Reddit mentions: The best power rotary tool parts & accessories

Thanks everyone for the advice everyone, I probably would have bought them had I found them yesterday, but I decided to go the DIY route. Since picking must be a very budget conscious hobby for me, I went ahead and took the plunge and bought the important tools. I figured making my own pins would be difficult and require a lot of crazy equipment, but I looked into it and realized it was a lot easier than expected. So just for anyone who's curious, here's what I got:

• $50 Kwikset rekey/pin set from eBay. 200 of each type of pins, 8 types of pins. Clips, followers, springs, and anything else needed to reassemble locks. That leaves enough pins to make absolutely every security pin that I know of, as well as any others that I find from watching people pick challenge locks. There are a good variety of these sets, so you can save some money here by getting only 50 or 100 of each pin type if you prefer. I just decided to start off big so I hopefully never have to buy another.
  
• $35 Rotary Tool. Used for a huge variety of DIY projects, including and excluding lockpicking. There are some cheaper options, but in my opinion you're better off buying at least a decent one to start so you don't have to upgrade later.
  
• $7 Needle File Set. Used in conjunction with your rotary tool as cutting/smoothing tools
  
• $25 Base Vice. Also is very useful for holding locks while picking.
  
   
  
  So in total $112 for all the components needed to make as many locks as I can imagine, many of which can be used for other projects.
  
   
  
  To add supplies for a few other DIY projects I also added:
  
  
• $6 Rotary Tool Bit Set. Used for various DIY projects.
  
• $9 Cutting Wheels for your Rotary tool.
  
• $6 Wood Plank. I'll use this along with the dremel bit set above to make a nice pinning tray.
  
• $2 12" x 0.5" x 0.023" Stainless Steel Feeler Gauge. Used to make picks, tension rods, etc. making it $2 per 2-3 tools. If the thickness you want is expensive/in short supply on amazon you can buy directly from the manufacturer here but in my experience the shipping is slower and the price is usually a ~$0.10 higher per 12" rod. If you really get into making DIY tools you can buy stainless steel feeler coils from easterngage which are 25' x 0.5" x 0.15"/0.18"/0.23"/0.25"/0.26" or any thickness you want really. For 25', depending on the thickness it'll cost you anywhere from $50.64 to $64.95. You might need the 1" wide coils for making double sided tension tools.
  
   
  
  So another $21 brings it to $133 plus $2 per 2-3 tools that you need. Add in this $6 case and a few $4-$6 practice locks around aliexpress (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th 5th, 6th, 7th), and you've got a great starter kit that sets you up to DIY anything you might need in the future. I also took advantage of Peterson's mega christmas sale (plus the 10% discount code they gave us) and got a ~$25 order of $1-$3 picks to start me off

Not really, and not becuase I think they are all crud, but because I never watched any. I just sort of hopped in. Best advice I can think of is

1. Make sure your magnets are the right fit, not too small and not too big. Those little 1x1x1mm cubes are cool, but weak compared to the 1/16inch magnets. These are what I buy for most everything I also have the little cubes, but only for magnetizing tiny stuff like combi weapons. My LGS sells magnets/drill bit kits from P3 I think.
   
   
2. Make sure your polarity matches. Some people will mark one side of all the magnets, others don't. I have some dummy marines who are magnetized.
   
   
3. Check the depth of the hole before you place the magnet in. Nothing sucks more than a glued magnet that isn't quite in all the way.
   
   I would start with a hand drill unless you have the know how and money for a dremel. I use a flex detachment, but I also have a decent chunk of dremel bits, like a really tiny buzz saw, which is AMAZING.

DO NOT, I repeat, do not do that. You will crack the glass. Your torch is not going to put out enough heat to melt that glass and it is going to probably explode. Glass doesn't like drastic changes from solid to liquid. All throughout the process you are going to have expanding and contracting glass not to mention flow (motion) in the glass. For something as thick as that, if too were going to melt and poke a hole, you'd need some pretty serious gear to disperse enough heat to get where you are making the hole hot enough.

Your best bet is going to be a rotary tool like a dremel and a diamond coated bit http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004UDJ5/ref=redir_mdp_mobile. I've used this and a wet paper towel to make countless pieces. It takes patience but the returns of a perfect coffee table piece are well worth it. Take your time and you'll see. Good luck.

And always remember to wear eye protection

Thank you for submitting to /r/SmallYTChannel. You have spent 3λ to submit here, making your current balance 0λ.
/u/Dave_Ipsen, please comment !givelambda to the most helpful advice you are given. You
will be rewarded 1λ if you do so. For more information, read the FAQ.

