Dremel+Copper?

slaya · 08-14-2004, 12:07 PM

Hey i'm new to the forums!
I am wondering how hard it would be to cut copper with a dremel?

SlaterSpeed · 08-14-2004, 01:05 PM

Very, not unless they sell little mini sliting saws for the dremel?

Mars · 08-14-2004, 01:48 PM

Actually it's not hard at all. The dremel is my main tool when building a wb. If you take a drive to your local home depot, and go to the dremel section they have hundreds of different bits that will cut through metal.
At the same time, you also have to be experienced, i think, with a dremel because of the speeds it spins at. You have to be extra careful not to cut something your not suppose to. I think I prefer to manually cut and chop a waterblock into shape instead of milling.

Kobuchi · 08-14-2004, 09:24 PM

You may find the copper clogging an abrasive bit, but with a toothed bit this won't be a problem. On the other hand, a toothed bit may cost more only to dull quickly and become useless. I'm curious to learn what you use, and how it goes.

killernoodle · 08-15-2004, 01:41 AM

Abrasive bits (grinding stones especiall) tend to "melt" the metal and move it around instead of turning it into fine dust like other metals. Cut-off wheels and other cutters work fine for cutting copper.

pilsn3r · 08-15-2004, 06:41 AM

I have used a cut-off wheel to cut 10mm copper.
Used a drillpress with X-Y table instead of dremel though. Discs were of the reinforced 38mm kind and held in place by a cut M8 bolt with a M4 bolt threaded into one end. Used about 3000 RPM
Main problem using a dremel is that its easy to get the wrong angle and then the disc breaks.

slaya · 08-16-2004, 06:29 AM

If I attatch a 1/2" hole drill bit (I don't know the name, but its a funny looking drill bit which is used to make holes) and attatch that to a dremel would it drill through the copper, to make holes for the barbs and maybe for a cross-drilled design block?

and is there a way to attatch barbs without a tap, or knowledge of soldering? (n00b

)

Butcher · 08-16-2004, 07:29 AM

You'd be best off getting a tap - you don't need to solder barbs, just use a bit of teflon tape to seal them into the thread.

Mars · 08-16-2004, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slaya

If I attatch a 1/2" hole drill bit (I don't know the name, but its a funny looking drill bit which is used to make holes) and attatch that to a dremel would it drill through the copper, to make holes for the barbs and maybe for a cross-drilled design block?

and is there a way to attatch barbs without a tap, or knowledge of soldering? (n00b

)

Is it a drill bit or not? The dremel doesn't have enough torque, and it also spins too fast to use as a replacement drill. .......I think your talking about a hole saw.
If it is, then no. If you want to tap a 1/2" barb than you have to make the hole a bit smaller than the diameter, because the threads need material to bite into. Also, barb fittings don't use standard threads. They use NPT threads, so you have to get proper taps. It might be easier for you to solder it in place.

Butcher · 08-16-2004, 08:40 PM

I wouldn't want to even try putting a 1/2" hole in copper with a dremel, waay too little torque.

Stang_Man · 08-16-2004, 09:37 PM

more trouble than it's worth. dremel is a finishing tool, not a drill press or a milling machine.

08-14-2004, 12:07 PM	#1
slaya Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ny Posts: 4	Dremel+Copper? Hey i'm new to the forums! I am wondering how hard it would be to cut copper with a dremel?

08-14-2004, 01:05 PM	#2
SlaterSpeed Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 234	Very, not unless they sell little mini sliting saws for the dremel? __________________ aka. slater3333uk - The self proclaimed 'Middle Player' 'Liquified'

08-14-2004, 01:48 PM	#3
Mars Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 108	Actually it's not hard at all. The dremel is my main tool when building a wb. If you take a drive to your local home depot, and go to the dremel section they have hundreds of different bits that will cut through metal. At the same time, you also have to be experienced, i think, with a dremel because of the speeds it spins at. You have to be extra careful not to cut something your not suppose to. I think I prefer to manually cut and chop a waterblock into shape instead of milling. __________________ The Rage is Relentless

08-15-2004, 01:41 AM	#5
killernoodle Thermophile Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,014	Abrasive bits (grinding stones especiall) tend to "melt" the metal and move it around instead of turning it into fine dust like other metals. Cut-off wheels and other cutters work fine for cutting copper. __________________ I have a nice computer.

08-16-2004, 07:29 AM	#8
Butcher Thermophile Join Date: May 2001 Location: UK Posts: 1,064	You'd be best off getting a tap - you don't need to solder barbs, just use a bit of teflon tape to seal them into the thread. __________________ Once upon a time, in a land far far away...

08-14-2004, 09:24 PM	#4
Kobuchi Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 313	You may find the copper clogging an abrasive bit, but with a toothed bit this won't be a problem. On the other hand, a toothed bit may cost more only to dull quickly and become useless. I'm curious to learn what you use, and how it goes.

08-15-2004, 06:41 AM	#6
pilsn3r Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: sweden Posts: 17	I have used a cut-off wheel to cut 10mm copper. Used a drillpress with X-Y table instead of dremel though. Discs were of the reinforced 38mm kind and held in place by a cut M8 bolt with a M4 bolt threaded into one end. Used about 3000 RPM Main problem using a dremel is that its easy to get the wrong angle and then the disc breaks.

08-16-2004, 06:29 AM	#7
slaya Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ny Posts: 4	If I attatch a 1/2" hole drill bit (I don't know the name, but its a funny looking drill bit which is used to make holes) and attatch that to a dremel would it drill through the copper, to make holes for the barbs and maybe for a cross-drilled design block? and is there a way to attatch barbs without a tap, or knowledge of soldering? (n00b )

08-16-2004, 08:40 PM	#10
Butcher Thermophile Join Date: May 2001 Location: UK Posts: 1,064	I wouldn't want to even try putting a 1/2" hole in copper with a dremel, waay too little torque. __________________ Once upon a time, in a land far far away...

08-16-2004, 09:37 PM	#11
Stang_Man Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Plainville, CT Posts: 79	more trouble than it's worth. dremel is a finishing tool, not a drill press or a milling machine.

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