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How messy is dremeling?

J

joxang

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 30, 2010
Messages
279
Looking to get into case modding with a dremel, but I'm a student stuck in a single (albeit sizeable) room. I've got a small workbench that I use for simple stuff.

I was wondering how messy dremelling is - would it be ok to dremel aluminium cases indoors if I put a cardboard box underneath where I was working? Or do bits of metal tend to fly off in all directions (e.g. onto my bed)?
 
You'll get A LOT of fine metal dust. I wouldn't do it indoors unless it's a dirty garage.
 
I guess what I mean is I'm happy doing woodwork in my bedroom as long as I lay down some sheeting as dust doesn't travel very far and I can give it a good hoover afterwards.

I'm obviously more paranoid about fine metal dust though, and I'm not sure what distance it tends to travel. Sounds like I should probably do it outdoors anyhow :(.
 
Whatever material you Dremel, the dust will go much farther than you think. Aluminum will cover everything, steel will spark and have larger particles. If you decide to do it inside at all, get a fan to suck air outside and try to move your fragile/expensive items outside the blast zone.
 
I will echo previous comments. Yes, the dust will travel pretty far. Also, if you do end up doing this indoors, I highly recommend proper ventilation and even a dust mask. It isn't something you want to breathe and the fact that you're indoors will increase that chance.
 
Most importantly watch the sparks! Nothing pulls wife agro like accidentally lighting the curtains on fire while doing a window mod on your case!
 
Dremeling is messy, just choped my case up yesterday....lots of dust.

Make sure you tape off all cuts and be very slow and steady....its easy to mess up a cut and make sure you file down cuts good after becuz filing is needed becuz dremel cuts are so messy.
 
Do it in the garage if you have one. And stay away from your car if it's in there too. I scratched the paint on my new car by rubbing my arm against the paint while having aluminum dust on me.
 
'wife's aggro' hahahaha :D.

Thanks for the advice, no case modding for me then until I move out of uni digs :(.
 
If you're going to do it indoors, have the vacuum turned on and sucking the dust as it flies. you'll get at least a decent portion of it. The only danger is the fact that you're sucking in lit sparks into a vacuum bag but hopefully they blow out by the time they get in there and lack of combustion air should be a good stopper. Never had issues doing it myself. Been a while but if I was to do it again I'd use a shop vac. More robust and bigger intake pipe to cover more area.

the tend idea is actually not a bad idea though. :D
 
Last time I dremeled my Al case, I took everything out and did it in the garage. Then I wiped down the case and reinstalled all the hardware.
 
IMHO dremeling is an outside job.. If for nothing more than safety reasons... Just my 2 cents
 
Don't even think about doing it inside. Whatever hassle you're trying to avoid by going outside will be overshadowed by the mess you are going to have in your room. Also, you might see if you can borrow a portable air compressor. That would make cleaning the case afterward so much easier and faster.
 
Reminds me of my old room-mate. He dremel and shit in our dorm room. Big turn off when girls came over.
 
DTN107 said:
Reminds me of my old room-mate. He dremel and shit in our dorm room. Big turn off when girls came over.
Click to expand...

When my gf first saw me take a Dremel to a steel case she was impressed. :p Sparks were flying (literally).

"Girls only like guys with skills."
-Napoleon Dynamite
 
I've used holesaws and dremels in my living room, no long term effects so far. Just vacuum thoroughly afterward.
 
Red Squirrel said:
If you're going to do it indoors, have the vacuum turned on and sucking the dust as it flies. you'll get at least a decent portion of it. The only danger is the fact that you're sucking in lit sparks into a vacuum bag but hopefully they blow out by the time they get in there and lack of combustion air should be a good stopper.
Click to expand...

In a vacuum cleaner, you are actually ACCELERATING airflow inside the container, so you would in essence be MORE likely to light something up I would think. :confused:
 
I don't know why people are making such a fuss about using a dremel indoors. I cut out both of my 120mm fan grills in my living room with no problems. Sure there was some aluminum on the floor, but nothing a vaccum couldn't take care of. Also the metal particles are so fine they can't cut you at all, unless you really tried to cut yourself with them. I would suggest opening a window, but it isn't necessary for small jobs since there isn't any smoke ( no more then a bic lighter anyways).
 
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