++1One of the coolest newer tools I got a couple years ago, was a Dremel Flex Shaft. Been attached since day one and I have no reason to remove it. This is a very handy tool.
Dremel + flex shaft + the right bit or blade.
++1One of the coolest newer tools I got a couple years ago, was a Dremel Flex Shaft. Been attached since day one and I have no reason to remove it. This is a very handy tool.
The one on the left is the one you don't want, its made by Harbor Freight, the tool is sloppy, cuts poorly and is difficult to adjust. Crossbar has about .062" slop left/right of center its so loose.
The one on the right is made by General tools obviously uses a single cutter that is easily sharpened on fine sandpaper (400+ grit), bar is held tightly and does not move once set, cuts a very clean hole.
The HF one only costs about $3 less than the General one (I think the General one cost $10.99). I am buying me 4 more of the General brand ones in about a week. Sometimes these are referred to as fly cutters. Clamps are a must or your fingers/hands are in jeopardy.
View attachment 265324
The one on the left is the one you don't want, its made by Harbor Freight, the tool is sloppy, cuts poorly and is difficult to adjust. Crossbar has about .062" slop left/right of center its so loose.
The one on the right is made by General tools obviously uses a single cutter that is easily sharpened on fine sandpaper (400+ grit), bar is held tightly and does not move once set, cuts a very clean hole.
The HF one only costs about $3 less than the General one (I think the General one cost $10.99). I am buying me 4 more of the General brand ones in about a week. Sometimes these are referred to as fly cutters. Clamps are a must or your fingers/hands are in jeopardy.
View attachment 265324
The one on the left is the one you don't want, its made by Harbor Freight, the tool is sloppy, cuts poorly and is difficult to adjust. Crossbar has about .062" slop left/right of center its so loose.
The one on the right is made by General tools obviously uses a single cutter that is easily sharpened on fine sandpaper (400+ grit), bar is held tightly and does not move once set, cuts a very clean hole.
The HF one only costs about $3 less than the General one (I think the General one cost $10.99). I am buying me 4 more of the General brand ones in about a week. Sometimes these are referred to as fly cutters. Clamps are a must or your fingers/hands are in jeopardy.
View attachment 265324
Sorry for the confusion, what rharsh posted was what I had in mind. It's my dads, from a good 20 yrs. ago, and it looks a lot like the one on the right in the picture. I've always heard it called a hole saw, but maybe I'm wrong.
Sorry for the confusion, what rharsh posted was what I had in mind. It's my dads, from a good 20 yrs. ago, and it looks a lot like the one on the right in the picture. I've always heard it called a hole saw, but maybe I'm wrong.
If you Google up "hole saw" and look at images, you'll get a great lot of these. There's a lot of different kinds, but they all have teeth. They're OK for the average hole, but not near as clean as the cutters you guys are talking about.
I use these TOOTHED hole saws to cut the inner holes for centering rings I make out of foam board for LPR purposes. They work fine with a small electric hand drill.
Isn't the ID the same as a BT20? I always thought the BT30 was a thick walled BT20. A simple workaround would be to build up the diameter of the BT20 fin guide post until the BT30 fits. Trim the excess off with an XActo knife...that is if you even have to do that. My little tricks would work with Centuri tubes and Estes odd ball sizes like the BT52. BT52 to BT20 centering rings are out there, SEMROC line at eRocket should be available soon as will Centuri based centering rings. Unfortunately I'm sure Estes wont be making a fin marking guide for the odd sizes so we have to get creative
BT-20 0.710" 0.736" 0.013"
BT-30 0.725" 0.767" 0.021"
I need a tool that will get my line straight for the nosecone paint always tricky trying to get a line straight around the curve.
Like painting a tip
If you think about it, the BT 30 had to have a slightly bigger ID (like the Astron Scout had) so the motor could easily shift at ejection redistributing the weight of the rocket enabling it to tumble rather than coming in ballistic.
...speaking of Astron Scout, I found my old one in the attic when we cleaned it out. Still a bright yellow and black Testors brushed on finish. Gonna have to fly it...soon
A set of small diamond files seems to come in handy quite often.
Best tools?
My brain?? My hands?? Even both are old and showing signs of wear, not much gets done (design OR construction) without them.
Pricey:Dremel 543 Cutting/Shaping Disk, makes cutting fin slots in cardboard and fiberglass tubes a breeze, its so easy I don't even use my router slotting jig any more to slot tube. Its also great for other stuff, just not metal.
View attachment 265254
Agree. I've got these, $6.99 for a set of ten. They are held in a row in one of those clear plastic slip-in holders:A set of small diamond files seems to come in handy quite often.
Enter your email address to join: