Using a dremel as a router?

[Bass-ball]

They're just okay. Nothing beats the real thing though.

Word to the wise: get the real thing, especially if you're going to mortise door hinges.

 

[turcmic]

Routers and Dremmels are different tools. You wanna eat a pudding? Take a spoon. You wanna dig a hole? Take a shovel. Can you dig a hole with a spoon? Sure…

 

[EatS1stBassist]

A real router, dremel tools are for hobbyists and are very problematic even with a base.

If you want small go with a trim router.

That's what I bought.

 

[Cave Puppy]

I think the dremel router bits and associated accessories are meant for more smaller jobs than routing a pickup cavity.

 

[arbiterusa]

Like using a practice amp to play an arena, if you're doing anything bigger/deeper than inlay or shaping a nut blank.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Used one to expand some pickup routing a few times. It did decently well, but I wouldn't call it pristine by any means. That's probably down to the user and not the tool, though

 

[Gregory H]

Just here to add on to the pile - the Dremel router attachment is a flimsy POS and the tiny router bits that they sell for the dremel are very limited in what you can do with them.

You can accomplish a LOT with one of these though...

 

[Lesfunk]

Billy Sheehan

 

[HardNHeavy]

For $40 bucks, cant beat it.

 

[NedRyerson]

Do dremels make good routers?

Piling on with the others. In a word, "no."

Low energy precision work: sure.

But as a substitute for a proper router, absolutely not. I had the same curiosity a few weeks ago because I wanted to do some more precision work (I didn't have the correct diameter router bit but I did have the much thinner bit for the Dremel so I thought that might help).

Total and abject failure. Waste of time, ruined the bit, almost ruined my workpiece. My real router took care of what I was trying to do in less than half the time and much more cleanly (once I stepped back and reevaluated my process that evening over a couple of cold beverages).

I'll keep using my Dremel to slot some screw heads or cut some metal bar stock or something like that.

Another case for "use the right tool for the job, don't cheap out and try to substitute."

 

[juancaminos]

Interesting thread and ideas. I've used a barrel sanding attachment to rout out the neck pocket on a few bass. It was very slow but worked.

 

[3bc]

I have trouble holding a dremel steady just cutting a hole in my drywall for an outlet receptacle, I can't imagine wanting to get anywhere near my instrument with one.

 

[tr4252]

The Dremel routing base is pathetic. I have had one for about 25 years, used it once on a binding job, and not since.
As has been said already, a trim router works good on guitar sized jobs. Smaller than a full sized router, and it has its own base. I use a Ryobi.
Tom

 

[Watchootognbout]

I think the dremel router bits and associated accessories are meant for more smaller jobs than routing a pickup cavity.

Perfect for small jobs like the wood electronics cover that I made.

 

[micguy]

You can use a Dremel for a lot of jobs. For example, home dentistry.

Doesn't make it the right tool for the job

A decent router can be had for less money than it costs to repair the bass body you just destroyed with a Dremel.

 

[Ric5]

Sorry if this post is in the wrong place -

Recently, I thought it would be neat to use a dremel-style rotary tool as a router because I could hold it kinda like a pen. Then I saw that dremel actually makes router bits and a plunge router attachment.

Anybody have experience with the router bits/attachment? Do dremels make good routers?

With the proper attachments and bits you can turn your dremel into a router

 

[shodan]

On the subject of Dremels. I FUBARed mine and had to have a quick replacement. Price put me off. Went to my local True Value hardware store and bought a Master Mechanic for half what the Dremel would have cost me. And it's the same thing with a different name plate. Never buying a Dremel again.

For a trim router, this thing is hard to beat. Made by a company that makes router bits. Rocky 30 Trim Router (mlcswoodworking.com)

 

[james condino]

I own more routers than guitars & use them all every day of the year.

Yes, I have Dremel and find it useful for small work + inlays, but....

Over time you'll realize that woodworking comes in different sizes so you need several different size routers.

If I could only own one router for instrument work, it would easily be a Dewalt 611 with the plunge base. It is the size of a laminate trimmer with the power of a bigger tool and all the the finesse of something much smaller. Anything more than that and I move over to the Bridgeport mill.

 

[mikewalker]

I'd just get a small hand held router and be done with it. I got a Bosch trim router not too long ago and I've found myself using it a bunch of times for different wood working projects. They're quite handy to have around if you build things periodically....

Second this! very pleased with a recent purchase of [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. I have a dremel but it only comes out for teeny tiny jobs

 

[Beej]

I'll bandwagon on this thread here as well and add a couple of cents. It can be made to work in some situations with the right bits and bobs to support it. But if you're going to build guitars or even one guitar, getting a router is pretty key.

I'm not even a serious builder and I have four regular size routers and two trim routers. I use them for all kinds of woodworkery. I do also have a router base for my dremel, but I typically use a trim router, even for small inlays.