Dremel Technique

[944 man]

Has anyone used a Dremel with a cutting bit #561 or similar? It looks a little like a drill bit, but its actually a cutting tool with a helter skelter shaped cutting edge, instead of a drills usual helical groove.

Im trying to cut out a shape in polycarbonate (and aluminium sheet after that) using this, instead of a jigsaw, but Im struggling - principally because the tool isnt held firmly enough, so it isnt cutting properly.

At the moment Im trying to do it freehand, but I wonder whether a funnel shaped guide (Dremel #565) that I can use to bear against the work, will help? Do I simply need to man-the-f**k-up? Pistonheads members can be assured that I am powerfully built! []

Any shared experience appreciated.

 

[tref]

Don't know about the dremel, but whilst I found routers and jigsaws a pain for acrylic and polycarb, a bandsaw went through it beautifully - I put it down to the blade running cooler, and always cutting, never dragging back through the material.

 

[Fred Hindle]

It sounds like the one I have used in the past to cut wall tiles with. The funnel shaped piece certainly makes it ewasier to keep the drill at 90º to what is being cut. Never used it to cut anything else but can't see any reason why it should be a problem.
Cheers,

 

[Hilux]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

Has anyone used a Dremel with a cutting bit #561 or similar? It looks a little like a drill bit, but its actually a cutting tool with a helter skelter shaped cutting edge, instead of a drills usual helical groove.

Im trying to cut out a shape in polycarbonate (and aluminium sheet after that) using this, instead of a jigsaw, but Im struggling - principally because the tool isnt held firmly enough, so it isnt cutting properly.

At the moment Im trying to do it freehand, but I wonder whether a funnel shaped guide (Dremel #565) that I can use to bear against the work, will help? Do I simply need to man-the-f**k-up? Pistonheads members can be assured that I am powerfully built! []

Any shared experience appreciated.

I`ve always used a jigsaw on polycarbonate and a nibbler (see below - it works with a drill) on ally and steel

Jigsaw blades get hot easily so you need the right blades for poly and cheaper jigsaws dont have a blade recip (wobble) function which does help

Clamp poly to a board or bench and use PVC tape as protection and to mark the line

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

Im trying to cut out a shape in polycarbonate (and aluminium sheet after that)

I can't help with the Dremel technique but I'm going to guess you are making 924GTS style headlamps

 

[944 man]

No, but not bad. Im cutting out a new set of polycarbonate windows, as the others have holes and vents in. I have a set of GTS lamp covers already, which I jigsawed sandwiched between two sheets of board.

Nibblers are alright for aluminium, but they cause the edges of PC to chip.

 

[Simon Wilson]

Hi
I used an Exact Saw on my perspex bike screen. You need to check the material coming off the balde isnt gathering into a lump inside the guard but, it worked well. I did use an electric saw on my race car windows but found it hard to control, also snags seemed to threaten splitting the perspex.

just make sure its supported well, fingers are out the way and if using a mains powered tool the cable cant snag, did this once and it pulled the cut way off line...bang went a nice sheet of 4mm!!


Cheers
Simon

 

[944 man]

An Exakt saw??? Alright for straight edges, but a nightmare to follow a pattern with, surely? I bought one from Makro on offer a while ago, and its been brilliant for flooring, floor board repairs and similar, but Id struggle to get anything like the accuracy that I need for this, I think...

I will buy the guide and report back.


Simon