An Improvement to a Dremel Tool

The cutoff wheel is one of my favorite tools for use on a Dremel. But, the little discs do not last long when cutting on a piece of sheet metal and frequently need to be changed. That means I need to have a screwdriver at hand to remove the small screw that holds the disc in place, and to tighten the new disc onto the mandrel. This Instructable will show a simple modification that should be standard on every Dremel. The only thing needed to make this modification is a grinding stone. One attached to a Dremel will do the job.

Step 1 Screwdriver options

I usually use a very small screwdriver, but I also discovered the middle screwdriver bit on my Leatherman PST will also do the job in a case of necessity. 

Comments

[northcalgreens]

i like to tether my wrench to my cord so that it is always handy and i never lose them. i like to use those cutoff wheels to cut very thin slits in the bottom of plastic cup to use as alfalfa sprouters. the kids love them and it only takes a week to grow something that they can eat (they love that part) love this site ,

[Phil B]

The tether is a good idea. I am not much of a gardener, but the slits in the cup sound like a good idea. I am glad you like the site. It is a nice place to share ideas, get advice from people who know more than I do, and have interesting exchanges of information. A few times I came looking for help with a problem, but there was none on what I needed. So, I had to be the one to solve my problem and then share if for the benefit of others.

[rimar2000]

Phil, my cheap "dremel type" tool have a screwdriver at the opposite end of the wrench. But subsists a problem: it is very easy to slide off the tip of that rough flat screwdriver, and consequently break the cutting disc. The screw should be phillips or allen type, they are far safer. I will seach if among my tiny screws there is some phillips of that size.

[abstracted]

tear apart some floppy n hard disc drives, lots of torx type screws in those, and after your great inspiration (rimar2000) i recall the screws being simular enough its worth a looksie. besides there is really kewl stuffs inside those.

[rimar2000]

I have a lot of tiny srews, abstracted. I often tear apart old devices. Thanks anyway.

[Phil B]

That would be a very tiny Philips screw! Perhaps you could grind a new profile to the screwdriver portion so it does not slip off of the screw so easily. Here is a drawing of what I have in mind.

[rimar2000]

Oh, that is a good idea, Phil. Although the recess should be vey little, because the high of the screw's head is little too.

[Phil B]

You are very much correct, Osvaldo. If the recess is cut too deep, just grind or file a little off of the two ends that extend on each side of the screw. As I drew it, the recess is too deep.

[bond815]

Maybe you have an older Dremel but mine (2 years old) has a wrench with a screwdriver on the opposite end.

[Phil B]

As I mentioned below, the one I have is probably at least 20 years old. Had I known they now come with a screwdriver built into the wrench, I would never have bothered with this Instructable.

[abstracted]

had mine since they first hit the stores...stiill works and i use it so often i wonder how i lived before dremel. funny how some inventions are like that. rotozip my next fav.

[BobS]

It is always good to 'invent' something, build it and publish, even when it has been done before. At least you came up with something, it keeps the creative juices going!

[Phil B]

Thanks.

[sigity]

Phil, you should try Dremel EZ Lock cut-off discs.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=EZ406

The link above takes you to a reinforced cutting wheel that swaps out really easily. No need to bother with the wrench or screws.

Its much easier, and discs last longer too.

[Phil B]

Someone else suggested that, too. I like the smaller, thinner discs for closer, finer cutting where I need to follow a pattern or get into tighter corners.

[Zibodiz]

Mine too. My dremel is about 5 years old.

[2 stroke]

nice work. i had a dreamel accident lately the abrasive cutting disk exploded and fragments were burried deep in face lol good thing i allways wear eye protection otherwise it would have been worse

[abstracted]

double up the thin redish discs for less breakage, and use washers on each side of the fiberglass cutoff wheels.

[Phil B]

Thanks, but "Ouch!" Those discs seem to be dangerous and prone to surprise breakage in all sizes. Facial shields, etc. are encouraged for all.

