Hobby multi tool Opinions

[Cold Fire]

Hi

 

So I have a Contemptor class Dreadnought coming from FW. If the last model I got from them is anything to go by then It will be a lot of work to get it together in a good looking state.

 

When doing my Mk IV Dread I had to do a lot of filing and drilling etc. Now to make this easier I am looking to purchase a multi tool. And wondered if anyone could recommend a good one.

I have found this one -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000ELJ0HY/ref=...ASIN=B000ELJ0HY

 

It's variable speed which is good and it's not too expensive either, thus making it easier to get the wife to agree to the spend as it's less than your average Xbox game :P

 

Any opinions on this subject are welcome.

[Gurth]

My opinion: don't use a motor tool on resin models. You're bound to produce a lot of dust this way, and resin dust is not known to be good for your health …

[Cold Fire]

ok That's a good point, If it was dusty I would wear a mask though.

 

Also it would make drilling out exhaust vents etc much easier as the GW "hobby drill" doesn't open wide enough to accept the drill bits I purchased!

 

Or could anyone recommend a good hand vice type drill thingy?

[Gurth]

Buy smaller drill bits? :) You can get modellers' drill bits in sizes from about 0.3 mm on up, in steps of 0.05 mm at first and then of 0.1 mm.

 

With the sizes of drill bit you're going to use for 40K models, you're bound to snap them by the handful if you use an electric drill. You have much more control with a pin vise, and for plastic or resin models I doubt you'd save much time by going electric.

[striker8]

Hi

 

So I have a Contemptor class Dreadnought coming from FW. If the last model I got from them is anything to go by then It will be a lot of work to get it together in a good looking state.

 

When doing my Mk IV Dread I had to do a lot of filing and drilling etc. Now to make this easier I am looking to purchase a multi tool. And wondered if anyone could recommend a good one.

I have found this one -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000ELJ0HY/ref=...ASIN=B000ELJ0HY

 

It's variable speed which is good and it's not too expensive either, thus making it easier to get the wife to agree to the spend as it's less than your average Xbox game ;)

 

Any opinions on this subject are welcome.

 

While rotary tools can be a usefull tool when modeling I urge caution if you have no experience with them. Know the tools limitations as well as your own and you should be good. I only bring out my Dremel when hand filling just isn't an option do to shape and I never try to drill holes with it, even at low speed it's to fast and will melt even metal due to friction.

 

For what you'll be doing any cheap variable speed tool will work but you may want to get a set of decent bits to go with it since the ones the tools usually come with have a lot to be desired and are a bit limited.

[Cold Fire]

Hey I have a set of decent bits, the issue is that they don't fit into the "hobby drill" that GW sell and I own. It doesn't open up any further than to accomodate the tiny drill bits that they supply with it.

I had to get bigger drill bits because tiny holes in Dreadnought/Rhino exhaust vents just don't cut it. It needs to be completely drilled out with all the side vent holes drilled out too.

 

If anyone could advise on a hand drill that would be fine. The reason I wanted the power tool was that, when I got my Mk IV dread from Forge world some bits had a lot of mould left on them and filing that down took about an hour! This would speed those up massively.

 

Thanks for the advice so far, anyone who can offer advice on a good hand drill etc would be appreciated.

[madscuzzy]

I do like using powertools for everything if I can, especially for drilling. I recommend the Tamiya Hobby drill cuz it is cheap and lightweight and does what it does pretty well. If your control is good with such tools, you can do alot. I use the same drill to pin shafts pretty well, and have rebuilt epic lascannons with the same tool, so I know it is stable enough.

 

http://c.fixya.net/Products/E/Electric%20E...740_2097534.jpg

 

There are many types of rotary tools, but essentially fall into 2 categories: high speed, low torque (dremels etc.) and low speed, high torque(drills and screwdrivers), so you will need to use what is good for you...^_^ You could use the multitool to 'drill' but it is not as effective and can be dangerous as you can easily snap the drill bit.

 

Anything smaller than 1mm should not be used in an electric appliance as it is easy to snap.

 

Hazards of resin dust can be minimized by using wetsanding, but can be dangerous with powertools around.

[madscuzzy]

 

 

No need to solder. Can fit a max size of 3mm, which is good for magnets.

[Octavulg]

I've been pretty happy with my Dremel.

 

Now that GW's switched to resin, it may be somewhat less useful than it was (since resin actually can be quickly drilled by hand), but I'm still glad I have it. I have a lot of old metal models I work with, though.

[striker8]

Hey I have a set of decent bits, the issue is that they don't fit into the "hobby drill" that GW sell and I own. It doesn't open up any further than to accomodate the tiny drill bits that they supply with it.

I had to get bigger drill bits because tiny holes in Dreadnought/Rhino exhaust vents just don't cut it. It needs to be completely drilled out with all the side vent holes drilled out too.

 

If anyone could advise on a hand drill that would be fine. The reason I wanted the power tool was that, when I got my Mk IV dread from Forge world some bits had a lot of mould left on them and filing that down took about an hour! This would speed those up massively.

 

Thanks for the advice so far, anyone who can offer advice on a good hand drill etc would be appreciated.

 

Have you checked to see if your "Hobby Drill" has an extra collet? See if the knob end unscrews you might have a collet with a 1/8 hole that will fit dremmel bits. My old one has 2 double ended collets and one while tight does fit 1/8 shank bits.

 

You might also want to think of a cordless screwdriver if you're mainly aiming for drilling holes I used one for a few years till the batteries and charger died. Micro Mark sells hex shaft drill chucks that can fit the smallest drill bits. The final option is any cheap corded or cordless drill motor with a 3/8 or smaller chuck, they tend to be a bit awkward to use on small parts but will work and while not the greatest idea you can use a demel bit in a drill.

[Varnish5000]

I wouldn't mess about with a hobby drill or a dremel.

Dremels, I imagine, come with a collet so will only accept tools in one or two sizes. Not much use for drill bits.

Fine for shaping though. But a knife a file and a few grades of sand paper work well for me.

The models are hardly huge.

 

I would get a proper cordless drill. A name brand as well. The cheap ones are not usually any good.

9volt would be plenty for working with resin, and would be of more use around the house if you want to put up some shelves.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Cordless-Dri...0822&sr=8-2

[madscuzzy]

The bosch one is cool. I have a couple of them too, ranging from different sizes (2 black and deckers and the dremel ones... I like powertools...). The smaller ones usually require an external chuck to grip bits, but as it is interchangeable, they tend to wobble a bit. The large ones like the bosch recommended can be on the large side, but would be more stable. Its main issue would be the ability to grip small drill bits like 1mm ones or so. The largeness of it makes it unwieldy for handling small objects, risking snapping fragile drill bits. It definitely works great for the larger ones like the 3mm onwards.

 

A good thing to note is that the bosch one, and those around this size, would have a variable speed control in the trigger. This means the harder you press, the more power goes into the spinning. The dremel screwdriver does this too, but not most of the range of the smaller screwdrivers/drills.

 

There is definitely a powertool for any size... but you may need to try them out and see what suits you. :(