Has anyone ever tried the Dremel mini-drill-press?

[mbellek]

I saw an attachment for the dremel, well, more like a cradle to place it in, that turns your Dremel into a mini-drill press. I thought it was pretty neat and I was thinking of getting one for my hair pins.

I like to add little pieces of a jewel or decorative glass to them like this:

But the hard part is making the little recess for the glass to go into. I did those free-hand with a dremel but it was hard to stay centered/perfectly round... And then I tried using a drill press, which didn't work so well either. It seemed to be too powerful for the pieces, and I ripped up MANY on the drill press.

This seems like it might be a happy medium, because I can use my same dremel heads, but it'll stay steadier...

Any opinions on this attachment?

I think there would be a way to make these recesses on the lathe, but I don't know how...

 

[toolcrazy]

If you do buy one, buy the dremel original. I bought a look alike and it wasn't very good quality. It worked pretty well, though.

 

[angboy]

What'd you use on the DP? I've done similar things in the end of bottle stoppers, fan pulls, seam rippers, and just used the slower speeds and a forstner bit the same diameter as the button or cabachon or whatever I was putting on the end.

 

[Ron in Drums PA]

Cindy Drozak (sp) uses earrings with the posts cut short. She drills a hole the size of the post, adds little CA into the hole and she pushes in the earring.

Food for thought.

Anyway you have me thinking about doing a couple for family for the holidays, what length should I make the hair pin?

 

[mbellek]

I start with anywhere from a 7 to 8" blank. Depending on the length of hair on your recipient, you'll want them to be between 5ish and 8ish inches long... The biggest mistake I made at the beginning was trying to make the knobs too long. Keep them under ONE inch, otherwise they start to look like antennae.

PM me if you want more specific info. I can direct you to some styling instructions as well.

 

[Fred]

Melanie ... Why not drill the ends while you have the shaft mounted in your lathe? It is very accurate and easy to do, kiddo ... Kill two birds (it's a saying folks. I do not imply the act of killing out feathered friends, although it looks like a lot of feathers are being 'cast' around here) and drill before you remove the shaft from the lathe. Everything is already centered as you turn, so ... []

By the way, where are you going to put the hair pin? Would it be inserted vertyically as your pictures show, or horizontally to add a stone to the side? Going vertical would require your Dremel tool to use a hole in the table to allow the hair pin shaft to get in under the drill bit ... right!

 

[Ron in Drums PA]

Originally posted by mbellek
<br />I start with anywhere from a 7 to 8" blank. Depending on the length of hair on your recipient, you'll want them to be between 5ish and 8ish inches long... The biggest mistake I made at the beginning was trying to make the knobs too long. Keep them under ONE inch, otherwise they start to look like antennae.

PM me if you want more specific info. I can direct you to some styling instructions as well.

Thanks, I'd like to take a look at the instructions

 

[TellicoTurning]

Melanie,
I have the Dremel mini-drill press.. I've used it a few times, but not to any great success.. it's certainly easier and steadier than doing it free hand. I also use the DP as a stand for the dremel when I use the cable head... problem, cable head has broken the cable and haven't replaced it yet...

 

[mbellek]

Originally posted by Ron in Drums PA
<br />

Originally posted by mbellek
<br />I start with anywhere from a 7 to 8" blank. Depending on the length of hair on your recipient, you'll want them to be between 5ish and 8ish inches long... The biggest mistake I made at the beginning was trying to make the knobs too long. Keep them under ONE inch, otherwise they start to look like antennae.

PM me if you want more specific info. I can direct you to some styling instructions as well.

Thanks, I'd like to take a look at the instructions

http://www.dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/hair-bun/

There are some instructions with illustrations. That is the most basic way they are used. Generally turned hair sticks are sold singly and used alone (or with other accessories, if the wearer wishes) but its entirely possible (and more comfortable, imo) to use just one.

 

[Ron in Drums PA]

Originally posted by mbellek
<br />

Originally posted by Ron in Drums PA
<br />

Originally posted by mbellek
<br />I start with anywhere from a 7 to 8" blank. Depending on the length of hair on your recipient, you'll want them to be between 5ish and 8ish inches long... The biggest mistake I made at the beginning was trying to make the knobs too long. Keep them under ONE inch, otherwise they start to look like antennae.

PM me if you want more specific info. I can direct you to some styling instructions as well.

Thanks, I'd like to take a look at the instructions

http://www.dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/hair-bun/

There are some instructions with illustrations. That is the most basic way they are used. Generally turned hair sticks are sold singly and used alone (or with other accessories, if the wearer wishes) but its entirely possible (and more comfortable, imo) to use just one.

Ooh! doing that will work great to cover my bald spot... much better than a comb over! [][]


(Just in case... I don't have enough hair to do a comb over)