Video data:

Field|Data

-|:-
Title|Making A Tiny Viking Sword From Pieces of Scrap Metal
Thumbnail|Link
Views|66
Length|05:58
Likes/Dislikes|15/0
Comments|13
Description|In this week's video on The Ideas Guy, I take some pieces of scrap metal and forge, grind, sand and polish them into a tiny viking sword. Besides the adorable size (it's adorable, seriously) it accurately shows how many viking swords did actually look in history. Join me in making a tiny sword for all the tiny vikings of the world lol :)⤶⤶If you are interested in some of the tools I use in this video, follow these links to buy your own!⤶⤶Dremel 3000 Tool:⤶https://amzn.to/2Jot7tq⤶⤶Dremel Flex Shaft Attachment:⤶https://amzn.to/2JBaYbY⤶⤶⤶#theideasguy #tinyviking #modelviking #vikingsword #scrapmetal #imadeit

##Channel Data:

Field|Data

-|:-
Name|The Ideas Guy
Thumbnail|Link
Subscribers|205
Videos|23
Views|3449



^/u/SmallYTChannelBot ^made ^by ^/u/jwnskanzkwk. ^PM ^for ^bug ^reports. ^For ^more ^information, ^read ^the ^FAQ.

For getting rid of molded clothes, and so many other super useful things, I recommend owning a dremel, or other rotary tool.

You don't need a fancy one. I've got 3 dremel tools, of varying degrees of torque and power. One is identical to this one - only without the pet grooming branding. It's still a dremel - it'll still work.

Dremel 7300-PT 4.8V Pet Nail Grooming Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TU0XG4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jF4xDb8CJPTXW
$30


I did find this guy for a super cheap price -
WEN 23006 Two-Speed Cordless Rotary Tool Kit with 10-Piece Accessory Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MSL9PW4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4C4xDb9MG46FY
$12

Can't vouch for it being any good, given its price, but it should be compatible with the dremel rotary bits, and for a starter tool, and just working on dolls, it should be fine.

Whatever rotary you get, you'll need a few things to go with it. I recommend one or both of these -

Sanding drums
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BK1VRH6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yJ4xDb738D61Y

Abrasive buffing wheels
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075C72PGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NH4xDbCZ6DM5C

The buffing wheels are pretty good a removing tiny molded clothing details without eating up the plastic a lot.

If you ever do anything with apoxie-sculpt, the dremel can come in handy with grinding down things after its cured.

OH - and sand paper. Buy sand paper.

I recommend getting some 120 grit, 220 grit, and some 400 grit. You work your way from the lower, rougher paper, up to 400 to get a smooth finish. When you get up to 400, make sure you sand in circular motions to avoid leaving gouges in the plastic.

I don't really know. I've never had very good luck with the stones. I think the most useful dremel accessories for grinding away material is either use the sanding drums like these or use rasps/burrs coated in diamond or tungsten carbide like these.

For the brushes, the silver ones are steel or stainless steel, and the brown ones are usually brass. They'll have different effects on different materials based on the hardness. I've used the stainless brushes on steel before to clean it and kind of give it a texture.

For buffing/polishing of things like painted surfaces you'll want something like this or this and some sort of buffing compound. Most dremel accessory kits usually come with 1 or 2 buffing attachments.

Initial turning was done fairly clean, so I started with 220 grit , switching directions through 600 grit. Then I put on 2 back to back applications of danish oil. At this point, that is the picture on the left, and it looked really good, and normally I'd call that done.

I have a couple of 8" buffing wheels mounted in a Threaded Arbor Mandrel and this goes in a jacobs chuck mounted on my lathe. It could just as well go in the drill press. Spinning at about 800 rpm, I load up the buffing wheel for about 3 seconds with the tripoli bar. Then buff out the wood piece against it. Then take a scrap piece of wood, and use the edge to clean the buffing wheel. You're supposed to use a different wheel then, but I use the same buff wheel to load up the white diamond compound, and put the wood to it. wipe clean with paper towel.

Then I switch to a new wheel, just for wax. I load up the wheel for a few seconds by buffing a stick of carnuba. Then apply wheel to the wood piece at around 1000 rpm. Keep the wax thin on the wheel, so that it stays thin on the wood.

So 2 rounds of buffing compound, and 1 round of carnuba. Process took me about 20 minutes.

