can i use dremmel for tmolding?

[alundra]

router is a little expensive to me..i can find all those good dremmel at flea market and pawnshop for a very cheap price..so yea..im thinking use the dremmel instead..i only install the tmolding on the top board of the CP..any comment? thanks

[AlanS17]

You're welcome to give it a shot, but I wouldn't expect it to work properly. In fact, I tried once before and I wasn't happy with the result.

[nobody]

i think you can, it just takes alot of time

[Veinman]

You could do it, but you will need a very steady hand. Unless of course you have the dremel "drill press" table or whatever it is.

[dmsuchy]

I would buy a cheap router, like Roybi or Craftsman. It take quite a motor to cut all the t molding slots, thats alot of material to cut through. Also a router is a great tool for almost anything.

[alundra]

well..i might buy a router then..im not a patient type of guy..if something take me forever to do it, and when i get it done but turned out not like i was expected..i usually kick the hell out of it and destroy the damn thing...

[pointdablame]

well..i might buy a router then..im not a patient type of guy..if something take me forever to do it, and when i get it done but turned out not like i was expected..i usually kick the hell out of it and destroy the damn thing...

As someone who uses a dremel a LOT (although I wouldn't call myself an expert by any means), I will say that the dremel can do a lot of things... but I would not use it to cut a t-mold slot.  You would need a super steady hand, and even then, its just not physically possible IMHO to keep your line perfectly straight on the edge of a board like that.  Your T-mold will probably wind up waving up and down with little edges popping up or down throughout the whole piece.

The dreme has a "router" attachement.. which works decent enough.. but still not well enough IMO to do the job.  It's just not meant to cut through that much MDF.  It fights it tooth and nail.

Buy a cheap router, or borrow one from a friend.  Or perhaps see if somewhere near you rents tools... that'd be your best bet.

[Clonedsheep]

Hi, I am Almost to your point in my cabinet. I did read on a thread that CitznFish had on his site. A guy used the #542 Carbide slot cutter Dremel bit for the t molding. He said it worked great but practiced first. I was going to use my dremel. I have not really used it since I got one for Christmas. I will be interested in what others have to say.

[AlanS17]

I highly discourage the idea. That's about all I've got to say about that.

[Q*Bert_OP]

Don't use a dremmel tool. I broke 2 bits ($32 plus shipping)

[SteveJ34]

Hi, I am Almost to your point in my cabinet. I did read on a thread that CitznFish had on his site. A guy used the #542 Carbide slot cutter Dremel bit for the t molding. He said it worked great but practiced first. I was going to use my dremel. I have not really used it since I got one for Christmas. I will be interested in what others have to say.

I went down this path and with patience, it can be done. Smooth groove that did not end up wavy as some might be lead to believe but you must work slowly both to ensure you keep path straight and do not burn up the dremel.

I used the carbide bit and did *not* use the router attachment. Rather, I set the depth with the standard offset attachment, turned the piece on its side and went to work.

If you have access to a router, it is certainly the tool of choice for such tasks assuming you acquire a slot cutting bit as well.

I've done all sorts of tasks with my dremel and its still going strong but if you are going to have to purchase one for this single task alone, you would be better off searching out a router option.

I use my dremel for lots of tasks including case mods, household chores, plexi signs, etc so it was something I already had including the carbide bit.

.

[RayB]

Isn't there a Dremel router adaptor tool??

[Kev-in DFW]

There is a Dremel router attachment, but it is NOT for a t-molding slot, for sure.  It will control the depth, but it will not control the placement of the slot and keep it centered in the middle of the edge of the MDF.  A router is the ONLY way to go.  If they made a winged slot cutter attachment for a Dremel, then it might work. I still think it would be far underpowered for the job.

Good luck!

Kev~

[xonix_digital]

ROTO-ZIP!!!
Thats all I gotta say. It's like a diesel Dremel/Router thing. With the right attachments it is the sickest cutting tool I have used. Good Luck!

- XD

[CJK]

ROTO-ZIP!!!
Thats all I gotta say. It's like a diesel Dremel/Router thing. With the right attachments it is the sickest cutting tool I have used. Good Luck!

- XD

You have clearly never used a plasma cutter.

[alundra]

can someone post a picture of a router drill bit for tmolding? and can the router carve custom holes, like a half depth square hole for mounting joysticks...sorry i never work on these stuff before..thanks

[bjk7382]

You have clearly never used a plasma cutter.

