dremel plung base

[Jason Thaxton]

does anyone have the dremel plunge base. I was thinking of getting it to do some inlay work. looks like a lightweight solution. Do you like it? is it worth using it? Have you used it for inlay work?

thanks,
Jason

[Dan Barr]

i wouldnt trust it as far as i could throw it. too light weight, too flimsy. too much play in the way the dremel is held by the device as well. i would just use chisels, carving tools and exacto knives.

v/r

dan

[Kevin Groenke]

The Dremel plunge base is of debatable value. We find that it's usually too big/clumsy for the detail work that one goes to it for. The plunging action is not very smooth as it is just nylon on steel with a spring for resistance.

There are a few guys that make after-market bases for Dremels targeted toward luthiers and other instrument makers. I've been thinking of giving one of these a try, the Stewart-Macdonald version looks to be very well made and is reasonable priced. Though it's not a plunge base, the flat edge on the base should make "tip plunging" a much more controlled affair than with a round base

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Dremel_rotary_tools,_attachments/1/Precision_Router_Base.html
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Tools/NobleBase/noblebase.html
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Rout%2FShape%2FDril l&NameProdHeader=Routers+%26+Router+Bases
http://www.bishopcochran.com/index.htm

[Doug Shepard]

In addition to Kevin's list you can also get an adapter ring to fit a Dremel in this http://www.microfence.com/pages/Plunge/overview.html