Thread: RotoZip Bits

So I was thinking a bit, do that quite a lot, about how I might be able to make scales without having to buy a jigsaw or other large equipment for woodworking. I have a really nice makita drill and the dremel and thought I wonder if I can find a bit that will allow me to use one of them as a saw.. I came across the RotoZip bits and thought it looked interesting. I obviously wouldn't be able to cut the wood into 1/8" slabs for individual sides (is that the size you guys generally cut them to thickness wise prior to sanding/shaping) but I figured if I could get wood at bestforestproducts.com at that thickness that wouldn't be a problem.

From the size of the bits it looks like I could try it in the makita and from reading a little it doesn't take a lot of pressure with these to make them cut, actually looks like less is preferred. There is also a 1/8" bit for the same purpose that may fit in the chuck I have for the dremel (think it may fit 1/8 as max size). Has anyone attempted something similar? I'd obviously still have to do all of the sanding with something, but may try to figure something I can adapt to the dremel or otherwise use in it that would be large enough to functionally sand scales for the final shaping. Just curious anyone else have a way to make scales without using large/expensive equipment. The bits are like 10 bucks for two and I already have a power tool I could put them in.

Edit: The 1/8" ones are like 6 bucks for 5.

Sure it would work (woodwork?). Always feed into the rotation of the tool and be very careful cutting across end grain. I would suggest using some sort of scrap piece as a backing board to support the edge of the work piece as the tool cuts through it. You will get tear out and its okay only when it doesn't destroy your project.

Just remember the Rotozip spins a whole lot faster then your Makita and is a ton more powerful than your dremmel. Thats the only place where I could see you having problems. The only other this is that the Rotozip leaves a pretty wide kerf, you might want to pay attention to that as well, you might be wasting a ton of material.

Were I to get into scale making on the cheap I would probably rig up a cutting table for one of my hand held jigsaws rather than pull out my rotary saw in this application.

Originally Posted by icedog

Sure it would work (woodwork?). Always feed into the rotation of the tool and be very careful cutting across end grain. I would suggest using some sort of scrap piece as a backing board to support the edge of the work piece as the tool cuts through it. You will get tear out and its okay only when it doesn't destroy your project.

+1 on the end grain comment. The rotozips cut pretty fast but are rough with the wood. They are meant for cutting things like 1/2" plywood and MDF, not thin, dried hardwood.

I have no idea what yoour budget and space limitations are but I would think you could find a small Delta 10" bandsaw for under $90 or there are many miniature scrollsaws available for modelmakers that are very reasonable. You would find either a bandsaw or a scrollsaw much more economical, useful and most of all safer than rigging up the roto thing.

I just saw a nice old 14" bandsaw on a stand at a flea market for $15! I wish I'd have known you were in need I'd have grabbed it for ya.

Originally Posted by icedog

I have no idea what yoour budget and space limitations are but I would think you could find a small Delta 10" bandsaw for under $90 or there are many miniature scrollsaws available for modelmakers that are very reasonable. You would find either a bandsaw or a scrollsaw much more economical, useful and most of all safer than rigging up the roto thing.

I just saw a nice old 14" bandsaw on a stand at a flea market for $15! I wish I'd have known you were in need I'd have grabbed it for ya.

Geeze, everyone needs a 14" bandsaw if its only $15, heck I could use two at that price, you should have gotten it.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Geeze, everyone needs a 14" bandsaw if its only $15, heck I could use two at that price, you should have gotten it.

The boss was with me and we had a deposit on a house so she was really crackin' down on expenditures. I had to sneak away to cop two razors for $9.00

Originally Posted by icedog

I have no idea what yoour budget and space limitations are but I would think you could find a small Delta 10" bandsaw for under $90 or there are many miniature scrollsaws available for modelmakers that are very reasonable. You would find either a bandsaw or a scrollsaw much more economical, useful and most of all safer than rigging up the roto thing.

I just saw a nice old 14" bandsaw on a stand at a flea market for $15! I wish I'd have known you were in need I'd have grabbed it for ya.

I was thinking about trying something like this. As I'm in an apartment with no yard, garage or anything space is pretty limited. I'll probably look around on watch tonight.

Edit: Looks like there is a woodcraft center on Hickam for the military, bet I'll be able to find everything I need and more there for making scales or other stuff ... I'll have to check it out.
http://hickamservices.com/wood-shop.asp

I find a lot of tools (ones I don't care to invest major $$$ in) on craigslist, especially if I'm wanting to try something out or use for a single project. I have decent control with my RotoZip when working with drywall and cement board, but I have to agree with the previous posts, it definitely doesn't have finesse with wood.

1. Buy your wood in 24" x 1.5" x 1/8" pieces. One online place is Rockler (click here), and they have a store locater -- stores in many large cities. $4 will get you enough for 4 sets of scales.

2. Go to Hobby Lobby or Home Depot and get a coping saw. $10-15. Home Depot has a variety of different sizes. Or get one at Rockler here.

3. When you get to the point where you have two pieces of wood rubber-cemented together, with the scale outline drawn, rough-cut as close to the line as is easy with the coping saw.

4. Use your Dremel tool with a 1/2" sanding drum (120 grit) and just carve away the wood right up to the line. Practice first on some scrap, it goes really fast! Use light pressure, keep moving so you don't burn the wood.

5. You can then use one of those Dremel "puff-buffs" at 320 grit to round off the square edges a little and get closer to your desired shape. The rest is going to be hand-sanding anyway.