trackman Posted August 5, 2023 Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Is the dremel plunge router a good tool? I am going to need to cut grooves 1/16 inches wide an 1/16 inches deep. The cuts are too small for a big router. Or does anyone have a better idea of cutting these grooves? Longest one will be 2” a shortest 1/4” long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jollyred Posted August 5, 2023 Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Look up string inlay on YouTube. Lots of information on what you want to do. Tom Roberta Moreton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 5, 2023 Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Can you elaborate on what you are making? I have a thin kerf saw blade that would work for some things or a regular router bit in a 1/16th dia. BadBob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackman Posted August 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Got a pattern from toys and joys for making a VW bus. Need to cut groves to highlight doors and engine vents. Like I said to small for trying to use a big router. And the groves don’t go from one end to the other so using a thin table saw blade is out. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McDonald Posted August 5, 2023 Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Dremel makes some really thin blades and cut off wheels. Menards has a good selection. I would bring you some, but my DIL has all my rotary tools right now testing for a project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter N White Posted August 5, 2023 Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Have done a lot of T&J's plan and I find the best way to do the detail grooves is to make a template to suit a router and I use a 2mm bit to depth required. Have a dremel and plunge base but find to hard to get good accuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackman Posted August 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Thanks Jim a Peter ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 5, 2023 Report Share Posted August 5, 2023 Here is the best you can get for what you want, in my opinion. I have this one: https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/routers-and-bits/routers/precision-router-base/ it is smaller than dremels, I think. I also have the parts to make it a plunge base if I want. Simple conversion. Or you can go all out and get this one: https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/routers-and-bits/routers/stewmac-plunge-router-base/. It's own light where you need it and a blower to blow the dust away. Nice deal on it right now two bases for the price of one. If I were going to be making a lot of models I would get their plunge. I could see all kinds of uses for it in model making. I bought mine for making cigar box guitars. I use it a lot. Roberta Moreton and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted August 6, 2023 Report Share Posted August 6, 2023 I am 50/50 with the Dremel plunge router. Practice on some scrap until you feel comfortable or feel like giving up. If you have a good guide and good grip you should do good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted August 6, 2023 Report Share Posted August 6, 2023 I have a Dewalt 1.25HP compact router. It's a bit bigger than a Dremel, but far smaller than full size routers. I got a plunge base for it last Christmas. It has a standard 1/4" collet, so it doesn't need special bits. It's great for small, hand held type work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 6, 2023 Report Share Posted August 6, 2023 4 hours ago, Dan said: I am 50/50 with the Dremel plunge router. Practice on some scrap until you feel comfortable or feel like giving up. If you have a good guide and good grip you should do good. I've been using mine only for drilling pilot holes and have found that it is sloppy enough that it bends the bits. I've tried to figure out a way to tighten it up but so far I haven't had any luck. But, now that I have the Stewmac I will probably put the Dremel up on the shelf. Wichman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerdon Posted August 6, 2023 Report Share Posted August 6, 2023 I have the Dremel plunge router. I really don't like it. As OCtoolguy said, they are sloppy and don't go up and down smoothly. Wichman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 I have the Veritas Plunge Base for Rotary Tools. Actually, I have the whole kit for it. It works great for my purposes. I opted for the Veritas over the Stewmac because of its versatility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 2 hours ago, BadBob said: I have the Veritas Plunge Base for Rotary Tools. Actually, I have the whole kit for it. It works great for my purposes. I opted for the Veritas over the Stewmac because of its versatility. Got to say, I wish there was a way to adapt that fence to my Stew Mac plunge base. That is pretty neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Johnson Posted August 10, 2023 Report Share Posted August 10, 2023 (edited) Most effective is Dremel’s router table. I make use of it quite often and it does a very fine job on small projects. Available on Amazon. Edited August 10, 2023 by Ron Johnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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