herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 470
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Post by herb on Jul 16, 2022 16:13:27 GMT -5
I have a basic Dremel model 395 type 5 tool. It has 5 speed settings on it from 5000 to 30000 rpm. I believe.
I was wondering if there is a compatible continuously variable speed contoller for it? The kind of controller that can go all the way down to a few rpm.
I have some hallow copper beads that need to be reamed slightly larger and doing it my hand is rather slow.
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Jul 16, 2022 18:17:28 GMT -5
My first thought is a rayostate. Hope I spelled that right. I'm no electric wiz but that is my first thought.
Jim
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 16, 2022 18:25:14 GMT -5
My first thought is a rayostate. Hope I spelled that right. I'm no electric wiz but that is my first thought. Jim Rheostat?
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Post by liveoak on Jul 17, 2022 6:24:16 GMT -5
I'm not sure what a rheostat or a fan controller will do for you.
If you're drilling, then a drill press to take your Dremel is the way to go. That will free up your hands.
Patty
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 470
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Post by herb on Jul 17, 2022 9:51:55 GMT -5
I'm not sure what a rheostat or a fan controller will do for you.
If you're drilling, then a drill press to take your Dremel is the way to go. That will free up your hands.
Patty
My girlfriend bought a big batch of 4mm round copper spacer beads a few years ago and is down to the ones that were rejects when she was making jewelry. The beads look fine, but the holes are smaller than their friends that have already been used. So she tasked me with widening the holes. I've done about 8 so far by hand but they are taking a good 4 or 5 minutes a piece to do. The slowest speed on the Dremel is 5000 rpm which, first off is a little scary to be holding a bead in my fingers with, and second seems like a great way to make the hole too large really fast. So I was thinking being able to run the Dremel faster than I can manually turn the grinding bit but way less than 5000 rpm would make things go faster. My other thought was to create a jig to hold the bead still so my fingers aren't in danger but I dont know how easy that would be
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Jul 17, 2022 10:01:17 GMT -5
Foot controllers are available to regulate the speed. If you get one, most documentation says set your tool to the highest speed. Don't know if that would still apply with a top RPM of 30,000.
You could hold the beads with some soft wood or heavy rubber in a vise-grip type tool.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jul 17, 2022 16:42:48 GMT -5
How about chucking the reamer into a regular variable speed drill?
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 470
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Post by herb on Jul 18, 2022 8:31:12 GMT -5
How about chucking the reamer into a regular variable speed drill? I hadn't thought about that! Might give it a try, although my variable speed drill is a little touchy. A little trigger movement makes a big change at the lower rpms
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 18, 2022 9:23:08 GMT -5
How about chucking the reamer into a regular variable speed drill? I hadn't thought about that! Might give it a try, although my variable speed drill is a little touchy. A little trigger movement makes a big change at the lower rpms Don't get me wrong...I'm all about finding a redneck solution to a problem. I try to do it all the time. However, in this case, it seems there's an awful lot of "valuable" time being spent for a relatively inexpensive product. Have you considered scrapping the idea/beads and just buying a new batch? www.riogrande.com/search-page/?q=copper+beads&tab=products(I know, I know...not the solution you were technically asking for...but it is kind of a solution. )
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Post by liveoak on Jul 18, 2022 9:26:24 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 18, 2022 9:29:52 GMT -5
BOOM! Thanks for the firemountain link...I'll have to check out their website later today. I like the prices on the beads!
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 470
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Post by herb on Jul 18, 2022 18:54:52 GMT -5
Yeah, if my girlfriend was the one who had to do it she would probably just buy new ones. I'm retired and one of the great things about being retired is that there pretty much isn't any task that is trivial enough or a big enough of waste of time to not try tackeling it! I hadn't thought about that! Might give it a try, although my variable speed drill is a little touchy. A little trigger movement makes a big change at the lower rpms Don't get me wrong...I'm all about finding a redneck solution to a problem. I try to do it all the time. However, in this case, it seems there's an awful lot of "valuable" time being spent for a relatively inexpensive product. Have you considered scrapping the idea/beads and just buying a new batch? www.riogrande.com/search-page/?q=copper+beads&tab=products(I know, I know...not the solution you were technically asking for...but it is kind of a solution. )
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 470
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Post by herb on Jul 18, 2022 19:00:32 GMT -5
My girlfriend wanted to avoid the clear coated copper beads that fire mountain has. She wants the copper to patina naturally. Also, the clear coat will eventually wear away and then you end up with beads that are partly shiny and partly patinated.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 18, 2022 21:03:26 GMT -5
Yeah, if my girlfriend was the one who had to do it she would probably just buy new ones. I'm retired and one of the great things about being retired is that there pretty much isn't any task that is trivial enough or a big enough of waste of time to not try tackeling it! Don't get me wrong...I'm all about finding a redneck solution to a problem. I try to do it all the time. However, in this case, it seems there's an awful lot of "valuable" time being spent for a relatively inexpensive product. Have you considered scrapping the idea/beads and just buying a new batch? www.riogrande.com/search-page/?q=copper+beads&tab=products(I know, I know...not the solution you were technically asking for...but it is kind of a solution. ) Herb, I love it! I totally understand where you're coming from...which is why I started my post the way I did! LOL The only other idea I can think of is to use a drill bit that is smaller than the hole in the bead. I'd probably use a cordless drill and hold the bead while it's "threaded" onto the smaller drill bit and use it to "ream" out the hole by moving the bead around with my thumb and forefinger while the bit is spinning as slowly (or as fast) as I can keep control of the bead.
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