Thread: Drilling scales with a Dremel?

Originally Posted by CMOT

Cheers. I don't have a Dremel yet but from what I've seen it looks like I would be able to do lots of other razor related jobs with it. I have a cheap Dremel copy but it won't fit the stand.

A dremel stand is good enough to get started. But small drill presses can be had for reasonable prices.
If you're a beginning restorer, I don't advise dremel for sanding, because I can guarantee you will get oopsies.

You can buy used Dremels, very inexpensively, on EBay or at flea markets. I have bought them for a low as 2 bucks, if you are looking for one to keep in a drill press set up. Do buy a variable speed. I have 3-4 set up for various processes. I keep 2 on the bench with the bits I use most, it is faster than changing bits.

Sam’s club has a nice variable speed knock off kit, with flex shaft for $20. Variable Speed and Flex Shaft are the way to go.

If all you want is drill holes for scales, a pin vise or drill bit with Hex head attached $3 at Lowes, will easily drill through a 1/8 in scale in seconds. The hole does not need to be “dead” straight and actually should be a bit larger than your pin stock and a bit tapered.

Don’t be intimidated or over think the pinning process. It really is as easy as it looks. Now getting the head smooth and even does take a bit of work, light taps and rotating the scales so you are tapping straight down on the edges.

Watch the videos of Factory pinning, it’s almost comical how we over think it.

A Dremel can be a useful item. The newer drill stands for them are not as accurate as the older ones which had the table go up and down for feeds. Matching the two is where the fun comes in. I think i've bought about eight Dremels at various times and have router table, drill stands, extra hands, and other Dremel stuff. The Dremel drill chucks are worth the money for quickly changing bits.
Most anything dealing with scales and renewal can be done with them.
The reason I got involved with the Dremel line was some of the guys I deal with have small apartments and can only spread a tarp to work in the living area.

Yes, the cheaper drill presses are a good way to go also. Buying a cheap set of sanding drums make scales a lot easier.
YMMV
~Richard

As Richard says they can be usefull at times,if mounted on a press type stand and the travel is accurate,it should be fine for scales.
I never use a drill press for removing pins,do it all by hand with a simple pinvise,Takes alot more time but far less chance of an issue.JMO

I use the dremel stand for all my scales drilling - it helps to ensure that you are at 90 degrees in both horizontal and vertical planes. If you keep the scales taped together it also ensures the holes are positionally matched. It's a good idea to drill both the pivot and wedge ends before you start final shaping - this way, the scales are still flat.

The advantage to the dremel is that it's not just a drill press - you can turn it up to 90 degrees either way for profiling and other jobs.

One thing I don't use the Dremel for is sanding or cleaning blades - like others have said it's just too easy to skip off and create deep scratches or worse.

If you’re thinning scales on a budget, a cheap block plane (5-10 dollars, used) with a sharp blade, can thin a scale blank quickly, finish with a card scraper if needed.

Make a shooting board with a flat piece of MDF and some thin, wood stops glued to the board, (Popsicle or a piece of a free paint stir stick), the thickness you are trying to achieve, to hold the scale piece. A couple dabs of rubber cement or strip of thin scotch, double sided tape, will hold the slab in place if needed.

Thin stock to thickness, before you cut to shape.

The whole process can easily be done with hand tools. Charlie Lewis (Spazola) has a great video, making a pair of scales from start to finish with hand tools, in just a few minutes.

I would suggest not getting that Dremel drill press. I got one thinking it would be a fine middle ground.
There are pros and cons we could go through, if you want I could list them, but for now I just gotta say that after using it EVERY TIME I WISHED I HAD SAVED THE MONEY AND GOT A REAL DRILL PRESS.
I'm sorry for the caps.. just really had to get that off my chest.. wow okay I feel a bit better now
It's so great to have a real one, I saved and searched and finally got one the quality is way better.
It's good to have the Dremel press, I'm sure I'll use it for something.. haven't yet, but will, I think. but just should've got that proper tool from the begging...

I find the Dremel drill press set very versatile for many a str8 project.
I have used mine on scale materials as a mini mill, thicknesses, inlay cutter, pivot hole borer on old str8s, and for drilling scale pins new and old.

You must be aware though that the drill is not true and vertical or square to the base.
Well mine definitely isn't anyway
If you allow for this all is good.
I drill press would definitely be better for this and drilling holes bigger than 1/16"

To each their own! At my age i am planning ahead to where I will be in an apartment situation with a tarp on the floor and Dremel stuff to do everything that I may need to on razors.

I've got a small machine shop in my basement all the common stuff. mill, lathe, band saws, scroll saws, small circle saw, belt sanders, drill presses, home made special fer razors machines, wet grinders, couple buffers, hand power tools,flex shafts, sandblast cabinet, compressors, torches, layout stuff; and a buddy or two that have what I don't.

And I still use my Dremel stuff/ accessories a lot. I know what I can do with Dremels and have had a lot of practice.
I use what I have that works for me as the best tool for a particular job at hand.
~Richard