dremel advice

[vestcoat]

I've never used a dremel and I need to put some RCA jacks in my Master System II. Can I get by with a cheap piece of junk or do I need to invest in a fancy kit? Any cheap deals online? I must admit I haven't done much research, thought I'd ask here first.  :oops:

Thanks in advance!

[Jibbajaba]

I bought a Black & Decker rotary tool for pretty cheap from them back when they used to have a store at the nearby outlet mall.  You definitely don't need a Dremel-brand tool, but just don't buy a cheap POS, like from Harbor Freight or something.  I would just see what the local hardware stores have.  Sears, especially.

When I had to add jacks to the back of one of my consoles, I used a drill to cut little pilot holes, and then made them bigger with the Dremel.

Chris

[PunkicCyborg]

Yeah if you have a drill bit that's the exact size you need you'll get excellent results

[GohanX]

I agree, don't buy the cheap Harbor Freight ones, they don't rotate fast enough to actually work well with anything.

Also, if you are staying cheap, I'd stay away from the inexpensive cordless ones. I went through one or two of those before I just got a cheap corded dremel that has been going strong for quite some time.

[SignOfZeta]

The best Dremel to get now is the 200 series. The problem with cheap Dremels isn't that they won't go fast enough, but that they won't go slow enough. If you ever want to use the polishers and wire wheels and such you'll be screwed with a high speed-only tool because those bits either melt the material you're working with or self destruct at those speeds.

If you are serious about tools always avoid rechargeables unless you absolutely need them for some reason. Batteries f*cking suck ass and the more rechargeable tools you buy the more batteries you have to maintain. AC and air power are the only ways to go.

All that being said, the best tool for installing RCA jacks is a simple drill. They are round after all. Dremels are great for DB sockets though.

[GohanX]

Good point, SOZ. Adjustable speed is a must.

Also, my method of doing AV jacks is to use nothing but the drill. I start with the smallest drill bit to create a pilot hole, then I use a bit that's a little bit larger to widen the hole, then another bit slightly larger than that to widen it some more. I'll finish it with the bit that is the actual width I need. The multi step drilling is a little excessive, but it makes for a nice clean hole without too much fuss or worry. I seriously doubt I could make a perfectly circular hole with the dremel.

[vestcoat]

Thanks a lot guys. Maybe I'll just buy another drill bit since I'm only planning this one project. I'll keep the 200 series in mind if I become more ambitious.

[ProfessorProfessorson]

For doing RCA jacks its usually best to just use a drill. Its also best to make a smaller starter hole first using a smaller bit, then use the bigger bit to enlarge it. If you don't you could risk the larger bit sliding all over the place while you try to drill the hole.

[Drakon]

Is there also a possible chance of the case cracking if you don't make a smaller hole first?

For doing RCA jacks its usually best to just use a drill. Its also best to make a smaller starter hole first using a smaller bit, then use the bigger bit to enlarge it. If you don't you could risk the larger bit sliding all over the place while you try to drill the hole.

[Arkhan]

I've never used a dremel and I need to put some RCA jacks in my Master System II. Can I get by with a cheap piece of junk or do I need to invest in a fancy kit? Any cheap deals online? I must admit I haven't done much research, thought I'd ask here first.  :oops:

Thanks in advance!

Why the f*ck would you use a dremel.

Just use a drill, lol.

I've put countless holes in C64s when adding jacks to them.   You just drill a pilot hole with a tiny bit, and then cram a huge one in.

oh. professor already said it.

too lazy to backspace and not post. f*ck IT.

[turbokon]

Yeah, a drill is what you wan to use for round holes.

[Arkhan]

Yeah, drill them holes.  Drill em hard.

[xelement5x]

Completely counter to what everyone else is saying, I have one of those Harbor Freight knockoff rotaries that I got quite inexpensively and it's lasted me for a couple years so far.  Mine only has 4 speed settings and it is a bit touchy sometimes for lower speeds, but for like $15 for the unit and several wheels/attachments I figured it was worth the gamble on it.  As long as you don't need industrial grade or stuff that'll hold up forever it's worth considering.

It does depend on the kind of stuff you're doing though, I buy crap from Harbor Freight with the mindset that it'll only last a very short time compared to something like a Makita or Dewalt.  China's finest indeed  :p

[Arkhan]

yeah those rotary things are cool too, but drills are easier to come by and give consistent results.

If you screw up the rotary use, you get gimpy holes.

[SignOfZeta]

Harbor Freight is fine for some stuff, especially if you only want to use it once. I buy my tool boxes and air compressors from them and they are very good. A genuine Dremel is going to last 10x as long though and the quality of the bits in particular...please, the HF stuff is just shit. A 6" wire wheel for a bench grinder? HF all the way. A sub 1" wire wheel for a 4000 rpm hand tool? Forget it. All the little wires will be emended in the walls ceiling and your face after a few uses.