1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

What dremel to buy?

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Old 10-03-04, 01:17 PM
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What dremel to buy?

I need to buy a dremel for porting. What model # should I get? RPM's?
Old 10-03-04, 01:56 PM
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If you're going to be porting, a flexi-shaft is a must... a lot easier to control. Cordless are crap IMO and get one with the widest RPM range. Other than that, it's all in the bits and accessories.

Basically this...
#3956-02 Var.-Speed MultiProŽ Kit w/Flex-Shaft

Last edited by akrallysport; 10-03-04 at 02:22 PM.
Old 10-03-04, 02:11 PM
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Couldn't agree more. Get what you pay for, veriable speed is a must!
Old 10-03-04, 02:27 PM
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Also, check out the accessories area on their site dremel.com. They have a whole listing of cutting, grinding tools, with charts for their application and optimal RPM for each.
Old 10-03-04, 02:47 PM
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Variable speed + flex shaft is a must...

Make sure to pick up some hardened bits... the cheapie bits that usually come with the kit just get eaten up by the side housings. Some grinding stones can work well on the irons, but they will "load up" and not work on the aluminum - stick to the cutting bits for those.
Old 10-03-04, 04:05 PM
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Cool, thanks
Old 10-03-04, 06:04 PM
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I have the Foredom hand grinder and I love it, 18,000 rpm, footpedal and 1/4 in chuck.
http://shorinternational.com/FlexShaftMachine.htm
Old 10-03-04, 06:20 PM
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yes it must have the 5 speed adjustor thing, or its just not worth it...
Old 10-04-04, 03:31 AM
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There is one at walmart for 80 I think. It has 3 attachment, one is the wand thing. it comes in a toolbox and it looks pretty nice. Thats what I am gonna use for my porting whenever I get around to tearing one of my spare engines down.
Old 10-04-04, 08:19 AM
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DREMEL ? ! ?

I cant beleive people use a freaking dremel to port?

You got to use carbide cutting bits and an air powered die grinder.

I have ported an engine with the die grinder and it worked beatifully. I ported an intake with a dremel and it took forever and worked like ****. You will waste time with a dremel and the end result wont be half as good as the die grinder ! ! !
Old 10-04-04, 08:21 AM
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$70.00


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...cal=TOOL&cs=e5
Old 10-04-04, 09:45 AM
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Yeah, and what do you do if you don't have a compressor??? There are electric die grinders, but I think the dremel would get the job done.
Old 10-04-04, 09:54 AM
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Hmm?

buy a air compressor ! ! !

that was a hard question . . .

When owning a car their is always a use for an air compressor, more than just port jobs.

If you are going to do something you should do it right!

If you want to do it half *** and take forever use a dremel!
Old 10-04-04, 09:54 AM
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I remember a few people saying that they used dremels and they look fine. A die grinder is a rotary tool as is a dremel. As long as it spins fast does it really matter if you have the correct bits?
Old 10-04-04, 10:11 AM
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Invest in a small compressor and a die grinder to get things done the right way the first time. Alot faster and better than a dremel.
Old 10-04-04, 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by 813KR$
Hmm?

buy a air compressor ! ! !

that was a hard question . . .

When owning a car their is always a use for an air compressor, more than just port jobs.

If you are going to do something you should do it right!

If you want to do it half *** and take forever use a dremel!
Little 4 gallon 2HP piece of **** my dad has at his house won't even run my impact wrench at 90 PSI for long enough to run off two lugnuts... I've gotta crank it to 125 PSI and let it refill the tank every use...

And my apartment complex would surely frown upon my bringing an 80 gallon Ingersoll-Rand in and patching it into the breaker panel for 220v... In addition. I dunno how you'd get one up 4 flights of stairs.

Any suggestions aside from dremel?
Old 10-04-04, 10:27 AM
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Like I said, there is ELECTRIC die grinders with a 1/4" chuck. I beleive Aaron Cake used one for his Bridgeported turbo engine (second gen forum).
Old 10-04-04, 10:41 AM
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"As long as it spins fast does it really matter if you have the correct bits?"


OH IT MATTERS ! ! !

I really dont care what anyone wants to use Iam just posting what MY experiences have been ! ! ! You dont have to have a huge compressor, just a descent one.

You need it to spin fast, with plenty of torque and really good bits with different shapes to get the correct sizes and shapes you desire!

DREMELS SUCK ! ! !
Old 10-04-04, 05:34 PM
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I agree that for "serious" grinding, you want a die grinder rather than a dremmel. The dremel is pretty wimpy for doing serious metal grinding of any kind. I used a dremmel for rust on my car and after about 3 weeks of grinding it's all but dead from abuse, and really I didn't do much metal grinding at all. The electric die grinder are much closer to the actual angle grinders and are much more powerful - I think makita makes a pretty good one.

I also concur that compressed air is invaluable when working on a car. Blowing stuff off/out with 100 psi makes life real easy in a lot of circumstances. And a decent impact is a life-saver on things like header bolts and exhaust components. Plus it's nice for taking tires off. I've used a little portable compressor on wheels for years and it works fine. Get a good one though, and as much capacity as you can.
Old 10-05-04, 08:30 PM
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I have a Dreml Advantage (bigger motor, higher RPM). Does anybody know if the Dreml flex-shaft works with it?

B
Old 10-05-04, 09:07 PM
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The dremel might be barely adequate for the exhaust ports, but you'll never port the irons with it. If you dont have or want a compressor and a hi speed grinder, use an electric one with a flex shaft. Even harbor freight has one at a decent price. And use carbide bits, especially on the irons. They'll last alot longer than the cheap junk thats out there. I like the double cut bits as they cut faster and are less prone to clogging (especially important on aluminum). Go read over on nopistons about porting, lotsa wisdom there guys.
Old 10-05-04, 09:22 PM
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Dremel is perfect for porting... maybe not as fast as air tools, but you know what... it gets the job done and works well for those that don't have an air source.
Old 10-05-04, 09:27 PM
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I agree with the dremel. I know alot of engine builders in Japan and that's what they use. It all preferance I think.
Old 10-06-04, 08:46 AM
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Preference my ***, more like ignorance ! ! !
Old 10-06-04, 08:55 AM
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Man, what is your problem with dremels!!! You make it sound like you had a VERY bad experience with one. For exhaust ports, the sanding drums will work just as fast as a carbide cutting bit and won't get clogged like the grinding stones will. I have ground down aluminum with a sanding drum on a dremel before and its acutally quite efficient, even with my 7 year old dremel. As for the side housings, I'm not sure if a drum will work. But we will find out when I try to port my TII engine.


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