Saturday, May 3, 2014

Mo' Gunsmithing

Uh oh.  I spoke too soon. 

The tool list for the Intermediate 1911 Armorers class next weekend includes a Dremel.  Now I am a little intimidated.  I had a 1990 vintage Dremel for a while, but the bearings were shot on it before I got into the whole gunnie bidness.

I'm a handtool enthusiast for most things, but I am no purist.  While I do have a hand cranked post drill in my shop, the Delta floor model drill press has it's place and I probably use it more.  I have as many types of antique handsaws as I have firearms.  Probably more.  But the bandsaw is there, too. 

I wonder if I could rig up a velocipede style 15,000 rpm dremel-type tool...?  Nah.  But this will be my first battery operated tool I own.  Only getting rechargeable because of the class.
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6 comments:

  1. Robert FowlerMay 3, 2014 at 12:10 PM

    If they are available, get a couple extra battery packs. I bought my wife a cordless dremel and I'm not impressed. I'll keep my corded one.

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  2. Roberta XMay 3, 2014 at 2:41 PM

    Not sure if I would bother with a "1911 armorer's class" that used a *Dremel." Buffing only, perhaps? I question it even then. Dammit, either you use a darned mill (and a good one) or don't bother. There's darned little you can *teach* a person to do to a 1911 "by eye." (It's true I did chuck up the pins from my Sistema in a hand-cranked drill and polish them with Flitz when I put in the C&S lockwork, and even knocked down some burrs with a fine diamond hone, but that ain't no Dremeling.)

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  3. Old NFOMay 3, 2014 at 3:26 PM

    Dunno about that... Dremel seems to be a bit 'extreme'...

    ReplyDelete
  4. JRebelMay 4, 2014 at 5:26 AM

    I actually have the Black and Decker variable speed version. It uses most if not all of the same accessories as well, I have mine set up with the Dremel Flex Shaft attachment. Simply because it is easier to hold and maneuver than the whole tool itself. Plus it saved me about $30 at the time.

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  5. New Jovian ThunderboltMay 6, 2014 at 1:06 PM

    I'm not worried. How much damage can I really do with a 15,000 rpm battery operated device with a 1/8th inch carbide bit on a 1911 frame, after all?

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  6. New Jovian ThunderboltMay 6, 2014 at 1:08 PM

    I think the biggest thing with the dremel is buffing or smoothing down the front sight stake if you replace that.

    ReplyDelete

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