Rotary tool WOODSLAB!!!

I have a rotary tool (yay for me!), and it has proved really usefull to me in more than one occasion. The very notion of carrying pocket sized factory excites me dearly.
This isn't Dremel tool, but some german made thingy, pretty much ok, it even came with flexshaft.
But one of the problems that had bugged me is grinding, it isn't natural to, for example, sharpen your knife or make a set of lockpicks with both things in hands (one sharp, and other abrassive and very fast rotating + mains powered, and of course when grinding metal you must dip it in water from time to time, and here comes a nasty frying potential).
This is why i decided to make things happen, and stop sitting on my bottom...and i made a WOODSLAB!!! who wants to touch me???
ok, i admit that this is pretty lousy for an instructable...flame on!
as a high priority remains bench drill mechanism for rotary tools, can't find them in my country...i will try to do that next (building, not finding).

Step 1: Materials & tools

ok, lets list them up:
materials:
1. you need a slab of wood (hence WOODSLAB!!!), or anything else (but then it isn't WOODSLAB!!!) to which you can fasten those hoseholders
2. hoseholders (2 pcs.)
3. two screws, you dont see them in this pic, but i guess you know how they look

tools:
1. wirecutters & ultra cheap fake leatherman -i used these since i needed to liberate the WOODSLAB, previously known as seventies art reading lamp post, hence holes you see on it.
2. power screwdriver
3. power drill (you dont see it, but i used to to make pilot holes for screws)

Comments

[pantalone]

Very nice instructable! I'm a native English speaker, and I don't know what those metal strap things are called, either. Maybe "bushing" is a good word for them. Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this -- very entertaining!

[bricabracwizard]

In England they're called cir clips (as in circle clips).

[ghemmady]

They are called hose clamps! I think.

[average joe 1999]

yes

[Mario1]

Haha rear view mirror :D

[ABLACKX]

hi... first of all GOOD job man, simple idea but with some work can be turned into a router or drill press second i didn't know what that's called so i looked it up it's called hose clamp third the case shelf is a instructable it self good idea "rigid and full of holes to put stuff " last" sorry it's a long comment " i have instead of the mirror a web cam installed like a security camera thank you

[=SMART=]

Haha, very good, and amusing ! "i made a WOODSLAB!!! who wants to touch me???" hahaha

[stephenniall]

I did this earlier as im getting a new dremel !Yay but before i came across this i used to put my dremel in a mini vice which clamped onto my desk it was easy to take off etc and was really strong

[Coodude26]

Someone probably already said this, and I apologize, but in english those are called hose clamps. just fyi.

[shooby]

The idea is simple, I'm sure most people who rely on their rotary tool have thought of it. But the execution is simple, and I'm encouraged now to finally do the same. Thanks. It'd be nice to see a drill press made with a similar level of simplicity and low cost. Ultimately I'd like to have a dremel based work-bench, without having to pay $$$ for all of the attachments.

[The Red Button]

i infact have a very simple good idea for a dremel drill press attachment that is very simply and cheap and i will build it once i purchase a dremel.

[zanshin]

yes, the thought of drill press had been in my mind for some time, and i actually have several ideas, because there is no commercial alternative for this tool, i know that dremel has a drill press attachment, but i dont think that it will be compatible.

[shooby]

Definitely not compatible. Also, I've heard a lot of negative opinions of its durability. Love the case shelf man, doesn't need its own instructable I don't think, really cool though. A sort of 3D peg-board.

[smessud]

It's not only about durability. Precision is extremely poor (i'm talking about the Dremel "drill press"). On good point of the Dremel attachment is to use the front screw (I'm talking about the end closest to the rotating toolbit) to secure the Dremel. This and one or two hose clamps should make a rigid support for a nice drill press.

[incorrigible packrat]

Dandy projects! I really like the shelf. I should make an entire wall unit out of my old cases... Here's some thoughts on the Dremelholder. If you use some sort of rubberlike material between the gear clamp (that's yet another name for 'em) and the dremel, the clamp will grip better, with less risk of damaging the rotary tool. Specialized gear clamps for dust extraction systems are available, that have thumbscrews, for easy tool-free installation and removal.

