Trim routers and Dremel Drill Press/w router bits

[cpowell]

Having heard so much about these two tools I have been really wanting one or the other. I've been figuring how I could afford it. Today though, while sanding some projects and thinking on it I began to wonder just what I would do with either. I do mostly Wordart and crosses and such. I don't think I could use either of these (as a router) in either situation. I could be wrong though, so I come asking others "How do you use them"?

Okay, I know how to use them but I want to know is what purpose they serve to you? I know you can't use them for inside corners or intricate inside curves so clue me in guys, my wife is hard to convince and I could be just too inexperienced to convince her. Right now I got nothing.

[Messman]

I have a trim router and a dremel, as a matter of fact I had those before I had a full size router. I have built furniture with them before I had the full size router. Their only limit (besides bit sizes and options) is your imagination. Now that I have a full size router I rarely reach for them, but still will use them for working on smaller stuff.

In your case you could use them to round over the outer edges of your word art or your crosses if you wanted too.

[Rolf]

I have both, that said I woul dn ot use the Dremel as a router.(some will disagree with me on that) My wife bought me the Bosch Colt trim router. I use it with a roundover bit, it would make your cross look great. I use a 1/8 veining bit to cut narrow slots in a base to support thin scrolled projects. Decorative ogee edges on any kind of project base.
I sell some of my work once a year at a fair, the proceeds from that more than pay for ALL of my tools. My wife is my marketing and packaging wiz so she has a vested intrest in what I make.

[oily]

CPO, I recently puchaced this tool kit and a ton of assorted bits for under $40 bucks total. The dremels are basical retired. (too slow and weak and expensive to keep replacing). I do keep a router out but if I don't use it anymore than I have it too is going back in the box.
This tool isn't a $500 dental drill but is fast enough for stone, glass, wood etc. Your Dremel bits and collets work. Go cheap on bits because they burn up just as fast as the "GOOD" ones. So get a good assortment. figure out the ones you like and bulk up on those.
Cheap is good in this case, If you have to though you can buy the same tool from the same manufacture from Porter Cable for just under $200 but all you get is the tool with no accessories.
I bought mine locally at Earnie's Flea market and other imported crap for $20 and I went to Amazon and picked up a few pounds of assorted bits and finally hit the $25 free shipping line.
Quit worrying and have fun.
1/8" Air Micro Die Grinder With Case

[Rolf]

Oily I bought one of those EON's ago from HF for about $15. It is a handy tool but I thought he was looking a router?

[oily]

Oily I bought one of those EON's ago from HF for about $15. It is a handy tool but I thought he was looking a router?

I use mine as a router all the time. More freehand. For strait line routing, grooves, picture frame seats etc I'll go for the table saw 1st, then the router I guess the point is there are many ways to do many things. Don't get hung up on having the right named tool, the magic comes from the person not the tool.
The fun of creating is the important part.

[Rolf]

Oily, I can't say it any better than that.!!

[oily]

Oily, I can't say it any better than that.!!

Sometimes I scare myself.. Better have another beerS

[cpowell]

Rolf; I wasn't looking for a router, I have what I think is a good one from Harbor. So far it has done everything I have asked. It is the plunge router and the only problem I have had is setting the depth of the cut against the springs that make it plunge. I understand there is a way to take the springs out but I haven't worked up enough courage to take it apart yet.
What I was looking for is input as to just what use a dremel drill press with router bits or a trim router with bits would be to me. I thought that others might be using them in other ways than just rounding over the outside edges of linear cuts. (As opposed to rounding over inside corners.) At this point I don't see how I could justify the expense of buying either a trim router or a dremel drill press to use as a router. I have the dremel already but no press.
Oily; I saw your post when you bought that tool but at the time I didn't understand how you used it in your work. Now I have an inkling, but only an inkling. Thanks for the beer though, I'm about ready for another, you? ha ha ha

[oily]

Rolf; I wasn't looking for a router, I have what I think is a good one from Harbor. So far it has done everything I have asked. It is the plunge router and the only problem I have had is setting the depth of the cut against the springs that make it plunge. I understand there is a way to take the springs out but I haven't worked up enough courage to take it apart yet.
What I was looking for is input as to just what use a dremel drill press with router bits or a trim router with bits would be to me. I thought that others might be using them in other ways than just rounding over the outside edges of linear cuts. (As opposed to rounding over inside corners.) At this point I don't see how I could justify the expense of buying either a trim router or a dremel drill press to use as a router. I have the dremel already but no press.
Oily; I saw your post when you bought that tool but at the time I didn't understand how you used it in your work. Now I have an inkling, but only an inkling. Thanks for the beer though, I'm about ready for another, you? ha ha ha

I have a Dremel plunge router . I've used it once and that was the day I bought it to test how it works and that was about 5 years ago, Works great, jus like a big one only slower and smaller.
The tool I'm talking about does the same as a dremel rotary tool only with higher rpm so it can be used on hard material like glass and stone. Play around and figure out what bit does what you want it to not what's claimed. They're all great for when you just need a little something or something on purpose. I make it proove it's not the right tool. Little sh*&s) will lie to ya too.

[normded]

i use my dremel plunge router for blade entry holes when i'm doing portraits. it's nice to take it right to my work instead of taking my work to the drill press evertime i realize i i forgot a hole which is frequently ha ha

Jerry

[cpowell]

Oily; you always make me laugh. Thanks!

[ncsealeveler]

The Dremel drill press is handy with a sanding drum on it and locked in place for sanding the edges.I use it for drilling holes too.Using a router bit in it is slow going but I have done it.It will flex some when using too much pressure.Overall it is handy and I use it every week or two.
Tony

[cpowell]

Having done some reconsidering now I have about eliminated the Dremel. I think I'll be going with the trim router as Rolf recommended, but I'll also be checking out HF next week for Oilys suggestion. A tool has to pay for itself pretty quickly for me to justify the expense these days. Even the trim router will have to wait till next month.
Thanks to all for the input.