Thread: Scale Making without major tools

With either a hand drill or a Dremel, I'd be concerned about the alignment. A drill press would be ideal but a less expensive (much less expensive) alternative might be a drill press accessory for a Dremel. I'll admit I haven't used the accessory. Maybe someone with experience using one could comment on the accuracy.

You might want to consider going online and looking at Woodcraft.com. They have a wide variety of woods that they make available in pieces as thin as 1/8 inch. That's where I buy my wood for scales. And I think right now they have a special going where all shipping is free, so you could order just a single piece of thin stock.

I had a dremel drill press station, which was $39.99. i got rid of it when I found an actual drill press for $42.00 from harbor freight.

There is no reason for the dremel drill press, really, unless you can get one extremely cheap/free. It is not very accurate and I had trouble drilling good straight holes on tougher material like micarta and hardwoods.

You have all the same tools I did to do my first scales. I did the wedge with a sanding block, I roughed out the scales with a coping saw and used a sanding block to shape em in.

The only thing I had that you don't was the dremel work station. since I only use it for drilling pin holes I got that over a drill press that takes up more room.

Originally Posted by TheBaron

You have all the same tools I did to do my first scales. I did the wedge with a sanding block, I roughed out the scales with a coping saw and used a sanding block to shape em in.

The only thing I had that you don't was the dremel work station. since I only use it for drilling pin holes I got that over a drill press that takes up more room.

I'll have to take a look at the Dremel work station as all I really plan on using it for is scales, plus I'm in a tiny condo.

As for the wedge, should it be a little thinner than the scales or the same width?

I used precut 1/8" thick wood for all the parts. if that is too thick for the wedge you can sand it down.

Originally Posted by TheBaron

I used precut 1/8" thick wood for all the parts. if that is too thick for the wedge you can sand it down.

Okay. I plan on using the same size wood and thought that sanding it was the correct option.

I also just tried my 1/16'' bit in my dremel and it was too small. I'll have to check out the drill bits they sell intended for the dremels I guess.