[dog digger]

The new dremels actually have a little screwdriver at the end. A shame because this is a great Idea

[Phil B]

Thanks. Several other people commented that their newer Dremels have a screwdriver flat on the end of the wrench. My Dremel is from the early 1990s and is the only one I have ever used or handled.

[bfk]

Dremel has been my favorite tool since my college days 40 years ago. The very first thing I do with mine is fit them with a chuck, eliminating the collet. I love your Instructables and am now following you... You are my new hero! Thank you for all that you publish.

[Phil B]

Thank you for your comment. The chuck is a good idea. Thank you for the kind words about my Instructables. As Red Green (Canadian humorist) says, "Remember, if women do not find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."

[Foxtrot70]

I like this. With the screwdriver blade ground on the side of the wrench this does 3 things; first, easy method of grasping the tool for folks who have limited mobililty in their hands and second, great leverage to tighten the screw; third, one less tool to deal with.

[Phil B]

Thank you. I used this tool for 15 years before I thought of making the wrench also serve as a screwdriver. And, then it was largely because I had lost the little screwdriver I was using a couple of times.

[The Papier Boy]

Hmmm. My Dremmel wrench already has a screwdriver on the other end. Maybe certain Dremmel models come with the wrench/driver and other just have a wrench. Mine looks just like this: http://www.scalehobbyist.com/images/products/DRE/DRE00090962/DRE00090962_0_l.jpg 

 Anyhoo, this is a good Instructable if you don't have the wrench with the screwdriver already integrated.

[gomibakou]

Mine also is like that wrench. And all the dremel wrench i have seen til now have the scredriver. My dremel has 2 years old.

Anyway it's a nice idea sharpening a side... mmmh dangerous ideas comming hehe

[Phil B]

Thank you for looking and for your comment.

[kill-a-watt]

I got a tip out of one of the "gunsmith kinks" books that you could stack 2-4 of the un-reinforced cutting disks together to improve their durability.

This is a great idea for all the older dremel tools out there. Mine did not come with a combo tool either.

[Phil B]

A couple of days ago I ganged two thin discs together with the one screw because I needed a wider slot. I was putting a slot in a screw head so I could get more leverage than I was getting from the Philips screwdriver the screw was designed to utilize.

[nnygamer]

Good idea, I don't see why they didn't make it like that in the first place. I have the craftsman version rotary tool and the wrench does have a screwdriver on the tip, I added a small strip of magnetic tape to the inside of my accessory box to store the wrench so it was easy to find.

[pfred2]

Ha ha I did the same thing to hold the wrench for my Weller 8200-N soldering gun in its case. Great minds think alike!

[Phil B]

The magnetic tape is a good idea. Refrigerator magnets given free by advertisers and some double stick tape would do the job, too. We seem to get those magnets stuck to various places on some of our new phone books.

[mrmath]

This is what you really need: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&productId=100484370&R=100484370

[Phil B]

I have seen those. The wheels are bigger and thicker than what I want.

[pfred2]

Those little brown Dremel wheels are like firecrackers. Breathe on them and they go pop! Mostly I use a 3" fiber reinforced cut off wheel.

[Sabata]

My Dremel is also about 20 years old, and much higher quality (and was pricier) than the ones I see in the store now. ;) My wrench is like yours, sans screwdriver. I will mod it next time I use it. Thanks for another practical 'ible, Phil!

[pfred2]

Bosch bought Dremel. Bosch makes the best power tools. So excuse me if I am a bit incredulous of your claim that old Dremels are better than new ones. As I've blown up more than my fair share of old Dremels. 20+ years vintage ones.

Though I suppose Bosch's name brand tools are their best line. I just picked up their 1608 Colt trim router. It's quite the 800 Watt Dremel :)

[Phil B]

Thank you. I am glad you will be able to use this.

[l8nite]

My dremels wrench has the screwdriver on one end but it's difficult to use (for me) Just picking up that tiny piece of metal can be aggravating so I keep a small wrench and screwdriver in the box... dremel on !