Dremel question

[OzarkSawdust]

I'm new to scroll sawing as well as this forum...so I'll have a lot of dumb questions.

I notice in most of the patterns you have to drill a hole to stick the blade through to do inside cuts. I don't think a hand drill is a very good option...at my age I'm not as steady as I use to be lol. So...while looking on line for a small lighter weight drill press I noticed a "drill press stand" for Dremels and other similar motors. I wondered if any of you guys (and gals) use them? 

 They show to have a 2" stroke, I'm guessing 90% of scroll work is on materials less than 1 1/2"...? Also I would like to take my new saw with us to south TX for the winter and that (if it works) would be a lot easier to transport and store. 

Thanks for your advice!

[fredfret]

I recommend a plunge router attachment as it allows access to the center of larger projects. Price is similar

[meflick]

I do have one and have used it. However, my husband is a general woodworker and he has a drill press and I tend to prefer to use it. You are right though, it should work for a lot of work. However, it can be difficult to get into the middle area of a larger piece and the plunger router attachment would probably lay be better as Fred noted.

[OCtoolguy]

Welcome to SSV. And there are no dump or stupid questions. If there were, I'd have cornered that market a long time back. Anyway, to your question, I mostly use my cordless drill or small drill press but I also bought the plunge router attachment for my Dremel/Wen tool. It allows me to use the bits that won't work in the chuck of either of the above drills. I have a full set of number drill bits all the way to #80 and they require the tiny collets that come with the Dremel type tools. Good luck. We used to Winter down in Alabama and Mesa Az. We tried S. Texas but it  was too windy for us. Have fun.

 

[Rockytime]

I use mine all the time. I have two drill presses but the little Dremel plunge router just sits next to my saw. I just spin around on my stool, drill the hole and turn back to the saw. Make sure whether you use a Wen or the Dremel, make sure you have their adjustable chuck because changing collets is a pain in the...well anyway that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.  :>)

[lawson56]

I have a Dremel,I use it freehand,when I,m setting at the saw and noticed I missed a hole.I reach over grab my Dremel and drill my hole.

[new2woodwrk]

I use both a dremel drill and stand (for the smallest pilot holes) as well as a Wen table top drill for larger projects.

I have very tiny drill bits for the dremel as well as an adapter for larger bits - both work great

[OzarkSawdust]

I've thought about the WEN as well as a bunch of others in the $60 - $80 or so range. These tend to be benchtop 8" or 10" presses about 30 - 40ish lbs. I will probably get one of these at some point for scroll as well as my other woodworking attempts in my home shop. I hear WEN is probably the best of the batch in this size/type of press.

My thoughts about the Dremel setup is mainly for a "travel drill press" to take with me when we go south for the winter. Lots smaller and lighter to throw in the 5th wheel with all the rest of the stuff for a 3 - 4 month road trip. As others have said, I will put an adjustable chuck on it from day one...thanks for reminding me!

[redwine]

I have the Dremel plunge router that I use for the large patterns that require a small drill bit and I do have a drill press for the 1/16th and larger bits for the thicker woods. The plunge router for me works great and drills the hole straight in thinner woods or the stack versions of 3 to 4  1/8th inch.

Erv

 

[Dennisfm56]

I use my Dremel in that very same stand and it is great. I use it more than my table mount drill press. 

 

[Denny Knappen]

I also have the stand, but I find the distance bit to back limiting.

[JimErn]

I use the WEN in a dremel plunge router attachment, works great.

But as mentioned get the chuck for the WEN if you go with WEN, a dremel chuck will not fit the WEN

[kmmcrafts]

I bought the Wen 2305 tool kit with flex shaft for $19 and then bought the dremel plunge router and a wen drill chuck.. all came from eBay and totaled about $50..

I've been very pleased with the set-up.. However.. the tool motor is a little under powered for drilling 1/2 - 3/4 inch hardwoods.. Unless I crank up the speed to about 5 on the dial.. then it pushes through okay but also from spinning so fast it kinda burns the way through.. Not an issue if you're drilling away from the lines far enough to keep from dis-coloring the edges of your project.. 

Another issue is the plunge router has some flex to it.. so you can be drilling holes a few degrees off if you're not careful.. It's better than handheld though in my opinion.. 

After using this set up for a couple months I found that it started getting stiff to push down on and kept wanting to bind and go on a angle etc.. Spraying some dry lube ( or WD-40 ) did wonders.. Had I thought of that when I first got it.. I think it works sooo much smoother and better than even when it was new..

Over all, I'm very pleased with it and can't imagine not having it at all..

For real precise work... I do go to my big drill press though.. but for drilling the pilot holes for fretwork.. I use the little set up about 98% of the time.. Just thought I'd give a little of my experience and thoughts on the tool.

[OCtoolguy]

I guess I'd better look into the Wen drill chuck. Thanks.

[OzarkSawdust]

3 hours ago, Denny Knappen said:

I also have the stand, but I find the distance bit to back limiting.