[Here is a pretty good youtube video on this! ] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XgspdjERyI)

You might get lucky and have it just come off with a little prying, try that first. I've had some pop right off.

I highly recommend these Dremel EZ Locks over the older style cutting wheels that screw into the bit. They're much faster to change, because these wheels get eaten through and torn up pretty easily and quickly. Just get the metal cutting ones, and you should be good to go.

Edit: I also remembered the other reason i like the EZ lock's a lot more. The discs typically die in 3 ways 1) They just get worn all the way down (rare) 2) The outside breaks off 3) (On the old style) They break at the center mounting point. The EZ lock has a wider diameter at the mounting point for the EZ mount and its more reinforced, making it much rarer that they break the 3rd way.

I live in Vancouver. My glass is literally out of a photo frame that I got at Dollarama for $2.5. Nothing fancy.

I cut it to size using my dremel https://www.amazon.ca/2305-Rotary-Tool-Flex-Shaft/dp/B003BYRFH8/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1501045676&sr=1-1&keywords=dremel with these wheels https://www.amazon.ca/SE-DW13-5-Piece-Diamond-Wheels/dp/B000P49NCC

I attached the glass with 4 binder clips, each measuring 15mm in width. Also from Dollarama; a pack for a Loonie.

Few tips. If you do this, get 2 or 3 frames because you will probably end up cracking your first one as I did. Also be safe. You need to protect your eyes, your hands, and your breath. Again, don't really have to be fancy. For my eye protection I was wearing just my glasses. I also had some good fitting working gloves (any comfortable slightly thick gloves would do) and I wore a surgical mask for protection from glass dust (a slightly damp cloth covering your mouth and nose would work fine too)

Alternatively, you could do this the normal and easy way and use an actual glass cutting tool https://www.amazon.ca/L-TMS-Professional-Handle-Cutter-Cutting/dp/B06X9GRGGD I didn't have one at hand to I just used my dremel.

I was unable to find it :(

There were similar models on Amazon but they looked cheap and like the light was an after-thought.

The only thing I can offer is a few tips I've learned over the last 2 years.

---------

If your dog does not act too crazy during the trimming I recommend just going slowly. Edit: Not too slow because the grinder can get hot. Make sure to let it and the nail "breathe"

It's tough at first but I learned to trim the blackest of nails with no additional light. Plus if you use the nail grinder and go slow when you first get to the quick (or root) it will only bleed a tiny bit, which is easy to stop with flour, corn-starch, or "Professional Blood Stop Powder"

You'll also learn the look of the root being exposed so you can stop right before. As you grind the nail away, the newly exposed nail- I always describe it as "tree rings". You'll see them change size and color and as they look more "fresh" and "lively" you're getting to the blood supply.

Edit:

Also, a powerful grinder like a Dremel on a higher speed may be better. Slower speeds and weaker motors can cause more vibration which some dogs do not like.

I also use 120 Medium Grit Sanding Drums because they seem to work the best most of the time. You don't want a rougher grit because it will "rip" and "tear" he nail apart (not as dramatic as it sounds but still not desireable) and finer grits will take longer and can get hotter during the process.

)

I'd just stipple it. I can tell you what to buy and how to do it including the borders. You'll need the following:

https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-107-Engraving-Cutter-Shank/dp/B00008Z9ZV/ or https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-106-Engraving-Cutter-8-Inch/dp/B00008Z9ZU
https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-120-volt-Variable-Attachment-Accessories/dp/B075174NCV/ (you may have your own dremel, but definitely get a flex shaft for it)
https://www.amazon.com/HTS-401B3-Multi-Grit-Diamond-Medium/dp/B00U0E0KRE
https://www.amazon.com/AUSTOR-Grinding-Polishing-Accessories-Attachment/dp/B078Y5XGM8 (careful with these, light touch and keep it moving)
https://www.amazon.com/Flitz-Multi-Purpose-Fiberglass-Aluminum-Sterling/dp/B000MUSOW4

First use your engraving cutter to cut the borders that you've drawn on with a water-removable Stabilo marking pencil. Try to cut as smoothly as possible, with a steady hand. Don't try to cut it all at once, be patient (be patient for all of this, it took me a whole week doing a little at a time to complete the whole process, and turning my dremel off periodically because I have an older model flex shaft that gets hot after some use - solved this by wrapping the grip with bicycle inner tube)
The smoother you cut it the easier the rest will be. Some people just use the engraving cutter for borders, but I followed someone's guide and then used the diamond burs to smooth it out and polish it. Go from the lowest grit to the highest. You can either use the ball bits that are the same size as your cutter, or use the rounded cylinder bits. You can angle the cylinder bits in certain ways to get around curved surfaces, you'll kind of have to experiment with that. Once you get to the highest grit, I found that the only way to get it near-glass smooth was to apply a lot of pressure. It doesn't remove much material and you kind of want it to heat up the plastic to get it smooth. Then, still not satisfied with this, I got those felt wheels and cut the very tip off the smallest one, and used a bit of flitz paste, and then went over all the borders. That got it close enough for me. You can get more advice from the Weapons Stippling group on Facebook.


