"Dremel bits for metal figure work ? " Topic

Salutations, gentlefolk !

Recently acquired a Dremel Moto-Tool, and flex-shaft attachment (and safety goggles, of course)

Would like to have some 'Dark Age Barbarian' 15mm figures – trousers, bare chest, misc weapons. Have a bunch of 'Ancient British Slingers' usable for these, if the 'stone pouch' is trimmed off. Some are Essex, of fairly soft lead alloy, others Museum Miniatures, hard pewter.

Thinking that easiest method to remove the pouches would be to clamp tool to workbench, hold figures in cross-clamp tweezers and move them into contact with cutting tool. But am seeking your suggestions here.

Finally, which of the cutting bits would you use for this ?

Thanks, very much, for your help with this.

Leather finger cots will give you better purchase. The tweezers won't work. Use a grinder bit or a better hand file rather than a cutter. Less likelihood of backbite and jams. Dremels are notorious about vibration. Get a flex arm and a foot pedal.

get all you can off with good strong pliers then go in with the cutter and grinder to finish off.

Not pliers – use a nail clipper. Both the large one for toes and the smaller one for fingernails to to the heavy lifting. At that point you may even be able to finish the job with a small hand file.

The dremal really comes into its own when using a sand paper roller to shave down bases.

Get a flush cut pliers to cut off the sling. Then trim with an Xacto knife.
15mm figures are far too small to use power tools on.
You would be much better off using hand tools and a pin vise.

There are places on even 6mm figures where a small power tool can be useful but I'd agree that, if a hand tool can do the job, it is better to use that.

Most rotary tools clog quickly with a soft metal but they can still work, just unclog them with a pointed metal tool.

I found small diamond coated cutters worked best on hard alloys but you do need a steady hand as they can 'skate' over the figure.

The torque of even a low power Dremel can be dangerous too. I only had to have a 25mm figure ripped out of my hand once to convince me of that. It happens too quickly to react to.

I'm with the above…avoid the cutting wheel and use a pair of side cutters and a razor saw to get the bulk of material out of your way then grind and polish

I found these cuticle nippers at a dollar store. They are quite sharpe and robust.
link

My main tool for conversions is a Jewelry saw. With a fine blade you can make good cuts.

micromark.com/Jewelers-Saw

Also, sprue cutters work well for soft metal. DO NOT use on wire.

link