question re dremel tools and foam shaping....

[pillcaster]

If you just want to shape foam for poppers, etc, do you need a dremel tool that has:

a. one speed 35000

b, two speed 15000 and 35000 or

c. variable speed

bearing in mind the significant cost differences in a to c, I'd rather not over spend......

[narcodog]

I don't know about shaping foam but for thirty years I used a single speed until a few weeks ago. It blew up and I bought a variable speed and I love it. I think it was $69.00 at HD.

[Fred H]

You can use a single speed attached to a sewing machine foot pedal. That will give you controlable ,variable speed.

Fred

[Eric-WD]

if you have a costco card buy one of theres, non-dremel brand moto-tools tend to be less expensive, shop around. I have had one of these for over 5 years and am real happy with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-R...ords=moto+tool

Eric

[James Smith]

Absolutely variable speed. When I first started using my dremel to shape poppers, I accidently zipped it up to 35000 rpm. The needle instantly bent at a right angle from the centrifical force and smacked me on the base of my thumb nail. The pain was instantaneous and so bad that I was sure that it had ripped the thumbnail off. I was very lucky, but I learned a valuable lesson, Start it slow and work the speed up.

Jim Smith

[spoof85]

You can use a single speed attached to a sewing machine foot pedal. That will give you controlable ,variable speed.

Fred

that's an awesome idea... but lowering the current on a variable switch has to be damaging to a motor designed to run at a set speed, wouldn't it? i know if u press the trigger an a cordless drill just enough to hear the motor it heats up about 10 times as fast. that's kind of a bad example though, cordless drills are variable speed engines...

if u decide not to go this route, i would suggest variable as well.... keep in mind that a dremel is one heck of a versatile tool.... by old neighbor rigged one up to a jig with servos, and made a slow, but efficient CNC machine... think about it this way.... that drawer that keeps sticking, you really want to shave a little wood off at 3500rpm? it may cost more, but i feel its worth it. i would avoid name brand, that logo cost alot...

spoof

[spoof85]

here is a pretty good example

http://www.realisticflytying.net/id12.html

i think this would be nearly impossible to make these efficiently without variable speeds..

[bugman]

Definately a variable speed like the dremmel 4000...

[aged_sage]

Spoof:

You can control the speed of any motor using a rheostat without risk of damage to the motor IF the motor has brushes, or at least so my electrically oriented buddies have told me. All Dremels of 'my acquaintance' have brushes. (I have both an antique single-speed and newer variable speed, both with brushes, and all of the others I have seen have brushes.)

You can run a brushless motor for very brief times with a rheostat without damaging the motor; BUT, it is NOT recommended. To do so for very long causes the motor to overheat; which is damaging to the motor.

pillcaster:

For speed control, get a light dimmer switch, a junction box and two short pieces (10-12 inches)of electrical cord for household use, a male and a female electrical plug and receptacle. Mount the dimmer in the box and wire in the two cords with male plug and female receptacle. Voila'! You have a very handy homemade rheostat that is hand controlled---NOT by foot, as with the sewing machine rheostat.

[knucks]

Spoof85

I have been using a fixed speed on a sewing machine pedal for about 12 yrs. and have not had any trouble with it.

knucks