After you do the borders, I use the round tip on the walnut hollow wood burner on a medium heat setting. You don't want it too hot, not with the P80 plastic anyway. My technique was to press in, not too much but just enough, and drag downwards. A random totally pattern is best, I did a somewhat orderly snake pattern and then went over it again and smeared it out to give it a more organic texture. Then I went over it one more time, lightly and fastly rubbing all along the surface to blend the ridges that were created into the rest of the texture. You can do this several times to get it just right. The result is a texture that is grippy, yet not rough. That's how I like it, but you can experiment. The key is not to heat it up too much and don't stick any of the tips in too deep, and don't try to do it perfectly ordered unless you've gotten good at that with practice and are using an appropriate tip. You can make your own tips out of #8-32 brass screws or buy blanks from OT Defense, or some other place.

You could have saved if you got everything off Amazon:

Dremel 4000 = $73

15 100mm x 3mm brass rods = $8

36 Sheets of sandpaper = $8

Flex Shaft = $20

12 Euro Tools Needle Files = $14

2 Day trial of Amazon Prime (Includes free 2 day shipping) = $2

The files are more expensive than the $3 ones you find in Harbor Freight but you get two of every nice and sharp profile Including the Knife that helps you to get into tight spaces to make things like ASSA Gin Spools!

I would totally say "OMG YAAAAAAAY!!!!" if I were to receive either Cards Against Humanity or this great Dremel Flex Shaft attachment for my Dremel, which would help me with my etsy orders! :D

Thank you for the contest! Yay! :D Keep on being awesome!

You need to either use a lot less pressure while cutting with the disc, or get some better discs. I use my dremel a ton and definitely get longer life out of a disc than that.

I recently picked up some of these and I'm liking them so far. They seem to last longer than others I've tried, and the "EZ Lock" is totally awesome.

Try this for removing the decals. It will usually take up everything including the gunk and sticky left if you do it by hand, and this won't mark up the underlying paint like some other methods. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L1BVQB7/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_qQaRCb9QJYPKN

​

The two biggest things I'd say to be aware of-- make sure your surface is super clean and free of any contaminants. Everyone says it, and you can't say it enough.

​

Second-- if you are taping off, remove the tape promptly-- while its still wet. If you hit a dry spot, stop pulling and grab an exacto or razor and try to cut along the tape pull rather than pulling up the dip.

Does anyone here have experience with different brands of eraser wheels? I'm trying to take the 13 year old clear bra off the front of my car and I want to know if the 3M is any better than a generic one. I would also appreciate a recommendation for an adhesive remover for the areas of the clear bra that I already pealed off.

Thanks

We used a regular hair dryer to soften the adhesive, though it was likely unnecessary since it was also hot out and kind of inconsequential to the final result.

I then flossed behind the plastic letters with fishing line (12 lb. test, for what its worth), which easily popped them off but left the thick chunky adhesive behind.

The real key here is the adhesive remover wheel you attach to a drill. I used this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WG2XYE/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Pw.wDb34TNWHK

The trick is to keep the RPMs relatively low and apply strong pressure. The adhesive will fling off easily, it's just a matter of making sure you go over each spot thoroughly.

Then I dabbed a little goo gone on a rag and wiped down the area, which revealed any further stuck on adhesive / stains. Used the drill again if need be.

The last step for me was a super quick pass with carnauba cleaner wax since there was kinda some grime around the letters that left an outline of them behind. The cleaner wax took it off with almost no effort. :)

I did all of the badges too - two on the sides, the Ram on the back, and the Promaster logo on the back. Took probably 45 minutes total, maybe less.

>cooling down is easy

Ho ho ho great joke.

Been running one of these pretty much non stop since march. Still too warm.

Have you even been checked for thyroid issues. That can make you feel cold all the time?

Well rip it off too. Lol.

You can get the rest of the adhesive off pretty safely with one of these. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07L1BVQB7/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

Well a nice set up on a bandsaw would probably work really slick, but requires a bandsaw.

