Official Luthiers Forum!

HI, I just purchase SM's router base and rosette cutter and am about to buy a dedicated rotary tool for it. I ahve a Dremel I use for other operations, but I reacall from a previous thread about Black & Decker being better for inlaying??? What is the best other than Foredom?

personally if you looking for control and hp Foredom cant't be bet in my book but since you said other than foredom and I am assuming you looking for something to fit the SM base I think you are stuck with Dremel without doing some modifactions to the base. That being driven by the threaded port and room between the adjusting posts.

I really like the Dremel XPR 400. I make all my own custom rosettes, tiles, and rope, and the Dremel has been a great tool to work with. I also pair it with the SM base and it fits perfect. The bearings are great with no side movement at all.



Good luck!

JohnJohn Elshaw38888.7468634259

Here is one i made from Plexiglass after another attempt at copying the SM one crashed on the cement floor of my shop and after an original circle cutting jig was given to me by my friend Mike Tobey, his gift had the same fate. I just copied the jig that Mike gave me and it works great, you can make your own didtances from the bit by piercing 1/8" holes all around and having the same diameter pin on which the jig will rotate from.

You can do it out of wood also or buy it from Lee Valley for less than $30 IIRC.

I've got the new Dremel 400 and really like it, the bearing problem with the older 300 series seems to have been cured. Paired with the new SM circle cutting base it gets the job done just as it should with no fuss. I have some bad experience with B&D build quality, may or may not be typical, but they will fit the SM base.



ColinColin S38889.1983680556

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

   If you have the air compressor the die grinder blows all the dremels and foredoms out of the water. The higher speed ( 56000 rpms ) and light weight make it excellent for detail work.
    Also when it comes to power , they are designed to cut metal. They cut cleaner faster and more accurate that anything else.
Still the best tool is the one that you use , so find one you feel comfortable with
john hall

I'm pondering John's die grinder (need a compressor upgrade first, investigating space issues for that); I was looking at foredom tools, but I don't like the fact they're really very slow compared to even a Dremel (half the speed).

If you decide on the dremel route, look for the craftsman model at Sears.
When dremel changed their housing or style, I noticed craftsman did as well.
I'm sure it's the same manufacturer with a different "name on the box". It typically costs $10-15 less than dremel brand too.
Paul

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Paul Bordeaux
http://www.bordeauxinlay.com

I recently replaced my old Multi-Pro Dremel with the 400XRP. It has much better bearings than my old multi-Pro but I don't like the on-off switch at all. I could get a foot controler for it. I use my Foredom for rosettes and inlays because I have it located so that the flex shaft hangs above as I work and does not get in the way. I use my Dremel where I have to move work location. I also have a small die grinder and agree with John on the added power but there too the on-off is not convenient for inlay at least for me.

I have burned out at least 3-4 dremels over the years...then I switched to a
black and decker, and I have used it for 6-7 years now and it still runs
awesome...but maybe dremels are better now then when I went through em..

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

[QUOTE=John Mayes] I have burned out at least 3-4 dremels over the years...then I switched to a
black and decker, and I have used it for 6-7 years now and it still runs
awesome...but maybe dremels are better now then when I went through em..[/QUOTE]

So did I John, the new one is much better. It was my B&D that let me down, go figure!

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

glad to hear the new models are improved.. does not surprise me at all..I'm
sure they got complaints/warranty issues, and it is in the best interest to
keep them to a minimum!

the only thing I don't like about my B&D is it is a little top heavy..not as
balanced feeling in the router base, but I've gotten used to it now and I dig
it.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com