Dremel Speed Control

Darkov · Post by **Darkov** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:23 pm

I was trying to use a #80 drill bit in my dremel to make holes for fiber optics in a Republic Star Destroyer. But the bit would quickly get hot an just melt to plastic even on the slowest speed. I started looking in to getting a Dremel speed controller and found that they are a bit expensive. I came up with a little home made speed control for about $8.00.
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/42cec135z50 ... EBT476vOr8

It's just a regular wall plug and a dimmer switch. Now I just plug my dremel in and I can adjust the speed to almost a crawl. No more melted plastic.

Just a little tip.....hope it can help someone else out.

Pete

Treadhead · Post by **Treadhead** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:46 am

Darkov wrote:I was trying to use a #80 drill bit in my dremel to make holes for fiber optics in a Republic Star Destroyer. But the bit would quickly get hot an just melt to plastic even on the slowest speed. I started looking in to getting a Dremel speed controller and found that they are a bit expensive. I came up with a little home made speed control for about $8.00.
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/42cec135z50 ... EBT476vOr8

It's just a regular wall plug and a dimmer switch. Now I just plug my dremel in and I can adjust the speed to almost a crawl. No more melted plastic.

Just a little tip.....hope it can help someone else out.

Pete

That's always good info. I ended up buying a cordless Dremel tool that's only got two speeds. The lowest one is useable for drilling without melting the plastic.

I like your idea better tho. More cost effective and you don't have to recharge the tool every 3 horus

Pat Amaral · Post by **Pat Amaral** » Tue May 09, 2006 1:00 pm

Just a word of caution: In a lot of cases, it's really bad for the roto/moto-tools to be run at those extra low speeds. It tends to burn up the brushes prematurely and can cause the motor to overheat if you're not careful. I I use a foot pedal with my Craftsman variable speed and, although I haven't had to replace the brushes yet, I have noticed that the motor gets pretty warm after using the tool for just a few minutes.

Darkov · Post by **Darkov** » Tue May 09, 2006 2:08 pm

I've been using it with a cheap dremel knock-off from harbor freight($9.99) I have yet to have any problems. I've never used it for any extended periods of time. Just a dozen or so holes at a time.
I have used it with my regular dremel as well an have had no ill effects. The only problem I have found is that the dremel tool needs to be set at it's fastest setting and then use the dimmer to slow it down to what I need for drilling.

Darth Humorous · Post by **Darth Humorous** » Tue May 09, 2006 7:01 pm

I had a lengthy post about wiring a dimmer control as a device to plug into a receptacle, and then plug the dremel into that. I've used it at very crawling speeds and have had no trouble. Marco Schloeske (my sincerest apologies if i misspelled your name, Marco!) added a post beyond mine in confirmation of this being a very workable solution.

Unfortunately, I can no longer find those posts!

Mark

IamBatman · Post by **IamBatman** » Sat May 27, 2006 10:31 am

I also would suggest a sewing machine foot pedal. Better/variable control, and you can rev it up between holes to keep the motor cool.

GYSGT Hartman · Post by **GYSGT Hartman** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:00 pm

IamBatman wrote:I also would suggest a sewing machine foot pedal. Better/variable control, and you can rev it up between holes to keep the motor cool.

I like this idea.

Darth Humorous · Post by **Darth Humorous** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:58 pm

HAL 9000 wrote:
IamBatman wrote:I also would suggest a sewing machine foot pedal. Better/variable control, and you can rev it up between holes to keep the motor cool.
I like this idea.

But make sure ya get the old fashioned kind that uses a carbon pile. Many newer ones are more like potentiometers used to control a low voltage speed control circuit. However, that circuit itself does not reside in the foot pedal. You'd smoke such a pedal real fast when ya apply line power to it.

Mark

GYSGT Hartman · Post by **GYSGT Hartman** » Wed May 31, 2006 12:34 am

Darth Humorous wrote:
But make sure ya get the old fashioned kind that uses a carbon pile. Many newer ones are more like potentiometers used to control a low voltage speed control circuit. However, that circuit itself does not reside in the foot pedal. You'd smoke such a pedal real fast when ya apply line power to it.

Mark

Naturally this would only be good if you LIKE the smell of burned components. As a former electronics technician, I don't.

Thanx for the heads up.

NNYGamer · Post by **NNYGamer** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:11 pm

After I read this I relized I had a sewing machine speed controller in my garage sale. It hadn't sold so I cut off the plug and wired it to an outlet. Now I can go at a crawl if I have to. I used it alot today and it worked great! Now to fins an empty switchbox and mount it with an off/ on switch.

IamBatman · Post by **IamBatman** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:14 pm

I know what you mean about the 'new pedals'.. I was talking about the ones mom used. Had a plug that went from the wall, and the machine plugged into the pedal...

Old school...

eBay listing simple search
Good-Will is your friend, or eBay for just pedals. They are easy to recognize, they have a 120vdc; non polarized, plug female, and a male 120vdc cord for the wall..

Sorry I was not more specific.. They are just 120VAC variacs is all.. same I used in TV repair, without the big black knob, or graduated values.

as far as the on/off goes.. a light switch.. Ground is common, neg is the pedal, pos is they by-pass.. on=pedal off=bypass.. should work in theory.
p.s. since these images are NOT hosted by me, they may expire.

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