My first idea I had before seeing how you did it was to use a Dremel with some EZ-Lock cutoff wheels. You could try free handing it or you could mount the Dremel horizontally on a platform on some drawer slides so it slides straight down the middle of the cap, which is sitting in its own jig.

I don't see anything called a "dremel pen". Maybe you mean something like this?

Dremel Flex Shaft Rotary Tool Attachment with Comfort Grip and 36" Long Cable- 225-01- Engraver, Polisher, and Sander- Ideal for Detail Metal Engraving, Wood Carving, Sanding, and Jewelry Polishing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000302Y8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_QG-JDb0MBRBF1

there are at least 2-3 of this (almost) exact model with different brands floating around on Amazon, most likely sourced from China.

The one good thing this has is a "flex shaft" which I've purchased individually and higher quality versions of.

It is really helpful for getting impossible to reach spaces (like inside a PC case) or anything around your house.

And for you Dremel fans, Dremel has a nice flex shaft extension:

https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-225-01-Flex-Shaft-Attachment/dp/B0000302Y8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1491852439&sr=8-5&keywords=flex+shaft

This. They sound super handy but in actuality mine spends most of its time in a drawer. But, I have many other tools like an actual angle grinder, pneumatic cut-off tool, sander, etc. so if I didn't already have these it might see more use.

The flexible shaft attachment has saved my butt a handful of times when I needed to grind/drill off something in a tight area.

I know Foredom is (or was) the "go to" option for woodcarvers and others doing similar work - but like all high-end tools, it comes with the price tag. Likely to last forever, but also might be overkill for model-making.

I ended up getting the flex shaft for the Dremel:

https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-225-01-Flex-Shaft-Attachment/dp/B0000302Y8

Does the job, and easier than holding the Dremel for fine work. You can get the adjustable 3-jaw chuck on there, otherwise it has a chuck with interchangeable inserts.

Does all I need it to do in terms of sanding, grinding, drilling, etc - and was a cheap option as I already had the Dremel, which may not be a factor for you. You then have the option of using the Dremel as a handheld tool for other jobs.

I used the same molding tape to attach as you did, to remove I used one of these rubber wheels and a drill to get the old adhesive off. You have to get the right technique of light pressure, but once you do it works perfectly.

Removing the gunk was the most tedious part of it, but once it was off and things were clean getting stuff reattached was a breeze. It's also very likely that you won't need those new fasteners and that the old ones are just popped out in a way that they can't be popped back in without twisting like you can when it's off.

Wow! At first I thought the branch was real until I read your comment about the leaves being maple with green sharpie.

Do you ever use one of those dremel flex shaft attachments? Like these: https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-225-01-Flex-Shaft-Attachment/dp/B0000302Y8/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=dremel+attachment&qid=1557652236&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Sure will, & thanks for the info! :)

Planning on buying this dremel and these bits. What do you think?

Something more like this, for a bench grinder

https://www.amazon.com/Cotton-Grinder-Buffing-Wheels-8BUFF088/dp/B000SLNQCK

then you buy some fine polishing compound that you touch to the wheel while its spinning.

I wouldn't use a dremel or other small rotary tool, its too hard to get it all nice and even. The big buffing wheels do a large enough area that it looks good and even.

The first thing to use is Frame Protector for the inside of the frame. This can be messy so do this first. Next a brass wire brush on an electric drill or better yet on Dremel-type tool. Third thing is VHT SP229 Rust Convertor Can - 10.25 oz.. This stuff is amazing. It will turn your rust to a mineral that can be sanded off. Lastly, prep for paint. You can get in all the nooks and crannies with these and these. Do not try to paint it yourself. You suck at it. Take it to a motorcycle painter and if you ask for clear he will just hang it next to a motorcycle tank or fender and do them both at the same time. Should cost next to nothing if your prep is good.

Edit: sp

I've had good success with these as well.

you can see that there is some melted plastic on the part i intend to use as a jar to hold stuff in. However i think most of that came from having to make a second line of cuts to make the thing even as i did not have a even level cut with the first cut.also i may have been using it at to slow of a speed as i own a Wen brand Variable speed Rotary tool and may have had it set too slowly. so i am just going to contact Dremel and see what speed i should use for cutting plastic with this head.

Now for my review of this tool: this tool worked beautifully for cutting plastics even i used a containor made from Polypropylene which has a melting point of between 130-172 C depending on the type of PP used. this melting point is a lot lower then the 240 C melting point of the Polystyrene used in gundam kits.

