Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on February 1, 2016 at 8:36am

No

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Permalink Reply by Alan Hergert on February 1, 2016 at 9:25am

Well.  I use a Dremel quite a bit.  It is helpful sanding and cutting.  I do use it to trim and notch saddles and nuts but I use 16 penny duplex nails.

I find it handy to trim brass bolts I use too.

To each his own.  I had a Dremel so I used it.

You can get them at Harbor Freight for next to nothing.  I would get one with variable speed though.

Just my thoughts.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Hergert on February 2, 2016 at 7:35pm

Another use for a Dremel is carving.  They do a pretty good, easy job of that.

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on February 1, 2016 at 10:08am

I have one, I have used it for making CBGs, but I no longer do. Hand tools rule!

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on February 1, 2016 at 10:08am

I do however love my router. Get one of those instead!

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on February 1, 2016 at 10:12am

I wouldn't build without it.

Using the diamond wheel cutter, notching a box is easy. Use a 1/2 sanding drum to round the bottom of the notch where the neck enters.

Cutting the details of an "F" hole is a pain by hand. With the Dremel and some burs I got off Amazon, I drill the round ends of the F hole then use the burs to carve the pattern. Works great.

I used it today to de-bur some tuners. Doing that with a needle file is tedious.

Cutting off the heads of bolts for bridge or nut is easy with the abrasive wheels.

Etc, etc, etc........

The more you build and the more elaborate you build, the more you will appreciate a precision cutting instrument like the Dremel.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Thompson on February 1, 2016 at 4:01pm

I love my Dremel, but I don't use it that much for CBG construction.
Now, I really love my band saw!
I use a variety of hand and power tools...

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on February 1, 2016 at 6:27pm

I have owned dremel tools for years... but don't use it much for CBG building... Table Saw? Drill Press?  Absolutely!

Cordless Drill?  Definitely!

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on February 1, 2016 at 7:43pm

They are useful for routing out f holes, but I don't use mine for much else. All the other stuff that people talk about is quicker, easier and much more accurate to do by hand. Why would you use a Dremel to notch a box or saw off a bolt, when the job can be done with a saw and file in the same time and much more accurately? 

Power tools have their place, but well maintained simple hand tools are what you need. Good tools will give years of service  and the skills acquired in using them last a lifetime. Make a sturdy workbench and fit it with a decent vice (vise). A drill press (pillar drill) is very useful but by no means essential. And buy good cast iron clamps....lots of them!

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on February 1, 2016 at 10:03pm

One of the most important things with a Dremel,is to not overuse it,fine for detail work,especially concave or internal curves/shapes,but for external work generally hand tools are as quick,and more controlled,i have a couple of 1500 watt rotary tools,i generally use on metal alone,when i put a woodworking bit in them,it is bloody dangerous,and care is needed,people like Randy Bretz,need and use the Dremel as intended,but as they are a light duty tool,brushes and tooling etc can cost an arm and a leg if overused

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Permalink Reply by Sean on February 2, 2016 at 4:19pm

Yes, I love my dremel! Esp pickup and speaker holes, but I've even used it for rough carving and routing. It's nice when you don't have a shop and build in an apartment.

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on February 2, 2016 at 4:36pm

The router type attachment is a good add on.  Dremel makes one, but cheaper ones are out there.  I am not endorsing this ebayer but for under two bucks try a search for something strangely described like this; "Drill Dedicated Locator Carving,Grindering Polishing located Horn For Dremel".  It holds your dremel or harbor freight equivelent upright and square for light routing (or "grindering"!).  Just unthread the cap and thread this in place. 

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