Something's wrong here....maybe I should just buy stock in Dremel already. :P

[x88x]

So...it appears that I have developed a talent for breaking rotary tools.... :facepalm:

I recently burned out the motor on my Dremel 400 XPR while I was cutting some 1/8" aluminum. Then, I pulled out my cheapo Foredom ripoff (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18148), and started realizing how nice it actually is. Once I learned to respect the 1/3HP motor, and adjusted my working method to the lower RPMs of the tool, I started to realize it's actually pretty awesome.

...and then something broke...


I think the link between the motor and flexible shaft broke, or slipped out of place, ..or something.. Thankfully, I still have my Dremel 300, so I pulled that out to finish the piece, but....wow. Like I said, I seem to have a talent for breaking rotary tools. :facepalm:


BTW, incase anyone is curious, this is the piece I was working on:
http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq3/x13931x/HPIM0620.jpg

The center stand for my motorcycle has been bouncing up recently, hitting the chain and the exhaust resonance chamber, so this will be a mount to secure it in place...I don't need the thing moving when I'm not working on the bike anyways.

[mDust]

You know, if you put 2 1/8" pieces of aluminum together in a clamp that makes 1/4"...lol...might be a little thick. A rotozip or similar brand that makes higher amperage rotary tools might work better for that. A friend used one to cut through the frame of a truck when he was rebuilding it...that aluminum should be a walk in the park. Dremels are useful for cutting all kinds of materials but they are intended for less industrial work.

[Trace]

4.5" angle grinder FTW

[billygoat333]

4.5" angle grinder FTW

+1!

[x88x]

You know, if you put 2 1/8" pieces of aluminum together in a clamp that makes 1/4"...lol...might be a little thick.

Yeah, that's what I killed the Foredom copy on, but the 400 XPR died when I was doing the angled cut at the end, so 'just' 1/8". ;)


4.5" angle grinder FTW

Heheh, yeah, I actually have one, they're just not very well suited for small work. ...also, it doesn't help that my grinding area is my bathtub... :whistler:

[Luke122]

Is it possible that the aluminum dust got sucked into the engine?

Are you using a vacuum to collect the cuttings/dust/debris?

[Kayin]

Go to Lowes, pick up brush kit for motor, voila, Dremel lives again. Can't REALLY kill it unless you bend the shaft.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

stihl quick cut FTW cuts up a grand Cherokee in about 6 hours..
anybody want kibble and car bits? lol
a lil overkill for this application... but i promise you, you wouldnt break it :) lol
http://images03.olx.ca/ui/4/54/23/65245123_1-Stihl-TS760-16-Quick-Cut-Saw-TS-760-cut-off-saw-16-Stroud.jpg

[Oneslowz28]

I second what Kayin said. Unless you had all of the air holes closed all you did was wear out the brushes. Grab a new set at a hardware store and you will be back up and running. Its hard to kill a wound motor. 90% of the time its just worn brushes. I like to browse yard sales for "burnt up" power tools because of this. Most of the time a set of brushes only cost a few bucks.

It might also be wise to invest in a $10 4" angle grinder from harbor freight and a pack of cutting wheels.

[diluzio91]

lol.... if it makes you feel better i snapped the spring drive in my dremmel working on my first case mod. i literally herd a crack and it was toast.

[x88x]

Hmmm, sounds promising...and a heckuvalot faster than sending it in for warranty repair... I feel like it may have actually come with extra brushes, though that might have been the cheap thing... I think I'll be paying Lowes a visit tonight. :D

[Oneslowz28]

Spring Drive? I think you also mean the brushes..


If lowes does not have any in stock I know walmart here sells them.

[diluzio91]

hmm.... i might? its a spring that connected the motor to the shaft on the tool... ill post pics at some point if my parents didn't chuck the tool

[Oneslowz28]

The motor and shaft should be direct drive on a traditional style dremel

[diluzio91]

nope... it was a black and decker rotary tool, there was a big 'ole spring attaching the two pieces together... guess it was an oddball

[x88x]

Well, it turns out that Lowes only carries the new Dremel brush style, so I didn't pick up any of those...according to Dremel though, the Home Depot near me carries the style I need, so I'll pick those up later. While I was at Harbor Freight though, I had an idea... :twisted:
Unfortunately, this will only work with straight cuts, but on the other hand, it'll make them a lot easier.

So... 9A 8.25" Compound Mitre Saw:
http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq3/x13931x/20100501_002.jpg

Add some 7" metal cut off wheels:
http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq3/x13931x/20100501_001.jpg

:twisted:

[billygoat333]

sorry to thread jack, but my craftsman dremelalike did the puff of blue smoke and no more motor thing too. wonder if its the brushes? if so how do I tell? might make for a good tutorial, on how to replace the brushes! :think:

[dr.walrus]

So... 9A 8.25" Compound Mitre Saw:
http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq3/x13931x/20100501_002.jpg



I think I picked up the same one yesterday when we cleaned out my granddad's house... that and a mcculloch chainsaw !

[Oneslowz28]

sorry to thread jack, but my craftsman dremelalike did the puff of blue smoke and no more motor thing too. wonder if its the brushes? if so how do I tell? might make for a good tutorial, on how to replace the brushes! :think:

Post a few photos of the side of your craftsman and I will show you where the brushes are.

[mDust]

So... 9A 8.25" Compound Mitre Saw...
...Add some 7" metal cut off wheels...
:twisted:
lol...don't you live in an apartment?? Your neighbors are going to love this new toy!

[billygoat333]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs261.snc3/27705_388820283213_556323213_4175618_1521788_n.jpg

there you go :)

[x88x]

Heeeey, that looks suspiciously like a Dremel 400 XPR. :P

[billygoat333]

Heeeey, that looks suspiciously like a Dremel 400 XPR. :P

its EXACTLY the same, minus the colors and branding :P plus it was 30 dollars cheaper at the time when I bought it.

[Oneslowz28]

hmmm I dont see a hole for the brushes. Anyone have any idea where they are on that unit?

[x88x]

On the 400 XPR, they're on the top and bottom underneath flaps. When you open the flaps, you need to be really careful or they won't close again properly. What you want to do is take something thin and flat (I used the awl on my pocket knife), and run it along the flat slope down next to the flap. That will push back a latch. Then, while holding that latch in place, lift up, and the flap should lift out of place. I can take some pictures of the process tonight when I get home, if you want.

[billygoat333]

please do! :)

[x88x]

Hope this helps.

http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq3/x13931x/th_400xprBrushes.jpg (http://s428.photobucket.com/albums/qq3/x13931x/?action=view&current=400xprBrushes.flv)