Further details, review and links can be found in here.
During my video of the Three Footed Bowl I promised a short video on the carbide rotary tools and cutting disks that I had used, along with links to the manufacturers sites.
Before I go any further, please note that I am not sponsored or connected in any way with the companies products that I mention or show and I am not able to endorse them beyond the usage that I demonstrate or discuss. The way that I choose to use them may not be the method recommended by the manufacturer and may not be suitable for you! Right, now that’s out of the way….
The rotary tool I use is a Dremel 4000 series. I use this with their flexi-shaft option most of the time. When I bought this I couldn’t source any of the ‘better’ rotary tools within the UK like Foredom. A week after buying the Dremel I found a website which seems to stock a good range of Foredom and other machines. When I can warrant the upgrade this is a route I shall go.
With the Dremel I use rotary burrs from many manufacturers, but the ones of interest here are the carbide burrs made by SaburrTooth. They are available in three grits (depending on shank size) and a whole range of shapes and styles. These tips have a large number of carbide ‘teeth’. I have a couple of different ones in two grades, course and fine. Though there is a difference in the finish from the two grits, in future I would only buy the course for rapid stock removal and use other finishing methods like those offered by Dura-Grit.
Dura-Grit rotary tips are covered with a carbide grit, rather than teeth and give a reasonably fine, controllable finish. They are available in many shapes and styles with various grits from 80 to 240.
The mini-angle grinder I use is the Proxxon Long Kneck 50mm / 2″ model. Proxxon tools are generally available in both 240v and 110v. I understand the offering by ArborTech is much better and far more versatile, but at a higher price point. The Proxxon does all that I need at the moment, and hopefully for the foreseeable future. The carbide disks I use come from both SaburrTooth and King Arthur’s Tools. King Arthur’s Tools do a fabulous range of disks and rotary burrs that I look forward to trying in the future. Their disks are used by renowned turner Nick Agar to great effect.