Couldn't resist the opportunity to have some fun!

Rod

pierreoliver2003 wrote:

A friend of mine, Rick Reichenbach of the Syracuse NY area, got a fairly large and beefy micro-motor
at a train show used parts bin ($5.00, IIRC) and installed a pin vise chuck on it. I think he found
some sort of sleeve that fit the motor shaft and he bushed that so it would connect both the pin
vise and the shaft. Secured with Loctite or similar. He then got a foot control, braided the wire
(twisted it, I suppose) and hooked it all together. There was a transformer involved somewhere in
this rig. The micro-motor served as the handle. If the motor got too hot to hold onto , well he
was overstressing it anyway, and it was time to put it down, but that only happened a couple of
times. He was able to use down to the smallest of drills.

I have a Brazelton, which I do not use very much, as it's a chore to get it out and set it up (I
have a small area to work in). But no, I'm not interested in selling it. I have well-developed
pin-vise twirling muscles, and I like to keep them in top condition.

I haven't heard from Rick in way too many years, but his solution lasted him a very long time.

SGL

Thanks Pierre.

Is there that much more control of the MiniMite over a "regular" Dremel fitted with the flex shaft? The flex shaft in my hands feels like a pencil, and I get some good control, but I have to admit I don't have that much experience using it to drill small holes. I just got a micro chuck from MicroMark, so need to play with that when I have the time.

I guess put another way, you get good control, drill holes with minimal bit breakage using the MiniMite held in your hand? You don't use a drill press, or found you don't need to use a press?

Thanks

Claude

Claude,
I find that the lack of a tail, be it a power cord or a power shaft,
really improves the control I have.
I can't recall the last time I snapped a bit while drilling a model
part with the Mini Mite.
The drill press I use for milling resin and drilling bolster screw
pilot holes, as well as drilling metal. Bolster holes I believe need
to perfect, everything else can be close to square.
Pierre Oliver
--- In STMFC@..., "Quesnelle, Claude" <brossard77@...>
wrote:

Thanks Pierre.

Is there that much more control of the MiniMite over a "regular"

Dremel fitted with the flex shaft? The flex shaft in my hands feels
like a pencil, and I get some good control, but I have to admit I
don't have that much experience using it to drill small holes. I
just got a micro chuck from MicroMark, so need to play with that
when I have the time.

I guess put another way, you get good control, drill holes with

minimal bit breakage using the MiniMite held in your hand? You
don't use a drill press, or found you don't need to use a press?

Thanks

Claude

Claude,
One of the big appeals to me for the Mini-Mite is the mobility and
flexibility I can have with smaller tool. I can drill odd angles

as

quickly as square holes. I also like the fact that it dosn't

occupy

much bench space. That 2 square feet can shrink pretty quickly.
Pierre Oliver