[Robotrix]

How about an instructable about those steampunk goggles? :P

[zanshin]

ok, here goes...go to tool shop get welders goggles from the shelf, pay around 4 euros at the register, repair crappy strap on them, wear them, see people look you strangely. that's it, that's how i got them.

[Robotrix]

hahha nice, but what about some pics documenting the register? The looks people give you?

[macdadyabc]

this is a good instructable, still, you could just put whatever you are grinding in a vise to hold it in place instead of the other way around. but hey, whatever works for you.

[Visitor]

I think this might be easier especially when doing delicate work. The rotary tool is still quite heavy and thus clumsy when grinding small items.

[BoomGuy]

Quite cool. Some things are just better done holding the piece rather then the tool. I am however surprised that you say the tool is too heavy. In those cases use the flexshaft, it can do much more intricate work. The other thing I am surprised by is that you make a stand for the dremel instead of a stand for the flexshaft.

[FrenchCrawler]

Nice... I do it the old fashioned way though.... Hold the tool under one foot and use my hands to do the rest of the work (of course this helps to have a floor on which you can do this). BTW: In English, it's called a hose clamp ;)

[lemonie]

Or Jubilee clip.

[FrenchCrawler]

Actually, Jubilee is a brand name: http://www.jubileeclips.co.uk/

"Remember: not all hose clips are Jubilee® Clips, but all Jubilee® Clips are manufactured to exacting standards and delivered with exceptional service - because we believe looking after our customers today, looks after our business for tomorrow"

[zanshin]

wow, i went to their site....they actually make them for aerospace usage. i always considered them as something more of a mad max / jury rigged solution than something you would send out in the space...

[BoomGuy]

That's what the big boys ( aka managers aka bosses ) want you to believe. The engineers will tell yhou they jury rig all the time.

[BoomGuy]

You don't really need a power drill, you can use your dremel. BTW you do need a dremel. Otherwise this project doesn't make sense. The word dremel is used for a generic rotary tool. I capitalize Dremel when talking about one that is made by the company, and dremel for a generic rotary tool, except for when the rules of English demand otherwise.

[Visitor]

Excellent idea! I mean, a few years ago I did a similar contraption, though a bit more complicated (but also much sturdier), to hold a power drill. I use it to lathe worn skateboard wheels back to usable form.

[fathom]

i need this! well done. i may try to use a quick release system since i use that thing like crazy.

[Technical Renaissance]

What about using a couple of ratcheting tie-down straps? I've used my vise with a rag, to protect the tool, but this is great! Thanks for the instruction. I will definitely make this one. (cool icon too!)

[CementTruck]

Just an idea for a quick release: You could use the clips from an old snow ski boot (I think they're called bindings). This way you could bind downs several types of tools that are varying sizes, i.e. drill, rotary tool, hand grinder. I've used quick release clamps to hold tools down in the past, but remember not to clamp down too tight. You'll ruin the bearings.

[zanshin]

yes i thought of that, thats why i said somewhere that you should tight it so that it holds the tool snug, but to still be able to pull it out without using screwdriver to loosen the clamp. you can pull it out in less than a sec, the only problem i see with it is that in haste you might break the cutting wheel if you hit it on a clamp. CementTruck, could you post a pic of ski boot bindings, so i can look for it when i go pillaging next time

[CementTruck]

Check out this Ski Boot link.

I mistakenly called them bindings, but bindings, apparently, hold the boots to the skis.

[wperry1]

"ok, i admit that this is pretty lousy for an instructable...flame on!" It doesn't have to be complicated or pretty to be good. Just useful and well documented. I think you did a great job.

[westfw]

Nicely done. In particular, I thought you balanced "casual" vs "badly written" much better than average (that is, you wrote casually without writing badly!)

[zanshin]

well thanks, escpecially since english is not my primary language