slappy Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Can you use a dremel on a plunge base to cut out pickup cavities instead of a router? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunkRockerLuke Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 survey sez.... no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonsg26 Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 it would not be the best idea the bits that you can get for a dremel are not big enough for all that wood. You would end up breaking your bits and possibly your dremel. Your best bet is too invest in a good router or find some one who will lend you one. Hope this helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunkRockerLuke Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 dremel are OK for binding and inlay with guitars. not much else to my knowledge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyManAndy Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 You don't want to use a dremel in place of a router, they are two totally different animals. CMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorbreath Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 I happen to own a plunge base and tried that long ago. If the wood is a softer species and you have all the time in the world at your disposal to rout only 2 mm. per pass, I'd say it is possible BUT it simply won't go that deep. I haven't seen any bits for Dremel with long shanks and even if there are any, they wouldn't stay centered or simply break off. Keep it for delicate work where the thing excels at and buy / lend a plunge router, make some templates and rout away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Nope, it won't cut it. No pun intended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myka Guitars Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 +1 on the router. They are made for this type of work. I also agree that you can use a Dremel if you want to take forever, possibly break a few bits (and/or the tool), and have less than perfect results. If you really want to use a Dremel router (they actually are routers albeit small and underpowered for serious woodworking) then you will have to deal with their inadequacies when applied to larger scale work for which they were not designed. Dremels are perfect for smaller tasks in thinner materials like inlay and binding (but not the best binding results but it can be done). If you are trying to get out of buying a router then why not go cheap and get some Forstner bits, a hammer, and a chisel? Use the Forstner bits to remove most of the wood and then use the hammer and chisel to clean up the cavity. I used this method for everything (even neck pockets) when I was first experimenting with guitars (20 yrs ago). Actually I used a hand driven auger bit with removable cutters of different diameters. It was like a hand powered Forstner bit with a screw drive (if you have seen them you know what I mean). It works fine as long as you hone your chiseling skills and have a lot of time. I was still in school so I had all summer long. I like routers these days. ~David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 I got some decent work done with one of those Mastercraft 3-in-1 thingies... powerful enough as a router to remove good amounts of wood... small enough to use as a Dremel (plus, had the stylus attachment)... Until one day it just wouldn't turn on. Out of the blue. Then I got a "real" (not compared to the good tools some of our members have) router. <chuckle> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Burrow Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 You can always do it cheaply with a Harborfreight Trim Router which has a 1/4 Collet. it's only $19 bucks I have two or three of them here somewhere, this was a good alternative, I'm using my shop fox Pin router these days though. Harbor Freight Trim Router Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 While I HAVE used a dremel for pickup routing MODS, like opening up a single coil route for a hum, I wouldn't recommend doing a full route with one. Like someone said, you have to take MANY shallow passes. I have never broken a bit, but I could certainly understand how that's possible. I learned a while back that the bit that I was using had a 5/16" o.d., and that I could stack a bunch of washers over the shaft, that happened to not only be 5/16" o.d., but the holes were exact to the shaft size. That way, I made several templates, that the washers could act as glides, and cut pretty much a perfect route of the templates. I've modded the above pickup holes, as well a routed a full recessed Floyd routing with that setup, however, a full-fledged router would've been more appropriate, as it takes WAY too much time and patience, of both I seem to have little of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 If you would first remove about 80% of the wood with a drill press and forstner bit, I think a Dremel could handle the rest if you take small passes and use a bit like the StewMac 4032 Dremel router bit. But that's an expensive bit ($16.00). I bought the HF orange trimmer router for $12.00 (but the run-out is horrible. Not really a problem if a bearing guided bit is used). Here's my take on routers : If the router is working like a Cadillac cruising down the boulevard, it's being used correctly. If the router is operating like a moped trying to drive up the side of Pikes Peak, it's not being used correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiKro Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 Better off with a good mallet and chisel. Or spend the bucks and get a router Just my .02cents mk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainzy Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 My router cost £20 reduced from £40 in a sale at the local DIY store, it's more than good enough for guitar work. If you really can't afford to spend $40 on a router, one of the most necessary tools in making a guitar, you'll definately run out of money later on in the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screamindaemon Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Sorry to dig up an old thread, but yes, you can do it with a dremel and a plunge base. That is exactly how I routed my truss rod slot, on the first guitar I built. Mind you, to do it right, and not burn your tool out, it took me I think a dozen passes. As it has been said before, use the right tool for the right job. I simply didn't have access to a real router at that time, and I had spent my money on a band saw...and I was impatient... It will work, but for the money you will spend on the plunge base, and bit, you might as well spend an extra 20 bucks and get a real router. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernova9 Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Was there really a need to resurrect a year-old thread just to post what had already been said in the thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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