Official Luthiers Forum!

A couple of weeks ago a discussion was floating around that mentioned that some of you are using dental bits with small ball ends on them to clean out your fret slots.

It sounded like a good system to use the shaft as a guide in the slot while the ball cleaned out the bottom.

I don't really have a good source for a dentist to get them from, does anyone know where I could just buy them?

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Brock, I'll send some your way today. I owe you.

You don't owe me, but thanks. I appreciate it. :-)

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Paul please tell the rest of us where you buy them. I found a supplier on the net but it's in dental lingo so hard to tell what to order. I believe these guys call them "Burrs" not "bits".

http://www.actionteammed.com/category_list.php?type=Dental+S upplies&category2=Bur&mode=subcat

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

When you go see your dentist just ask him or her to save the old ones. They are throwing these out. While you are at is ask for old dentil picks and chisles etc. It is amazing the uses you can find for old dentel tools and they are free.

Arvey beat me to it. A dentist will use a burr once and discard it for hygenic reasons

I scored a whole handful (at least a dozen) picks from my dentist on my last visit. The visit before that he gave me about 2 dozen bits.

Like Michael said they are just going to throw them away anyway, might as well ask for them.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Same here...my dentist will sterilize his burrs and give them to me as I need them...also, he offered to add anything I wanted new out of the catalog to one of his orders....Arvey, I never thought of asking for picks and the like...good idea!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I do the same thing. My dentist is the best. He saves all his dental bits for 6 months and gives me a big bag of them. He says that they are still very sharp as most of the bits can only be used twice, then they are too dull for dental work. But on wood, they are plenty sharp. He said they throw them away anyway, so he may as well give them away. Can't hurt to ask! I would just call 3 or 4 dentists in town and ask them if you can have thier used bits. I'm sure they would say yes. Good luck!
Tracy

There is a tool they use for extracting teeth(don't ask how I know) that is basically a small micro chisle. It is perfect for cleaning purfling ledges, and for doing inlay work it is amazing what dentists have. Some stuff is of no value to us but I take anything he has and if I can't use it I can always throw it out.

Dave, I got them from, drum roll please, my dentist. Every six months when I go, I leave with a small box of "burrs". To be honest, I haven't found them to be all that usefull but maybe someone else will.

Or if you don't plan to visit your dentist anytime soon, and if you have a halfway decent Jeweler's supply in your fair city, you can most likely get them from there. I'm sure they're widely available on the 'net as well.

I bought a box of six, about 0.025" diameter, for $4.20 from Lathrop's, here in Houston. They had all different sizes. Here are pics:




Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Hi All!!
My daughter is a dental Hygenist...She works for a dentist in Denver.
I could probably get some drill bits/burrs.
What specifically do I ask for...sizes?
Let me know and I can send them to those that want them.

Walter

You're a good man Walter!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

ask for everything walter. You'll come up with ways to use them.

Richardarvey38601.8680208333

Never thought of asking for any other throw away tools from the dentist. Maybe when they do a major reno, I could get a comfy chair and a killer reading lap .

Or maybe I could get a killer articulating arm, now that would be great to attach a router or dremel to.Rod True38602.057337963

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I came home from the dentist yesterday with about 50 burrs in a little bag. For what he charges some linyap is in order! I have not tried them yet but they look great!

Do these bits fit a Dremel Roto tool??
Is a special adapter needed?

Walter

Hi Walter

Yes they do, you might need to get a different size collet depending what sizes you have, you can pick these up wherever they sell dremel bits etc, the whole set of collets is around $3.

Russell