However i wont be starting scratch building yet as i need to invest in a face sheild as the thing kicked up a lot of small pieces of plastic as i was cutting. luckly i wear glasses so i did not really need to worry about getting a piece in my eye. so if you buy this cutting head for your Rotary tool i strongly recommend getting a face shield as a to be safe. at the moment (3/29/16) this head is 16.29 plus tax on amazon right now. its a prime eligible Item so you can get it with primes 2 day free shipping.

I hope this helps with your scratch building endeavors my fellow gunpla builders. here is a link for the tools amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-543-Cutting-Shaping-Wheel/dp/B000HI5WUS?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Use the diamond saw blades, the thinnest is about .1mm thick.
http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-545D-545-Diamond-Wheel/dp/B00004UDI9

There will be some melting and edge cleanup, use a hobby knife and then some fine-grit sandpaper. This is pretty much as clean as you can get.

Haha, when it comes to building my own computers, I have raging OCD; so when it came to modding it and putting a dremel to the nice brushed aluminum case, it was extremely nerve racking. I used a pretty cheap single speed Dremel from Walmart with these metal cutting wheels.

The acrylic sheet that I used was precut and sold off the shelf at Home Depot, it's 8"x10" clear acrylic (.9mm thick)

Got this kit works great so far. The keyless chuck works fine too I got.

Which piece are you talking about to sand down the MVP?

Got this too

Dremel 225-01 Flex Shaft Attachment https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000302Y8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_V263Bb572K5XA

Best tool I've ever bought for my dremel ever

Make sure to get one with variable speeds. I use mine a lot, so the finer control comes in handy. If you just need a tool that will get the job done, Black & Decker make the 3 speed RTX-B for about $30 and it works great.

More important in this case though is to have a proper plastic cutting/shaping tool. The trick with plastic is removing the material without melting all of it. They make special cutting bits for wood and plastics, which honestly I wish they'd made a lot sooner. It'll still melt some of the softer plastics if you go too fast but is miles ahead of the high-speed steel cutters..

I always recommend people upgrade to these cuttof wheels instead:

https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-EZ406-02-Cut-Off-Mandrel-Cutting/dp/B000FBLRVA

They are way easier to use.

If you want an aftermarket double DIN head unit you need a kit such as the Metra 95-7313 and you need to cut out a dash support bar behind the radio to make clearance. [Metra 95-7313 installation guide] (http://www.metraonline.com/files/products/INST95-7313.pdf)

This is fairly easy with a Dremel(not a cordless one) and a cutting bit. Dremel 561 Multipurpose Cutting Bit

Practice on some scrap plastic panels to get a feel of it first so you don't cut the hell out of your dash.

this is what I've used in the past - probably what you got. That said, I did have to dremel a notch to get them to fit just right. I recommend aquick change disc for that.

A dremel maybe? I'd make a little jig for the extension cable (see amazon ) but there's Dremel brand adapters & tools you might be interested in.

Thanks, that's what I was going for. I'm pretty anal about aesthetics and while a lot of people made the build easier on themselves by not caring about the straightness of holes/proper spacing etc., I knew I'd hate it if it didn't look as good as I could make it.

I actually had to throw out my first project box because I had tried cutting out all the holes with sharp utility knife, and failing that, had tried using a simple cutoff wheel with my dremel. This was a bad idea. Dremel cutoff wheels are insanely hard to use on this sort of plastic (they tend to melt rather than cut the plastic), and they're incredibly imprecise. So, I ended up getting this attachment and I built a couple multi-layer jigs so I'd have an almost exact hole with minimal filing needed with just one pass of the dremel.

I don't count the attachment as part of my project cost because it's really quite nice to have and would make cutting holes in drywall etc super easy. I'm bound to use it a lot in the coming years.

EDIT: I should note that at first I did have a bit of trouble with the 1/8" jack. I don't know if the solder didn't take properly or what, but the sensor reported an error when I first plugged it all in. Since then it's been working fine and I opened it all up and double checked everything was fine, and it was. It wouldn't be proper DIY if something inexplicable didn't happen and then resolve itself.

What are you doing with the Dremel? The only time I use it like a pen is for engraving & I use the flex shaft attachment. Anything else is either a vertical or horizontal grip & not at all pen-like.

Yea it's electric. It's not really a nail filer though... more of a rotary tool for general use. This is the model I have. It comes with a lot of different attachments: wire bushes, sanding drums, grinding stones, grinding wheels, small rotary files or burrs, maybe some more stuff so it's pretty useful around the house too.