[IntruderAlert]

ROTO-ZIP!!!
Thats all I gotta say. It's like a diesel Dremel/Router thing. With the right attachments it is the sickest cutting tool I have used. Good Luck!

- XD

You have clearly never used a plasma cutter.   

http://www.torchmate.com/torch1.jpg

-- Chris

oooh.. i want one of those

[Chris]

I've used a Dremel for cutting T-molding slots in a CP.  For a CP, a Dremel is fine.  I would NEVER try to use it for a whole cab!

Also, after cutting slots for 2 panels and using it with the routing attachment to route a space for a joystick plate, the Dremel burned out.


--Chris

[alundra]

ok, i just bought  a router..but i dont know which bit is for tmolding..i ask a couple guys at Home Depot and none of them know.. i saw there is a blade call "3 wing slot cutter" but it just a blade, it doesnt have any handle to attach to the router...dont know if the right one..can someone here give me an example for 3/4 molding slot? thanks

[CJK]

ok, i just bought  a router..but i dont know which bit is for tmolding..i ask a couple guys at Home Depot and none of them know.. i saw there is a blade call "3 wing slot cutter" but it just a blade, it doesnt have any handle to attach to the router...dont know if the right one..can someone here give me an example for 3/4 molding slot? thanks

You usually need a 5/16" slot cutter, but check with the supplier of your T-molding to be sure.

The blade you saw is actually only half of the slot cutter. The other piece is an arbor, which acts as a shaft onto which you bolt the actual slot cutting bit. Then you insert the whole assembly into the router's collet like any other bit.

-- Chris

[bjk7382]

It is a 5/16 arbor, but it is only 1/16 thick, which is what 3/4" t-molding calls for.

Here is what I use, the bearing isn't totally necessarry, but I wanted uniform depth.

[alundra]

It is a 5/16 arbor, but it is only 1/16 thick, which is what 3/4" t-molding calls for.

Here is what I use, the bearing isn't totally necessarry, but I wanted uniform depth.

where do you bought it? i found this one on the internet..http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_slot.html#Anchor%20slotct3w
it listed as 3 wing slot  cutter..this one will also work as well right?

[CJK]

Here is what I use, the bearing isn't totally necessarry, but I wanted uniform depth.

You'll want the bearing -- either that or you'll have to use some sort of an edge guide, which can be tough on curved edges.

-- Chris

[bjk7382]

It is a 5/16 arbor, but it is only 1/16 thick, which is what 3/4" t-molding calls for.

Here is what I use, the bearing isn't totally necessarry, but I wanted uniform depth.

where do you bought it? i found this one on the internet..http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_slot.html#Anchor%20slotct3w
it listed as 3 wing slot

[Stingray]

A router is one of those tools that everyone should own. Once I got one I wondered how I ever did without it.

-S

[alundra]

thanks alot guys..

[xonix_digital]

ROTO-ZIP!!!
Thats all I gotta say. It's like a diesel Dremel/Router thing. With the right attachments it is the sickest cutting tool I have used. Good Luck!

- XD

You have clearly never used a plasma cutter.

http://www.torchmate.com/torch1.jpg

-- Chris

oooh.. i want one of those

Why would you use a plasma torch for T-Molding again???
- XD

[CJK]

I guess you could use it if you were building your cab out of stainless steel or something. (Now THAT would be a HOF project!)

-- Chris

[Frosty]

Just a little feedback about my experience with a Dremel and t-molding slot for the control panel:

While I would recommend a slot cutting bit and a router for a large job (molding for the whole cabinet), I had some really nice results with the Dremel and the tungsten carbide cutting bit on just the control panel.  With a little planning and a steady hand, you can come away with a nice slot for your t-molding...

[DreamArcades]

If you use a dremmel I'd recommend using 7/8 t-molding. You can then cut off the excess on either side with a utility knife. It's it's a little wavey no one will know.
I've don this with a skill saw before when in a jam.

[peanut]

kinda off topic but, could u use a dremel to cut the holes for the buttons?

[PedroSilva]

There are some attachments that might do the trick ...

[pointdablame]

I've used that mini saw, and let me just tell you ..... I have NEVER been more scared in my life.  I don't know what it is, but putting any toothed saw blade on a dremel, even with the guard is VERY scary.

I need some weight and girth to my saws... I'm afraid I'm gonna zip something off that I'll need