What is the depth from bit to stand, please?

[Denny Knappen]

10 minutes ago, OzarkSawdust said:

What is the depth from bit to stand, please?

Unable to respond at this time as it is in my shop and we are at ArtCrafters.

[Roberta Moreton]

On 8/30/2019 at 1:54 PM, OzarkSawdust said:

What is the depth from bit to stand, please?

4 inches. I also have the plunge router attachment because of this. 

[ScollSaw Slasher]

I will agree that the dremel plunge router attachment would be the better option because of the restrictions of pattern size that the drill press has. Actually, just started using my router attachment and  wondering why I didn't do it 10 years ago. But also have to agree that extreme hard woods are an adventure in speed and feed rate. Be prepared for toasted wood and bits.

[Fab4]

I'm with Lawson on this one - Freehand with a dremel - 
Doesn't get any easier than this
Doesn't the plunge router make it difficult to see where you're drilling?
Fab4

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, Fab4 said:

I'm with Lawson on this one - Freehand with a dremel - 
Doesn't get any easier than this
Doesn't the plunge router make it difficult to see where you're drilling?
Fab4

Yes it does take some getting use to...  This is where a laser dot would come in handy..  I think a better option than the Dremel is the Seyco scrollers drill... Bit pricey but I think if the motor has more torque for drilling the hardwoods and the way it's designed you'd be able to see what you're doing much better... I bought my set up on the cheap side and still have $50-60 into it since I didn't already have a Dremel tool.. Another $50 would have given me a better tool I think..But what I have does work..  

[Bill WIlson]

It is possible to overcome the throat depth limitations of a Dremel, mounted in a drill press base.  It's a little clumsy, and I wouldn't recommend it as a standard drilling procedure, but it will work to get those few holes in the middle of some patterns that are beyond the reach using the standard configuration.

I take mine, loosen the post clamp and spin the Dremel 180 degrees to the rear of the base.  Now I can set the base on top of the wood needing drilled, instead of putting the wood on top of the base.  I can drill anywhere without being limited by the post.  However, as I said, it's a little awkward.  you have to hold down on the base, with one hand, while using the other hand to lower the drill, or else the stand will tip forward.

I have a floor stand drill press.  The distance between the bit and the post is almost 8".  The distance on my Dremel drill press is about 4".  This covers about 90 percent of the holes I need to drill for scrolling.  For those few that I can't reach with either, in the conventional configuration, I use the technique above and it works fine.  I've thought about getting the plunge router base and I think it would be easier, but I've made out OK without one.

[JimErn]

I've used a drill press, a hand drill and now the dremel plunge router, the plunge router wins hands down IMO.

one aspect I really like is when the base is sitting on the pattern, I can slide just one side to make the drill bit move in an arc to get it closer to where I want to drill, reading this it seems like a little mox-nix thing, but it really makes it easier I think.

I do agree that an led built in would be really nice, but I think it works well without it.

[ScollSaw Slasher]

Just saw that Seyco is out with their new and improved plunge unit. If I was doing 8 hours a day, might fork over the big bucks. But for now, my Dremel is working fine.

[OzarkSawdust]

I was in Lowes earlier this week and they had one of each. I already had a Dremel and looked at the drill press option. But then I saw the plunge unit and thought that would be more versatile as others had said...so I bought the plunge. After trying it that night I'm sure I made the right choice.

I figured out (with the help of You Tube) how to use the WEN pinless adapters. Now I can use the Dremel and a 1/8" bit or smaller (largest that will fit in my Dremel) as the pin blades didn't fit in the hole. But holding the blade, adapter, and tightening the wing nut I need 3 hands...and I was born with only 2. So I found and ordered a couple of blade holders that replace the stock chrome holders making it a pinless blade only saw. They should be in today or tomorrow. Has anyone done this? Does it work better?

[OCtoolguy]

3 minutes ago, OzarkSawdust said:

I was in Lowes earlier this week and they had one of each. I already had a Dremel and looked at the drill press option. But then I saw the plunge unit and thought that would be more versatile as others had said...so I bought the plunge. After trying it that night I'm sure I made the right choice.

I figured out (with the help of You Tube) how to use the WEN pinless adapters. Now I can use the Dremel and a 1/8" bit or smaller (largest that will fit in my Dremel) as the pin blades didn't fit in the hole. But holding the blade, adapter, and tightening the wing nut I need 3 hands...and I was born with only 2. So I found and ordered a couple of blade holders that replace the stock chrome holders making it a pinless blade only saw. They should be in today or tomorrow. Has anyone done this? Does it work better?

You have made a wise decision to use the adaptor. Until you come to the realization that you need a better saw that is. I have heard and read that many scrollers who start out with a lower grade of saw become frustrated and quit the hobby. You at least are a person with the "sticktoitiveness" to put up with the problems associated with your saw. Once you do move up to a better saw, you will have overcome all the pitfalls that stopped others. Congrats.