious.

Dave

 

...... I May be wrong , but one does not use a carbide on Steel ?

 

To cut a slot like you need I would drill a hole on either end and use a small thin cut off wheel to make the two edge cuts and knock out the center. The cut off wheel used on an angle die grinder would be my choice. Then clean it up with a flat file most likely. Your not going to cut a slot like that with a carbide burr bit. It will take forever and be all over the place

 

I have never heard that.

For example from the description for Eastwood's carbide burrs (https://www.eastwood.com/8pc-dual-cut-carbide-burr-set-1-4in-shank.html):

"These 8 carbide burrs are the preferred choice for precise metal removal when shaping, leveling, or porting cast iron, steel and other ferrous metals."

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You can defenitely have problems with Aluminum galling up on them, but if you're not too agresseive and clean the Aluminum off when it starts to build up it can work fine with that too.

 

I've had good luck using a die grinder.

Fisrt drill as any holes as you can (the middle hole is smaller to make sure I stayed between the lines):


Then hit with the die grinder and a small bit:


Turns out dcent:


The only cut-off wheel I have that's small enough to do that job would be the Dremel and it would take way longer.