My mom got me into it because she's involved with greyhound rescue groups and their nails are in really bad shape when they come off the tracks. Using clippers, they had way too many blood-spraying, dog-helping-in-pain-accidents. Clippers are easy to overshoot your intended cut and cut the quick and they're also known for splitting nails in half or muliple pieces, either right when you cut it or if they snag a small piece on the carpet it can rip off the splintered part of the nail.

My mom swears by [this extension](
http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-225-01-Flex-Shaft-Attachment/dp/B0000302Y8/ref=pd_bxgy_469_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0HS02GVFVQ5Z8AQDSF7G) that allows the noise of the electric motor to be a few feet away. I don't have one these.


Then when you run out of sanding drums that came with your dremel, you can but a lifetime supply for [$8.99]
(http://www.amazon.com/TEMO-sand-coarse-Mandrel-dremel/dp/B00564U22G/ref=pd_sim_469_10?ie=UTF8&dpID=41G2GNphVlL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0YAGTNM5J58CC1PVN0B9)

Edit: Dremel must have caught on, they now sell a specific pet grooming model. I can't speak for it but it looks quite a bit smaller than mine, I'll admit mine is a little overkill but I use it for other things too.

I was thinking about wrapping the bottom of the stem with tape, and trying to use that diamond cutting wheel to make a flat clean cut. Yay or nay?

You might try getting the flex shaft attachment. It's far enough away that it doesn't freak my dog out, and makes life generally easier

Drilling under water with a diamond bit and with a towel at the bottom of the sink works well. Glass breaks pretty quick sometimes when it gets hot and vibrates. The water limits the Dremel/drill vibration and cools the glass. The towel is not just for smacking the bottom (which you will do), but also for leverage. I used one of these attached to the dremel.
*edit for formatting

1. Sand it post-mounting.
   
   
2. I used a small vice grip to grab them and wiggle them out. Some came easy, some snapped off, but for a lot of my ships I was using the Dremel a little to create a flat surface, so no big deal.
   
   
3. I use engraving bits from this kit.

I curbrashed my 3's 19" silver 3 rim :'(

I watched a ChrisFix tutorial on how to repair an aluminum rim using a dremel w/ a sanding detail brush.

Has anyone tried this? Also, I can't tell if there's a clear coating on the rim. Would it make sense to sand with the course & fine grit detail brush? Or do I really need to strip the whole thing and recoat?

I hear shops will do this for $100-200, but would be nice to avoid that expense.

How about something like this?
Dremel EZ Lock 456

Use a cutoff wheel like /u/jakkarth says if you need to cut a circuit board (and wear a respirator). For plastics, these spiral bits are unbeatable. They cut through most common plastics like a hot knife through butter. They're safer than the cutoff wheels (which sometimes fracture), they cut faster, and they don't melt the plastic.

If you search "flexible drill extension" on amazon there's a bunch, just not as cheap.


Buwico makes this cheapo one for $7.99


Dremel makes a nicer-quality one for $25.99, which seems to be the going price for all similar products

for the shaping a basic carving tool. for the indents I used a bit like this http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-107-Engraving-Cutter-Shank/dp/B00008Z9ZV/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1314083870&sr=8-11

Don't even mess with trying to heat and peel decals that old. Use a drill and a rubber eraser wheel. Heat guns are for amateurs that don't know any better.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B018WG2XYE/ref=yo_ii_pd_dx_gr_1/188-7323185-1878014?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B018WG2XYE&pd_rd_r=MYRGCVXK6K2NTR47WFW0&pd_rd_w=s6OIm&pd_rd_wg=NzRRH&psc=1&refRID=PK1A5W57D0GPM348SN3F

You can thank me later.

Before pics

Wonderwheel

There are more expensive versions of this but for 10$ it did pretty damn good
Just use low rpm (I think it says less than 2000 rpm drill) and don’t stay in the same spot for long. After wards I just brushed off the remnants and wiped away with goo gone and a towel.

I’m not like a mechanically inclined person so if I can do it you can too

You need a flexible shaft rotary tool and a place to use it that you can gently run a trickle of water on the area being cut. I've seen a shower stall pan used, it has a large flat surface with a drain in the middle. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000302Y8/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

Id recommend getting a diamond disk for a dremel and cutting it off. To do so you need a small stream of water running on the cut while the disk is cutting to ensure no glass dust is created, as to avoid silicosis. Also wear safety glasses and a dust mask. Once you've cut off the stem I suppose sanding to smooth any rough parts will do. For such a project I would not recommend using heat or fire at all, you'd most likely wind up cracking the glass due to thermal expansion.

