Dremel plunge router

[trackman]

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. 

[jollyred]

Look up string inlay on YouTube.  Lots of information on what you want to do.

Tom

[OCtoolguy]

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. 

[trackman]

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. 

[Jim McDonald]

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.

[Peter N White]

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.

[trackman]

Thanks Jim a Peter !

[Scrappile]

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.

[Dan]

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. 

[Bill WIlson]

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.

[OCtoolguy]

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.

[Farmerdon]

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.

[BadBob]

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.

[Scrappile]

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.

[Ron Johnson]

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