19 replies to this topic

[Lancaster]

I'm not sure if this is the right board to post this on, sorry if it's not.

I was using my dremel to add a sling to my longshot about 10 minutes ago. I had one of those circular cutting discs on, and right when I touched it to the plastic, the disc shattered and flew away before embedding itself in a wall.




First of all, I was scared to death. I almost lost an eye, finger, hair, etc. That thing went an inch past my face. My hands are shaking while I'm typing, so I'm glad I can spellcheck this. Almost the entire disc was broken except for a small shard which continued to spin creating a cool invisible dremel tool look. That was about where the coolness ended. This has never happened to me in all of my 4 week's experience with a dremel. The bit was secured to its little holder thing with a small flathead screw. I've used these bits before and this has never happened. Why? I'm probably not going to use my dremel before this board is destroyed and everyone is dead. Please help!

[King Of Butt Land]

First, thats you wear goggles and ear protection (riiiiiiiggggggggght lancaster)? And second this happens to me too. I suggest buying a reinforced cutting wheel.

-Butt

[PiMpDaDdY]

I suggest buying a pack of the carbon graphite cutting wheels. They do not break. I have had the same cutting wheel on for about a year now and I use my dremel on some hard cuttings surfaces.

[cxwq]

You never put yourself in the plane of the wheel.

Ever.

[euphemism]

Happens to me all the time, especially when cutting somewhat thick metal at high revs. the shards can only really go perpendicular to the dremel, so just make sure no body (part) is there when cutting. Also you may wish to invest in fiberglass reinforced discs, I imagine they are more resistant to breakage.
One last note, ALWAYS USE SAFETY GOGGLES WHEN DREMELING.

EDIT: Didn't see cx's post, (or any of the others) mine is basically the same as theirs.

Edited by euphemism, 24 August 2006 - 07:11 PM.

[FromAbove]

Cutting wheels break all the time its a fact of life. Just never turn on your dremel without eye protecting especially; ear protecting is a good idea too.

You need to remember that you're using a tool, not to confuse it with the toy you happen to be modding. Glad to hear you didnt lose an eye tho. Last year I got a small shard of hot plexi in my eyeball that needed to be removed at the hospital. Eye protecting is no joke!


FA.

[Lancaster]

Eye protection...hehe....right


I've learned my lesson. I think the god of power tools has sent me a sign. Thanks guys.


...I think my heartbeat is finally slowing down...

[Pineapple]

You never put yourself in the plane of the wheel.

Ever.

...ooop.

What he said. Seriously.

I've worked with cutting tools (dental engines) for 11 years, and let me tell you, cutting wheels cut skin, flesh, and bones quite nicely. I'll save you from seeing the scar tissue photo.

Keep ALL fingers at least 2-3 inches away from the spinning wheel/ bur/ plunge cutter. Experience will tell you that you can comfortably/ safely control the unit with fingers a little closer, but with time.

Know that most of the cutting wheels are frangible---read that, break very easily, and more so at 30,000 rpm. So you don't put excessive force on the cutter. Let the spinning wheel do the work.

Who said eye protection? Give the man a Mountain Dew. That should be a commandment.

You're alive, and have all your body parts still attached, so consider that a learning experience. A VERY lucky one indeed.

Do any of you new Dremel users out there read the instruction manuals? Hmmm.



-Piney-

[Carbon]

Glad you were able to learn the eye protection lesson without a trip to the emergency room.

Anyway, with regard to cutting disks, I don't care for them. They wear out, bind up pretty easily, and can shatter unexpectedly. I've had zero problems since I bought a dedicated plastic cutting bit - essentially a toothed metal wheel. The dust is corser (less easy to inhale), and the wheel is a lot smaller, so I can cut curves.

[Forsaken angel24]

I remember thinking one day while using my dremel. " Hrmm I should really use some eye protection." So I through on a pair of dart tag shades and then the cutting wheel broke. A shard came and hit my glasses. I was scared shitless.

[NiteWalker]

Wow, you could be missing an eye Angel. I've had nothing serious happen, but once a little piece of plastic flew right on my eye. Luckily, it wasn't sharp , so it didn't logde itself in my eyeball. I just washed it out. I've been wearing eye protection ever since.

Edited by NiteWalker, 25 August 2006 - 11:05 AM.

[Lukeinator]

Overtightening the screw to attach the cutting wheel can also lead to pre-mature breakage of the cutting wheel.

So, only tighten the cutting wheel until it is snug, don't reef on it.

Everything else has already been said, and don't forget eye protection. Just because you have two of them doesn't mean losing one is OK.

[Ronster]

Hey Carbon, can you post a picture of that plastic cutting wheel you were talking about?

[Carbon]

Hey Carbon, can you post a picture of that plastic cutting wheel you were talking about?

Sure. Oddly enough, I couldn't Froogle up a picture, and I don't remember the model number, so here's a pic of mine.

Edited by Carbon, 25 August 2006 - 06:37 PM.

[meiser5]

Thats odd... I have never seen one of those before. Where did you get it? I,d post a pic of mine but my camera is busted.


Meiser---

[Carbon]

Finally found it...it's listed just as a "high speed cutter", Dremel bit #199. Course, I've never had to use it at anything near "high speed". It's listed as being good for soft materials. Anyway, I got mine at Fleet Farm (or was it Farm & Fleet?) for $5 or so. Most any place that stocks Dremel bits should have it.

Edited by Carbon, 25 August 2006 - 08:14 PM.

[Renegade]

I use the same one as carbon, and with over a years use it still cuts great and doesn't break. Cost around $5 but well worth it.

[elf avec gun]

I got a dremel the other day (finally) and so I was being really carefull to stay out of the plane of the cutting weel. so I thought that I didnt need eye protection. Well I was wrong! I was staying out of the plane and a peice of freshly cut plastic flew sideways into my eye. Now note that fresly cut plastic is hot. It hurt like a bitch. And I thought I had gotten out but when I woke up this morning I was wipeing the sleepies out of my eyes (a morning ritual of mine) and lo and behold a peice of blue plastic came out.
So
Me: forgive me father for I have sinned
Father: How long has it been since your last confession?
Me: A week.
Father: ok describe your sin to me
Me: I used... I used a dremel... without eye protection
Father: *audible GASP*

So the moral of this story kids is that when you are dremeling remember to use "protection".

THE END

[Ronster]

I think that's the same dremel bit that I have.
It's just the only problem I have is that it doesn't really cut through the normal PVC. The walls are too thick and the dremel blade won't cut all the way through...

[boltsniper]

I basically use two tools now. Thin cutoff wheels and sanding drums. I used to use the high speed cutters and I have every single one they make. They are good at removing material but I have found that the sanding drums will remove material jsut as fast. My big problem with the high speed bits is they are fucking loud! Me being in an apartment now...thats an issue. I do use the tool carbon is referring to when I need to get in tight spots. I use the drum cutters to cut holes and small openings.

As far as cutting wheels go. As CX said stay out of the plane of the wheel and you won`t have to worry about getting hit. But still wear some eye protection just in case. Only apply pressure in the plane of the disc as any lateral pressure will shatter it in a flash. They are fragile but they are remarkably tough too. I use the thin discs but the thicker ones are much much more forgiving. It just takes a little more cutting time cause you are removing mor material. It just takes some practice and finesse. I haven`t broken a disc in a long time. They just wear down to about a half inch and need replacing.