Cutting styrene with a drill

Got a question about techniques, materials or other aspects of physically building a model? This is the place to ask.

Moderators: DasPhule, Moderators

Post Reply
Harkonnen
Posts: 201
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:33 pm
Location: I'm right here

Cutting styrene with a drill

Post by Harkonnen »

Has anyone tried cutting sheet styrene using a variable speed drill and a saw blade from a dremel tool?
Adama: Starbuck, what do you hear?
Starbuck: Nothing but the rain.
Adama: Then grab your gun and bring in the cat.
DocTor
Posts: 820
Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2002 8:33 am
Location: Toronto
Contact:

Post by DocTor »

Why would you? It would melt. Just score the sheet with a sharp blade and snap it apart.
User avatar
MillenniumFalsehood
Posts: 17033
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:23 pm
Location: Wichita, KS, USA
Contact:

Post by MillenniumFalsehood »

Don't try it. It's faster, but nearly impossible to control, and the cut is extremely wobbly and rough. With the amount of work you would have to do to correct the cut, you'd be better off to score and snap.
If a redhead works at a bakery, does that make him a gingerbread man?

Ponies defeat a Star Trek villain? Give them a Star Wars award ceremony!
User avatar
Mr. Badwrench
Posts: 9587
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 6:31 pm
Location: Wheatridge, Co.

Post by Mr. Badwrench »

Heh, kylwell was just doing that Sunday afternoon. Nobody got their eye put out or anything. He was running a very coarse tooth slitting saw in a cordless dremel, turning about 300 to 500 rpm, very slow for a dremel. No melting, no muss, no fuss.
I speak of the pompatous of plastic.
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29650
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

While I'm not sure how easy the drill would be to control I do some fine carving and cutting work with my Dremel. I suppose you could set it up much like a table saw, clamp the drill to a bench and move the plastic.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
Treadhead
Posts: 2847
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 6:34 pm
Location: Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: Cutting styrene with a drill

Post by Treadhead »

Harkonnen wrote:Has anyone tried cutting sheet styrene using a variable speed drill and a saw blade from a dremel tool?
I tried this on a piece I made (Laminated styrene). It worked, but was very rough. In retrospect I should have cut each piece to shape before laminating the damn thing.

I used a saw blade by the way. Like I said, it works but it ain't pretty.

Treadhead
Mark Yungblut
Moderator
Posts: 2463
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2002 4:42 pm
Location: Back home in Cincy!
Contact:

Post by Mark Yungblut »

Two words: Jeweler's saw it's the only way to go fro those kind of cuts.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
- Benjamin Franklin

"I am recalibrating my lack of faith in humanity. I start by reading opinions on message boards…"
- Dogbert

"What is his Comprehension level? Are we talking Human, Squirrel or Anvil?"
- Dilbert
Post Reply