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I'm looking for reviews for pencil grinders. These are the ones that interest me the most as they fall into a afforable price range and are priced according to speed it seems. But others are welcomed. Forget the HF as I got bad reviews on the quality of it and don't want to hassel with it.

Sioux 5979A, 70,000 rpm, The one in Keith Mackenzie's Pantograph/ Dupicator. I think this is the one to compare the others too.
http://www.amazon.com/Sioux-5979A-Pneum ... B0001X1YLA
Sioux 5978A, 60,000 rpm
http://www.amazon.com/Sioux-5978A-Pneum ... B0001X1XOS
Astro 218, 56,000 rpm
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/ast218.html

This is what I have but I'm not sure if I want to use it for my dupicator. I think I would rather have a dedicated grinder for it and leave this for it's other intended purpose.

http://www.scmsysteminc.com/engraving.php

I sounds like you are about to make the pantagraph from your video. I also think it is a useful project. The grinder that John Hall sells would seem to be good.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
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I think Kieth's was a Souix. Jim was saying that that is what he would use after having trouble gettign the Harbor Freight ones to work.

Fred my IBEW brother,
Do you know if that's the Astro?
I'm leaning towards the higher rpm as , yes I'm gearing up for the duplicator, because it will be cutting shell and I believe the faster the better in this case. The one thing about the grinder is they use 1/8" bits as opposed to my hand piece using the smaller dental bits so getting bit sizes might be easier. Although I might be able to hit my Dentist up next check up.

John, You are correct Sir! You must have posted while I was editing my first post. And Jim did tell about the HF grinders and that's why I have no interest in them as he gave me his thoughts on them.

Chris,

If you already have a dremel you can use that. That is what I use on my duplicarver that I posted in your other thread. You'll just have to add a parrallelogram mechanisim or other to remain perpendicular to the table...see pics in your other post. The dremel with a 1/32" carbide bit does a nice job on shell, as long as you don't go too fast.

Chuck

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That's just it Chuck. The dremel is too slow for cutting shell really. And the duplicator is for small scale precise jobs. The pencil grinders are lighter and I understand that the Dremel changed their design a few years back and have runout issues where the pencil die grinders don't if you have a good one. The dremel is also ttoo heavy for this type of machine. You duplicator is a large scale dupicator made for duplicating tops ,neck and etc. I may later build a larger one for making neck but this is primarily for just doing inlay and small carvings and precision work at a relatively low cost.
So far I have $42 wrapped up in Drawer Slides, Hinges and screws and $15 in T slot track and knobs and bolts. So I'm figuring at least another $20 -$30 more for parts minus the hand piece. Funny how that stuff starts to add up quick.

I use the souix 70000 rpm. I buy them in bulk. You won't go wrong with that one. The design is to cut metal so you know you have a good tool. They will do inlay work like a dream

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John Hall
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