Link for diamond dremel cutting wheel

Probably if you're careful, I've used these https://www.amazon.com/Drill-Warehouse-Abrasive-Buffing-Polishing/dp/B075C72PGK

Tile cutting bit: https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-562-Tile-Cutting-Bit/dp/B00004UDIC

Diamond cutting wheel:https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-545D-545-Diamond-Wheel/dp/B00004UDI9/ref=pd_sim_469_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00004UDI9&pd_rd_r=269YAJP4K67TJ18GNAYD&pd_rd_w=t28id&pd_rd_wg=i2XAg&psc=1&refRID=269YAJP4K67TJ18GNAYD

Even carbide burr bits will work (slowly).

Wetting the area will keep down the dust and extend the life of your tools, but isn't strictly necessary.

and on the end of that flexi shaft

http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-545D-545-Diamond-Wheel/dp/B00004UDI9/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1368536646&sr=1-2&keywords=diamond+dremel

i used a continuous rim diamond blade in an angle grinder to cut out rectangular holes for the receptacles in my misco wire backsplash in my kitchen. that trickle of cold water is key.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00HU3BF22 on the floor in front of me. Does the job, still get sweaty AF on a hard workout. Friend in the club has https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-HVD24-24-Inch-Industrial-Velocity/dp/B000RO8326 and says "I haven't dared switch it above the lowest setting."

Picture for scale: https://islingtoncc.microco.sm/api/v1/files/592e573b9b25588883cec13d747a6ab456fd4a4a.jpg

ABN Rubber Eraser Wheel 4" Inch Pad & Adapter 1-Pack - Pinstripe, Adhesive Remover, Vinyl Decal, Graphics Removal Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WG2XYE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_835kDbE8GQNEZ

https://www.amazon.com/ABN-Pinstripe-4-inch-Sticker-Removal/dp/B018WG2XYE/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_328_bs_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W3892VGE3A2YFF602443

This and a drill.

Get an EZ-Lock for cut-off wheels: EZ-Lock Metal Cut-off Kit at Amazon

This thing ABN Rubber Eraser Wheel 4in Pad & Adapter 1-Pack - Pinstripe, Adhesive Remover, Vinyl Decal, Graphics Removal Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WG2XYE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_w3w2DbDZV2EWK

Dremel 689-01 11-Piece Rotary Tool Carving and Engraving Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L9T4C0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SS8GDb59D42FQ

This is the exact set I'm using currently. 107 and 7103 were the two I used most. Did a bit of finishing/leveling with 7134.

(NOTE: The part numbers I'm referring to are on the second image on the listing.)

https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-EZ406-02-Cut-Off-Mandrel-Cutting/dp/B000FBLRVA/ie=UTF8&qid=1495130513&sr=8-2&keywords=dremel+quick+connect

I think this is the same kit that I used:
Dremel 689-01 11-Piece Rotary Tool Carving and Engraving Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000L9T4C0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_PE8ODbB91W7G3

I used the smallest ones.

>Flex Shaft

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000302Y8/

Eraser wheel.

ABN Rubber Eraser Wheel 4in Pad & Adapter 1-Pack - Pinstripe, Adhesive Remover, Vinyl Decal, Graphics Removal Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WG2XYE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vkIKDb53F3HEB

ABN Rubber Eraser Wheel 4” Inch Pad & Adapter 1-Pack – Pinstripe, Adhesive Remover, Vinyl Decal, Graphics Removal Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WG2XYE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_b1k-BbKAHXSWA

Engraving bits


Flex Shaft attachment


EZ Lock cutinng wheel kit

Okay, first, don't believe anything that the PO told you.

1. Get a 3M Eraser Wheel for the residual adhesive.
   
   
2. Get a decent multimeter and/or test light to resolve the electrical issues. Although your window issues are probably caused by broken solders in the door switches or broken wires in the door boots.
   
   
3. If working on the A/C system, invest in a good manifold and gauge set with vacuum pump. They're all over Amazon and eBay.
   
   
4. General rule of thumb, don't fix something that's not broken. Definitely inspect the brakes, but if there's life left on the pads and rotor, leave them alone. There are probably plenty of other places that money could be better spent.

Some cuts I couldn't get with a Dremel. I used the quick detach metal disks http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-EZ406-Cut-Off-Mandrel-Cutting/dp/B000FBLRVA