Issue #006

You don't have to be a skilled artist to create the most admired jack-o'-lantern on the block this Halloween. October's eNewsletter offers a selection of projects and unique decorative ideas for your home this fall. Be sure to share project ideas with a friend by sending them this eNewsletter. The "send to a friend" feature is located at the end of the newsletter.

Have a product question? E-mail Dremel's customer service team.

Have a project to showcase in our newsletter? E-mail the newsletter team.

Looking for past issues of the Dremel eNewsletter? You can now search the archives here.

And of course, for more information on Dremel tools and projects please visit http://www.dremel.com.

***Our membership list is comprised of consumers that provide their e-mail address to Dremel via the Dremel.com website and will not be shared with any party outside of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. It also is comprised of consumers who completed product registration cards for their Dremel tools***

Question: I'd like to create luminarias to line my walkway for Halloween Trick-o'-Treaters. What is the best accessory to cut metal coffee cans that I've collected?
- Mark, Omaha, Neb.

Answer: Lighting a walkway or patio with luminarias is a great idea any time of year! Your Dremel XPR or the Dremel Lithium-Ion Cordless will help get the job done quickly and easily. Use the #426 Fiberglass Reinforced Cut-Off Wheel to carefully cut out your designs — festive Halloween designs, words or simple shapes. For slightly curved shapes, such as pumpkins or ghosts, use the #953 Grinding Stone to round and smooth edges.

Fill with sand and a tea light, and you’re good to go! Or, for a spooky glow this Halloween, use plastic glow-sticks for longer-lasting lights. Remember, never leave luminarias unattended while candles are lit.

Question: How do I attach the Flex-Shaft to the Dremel Tool? My project is detailed and I need more control.
- Anonymous, via e-mail

Answer: When attaching the Flex-Shaft accessory, it is necessary to remove three items from the nose of the rotary tool:

1) The housing cap. (You'd hardly know it's there until you twist the end of the housing.)

2) The collet nut. (It's a small nut on the end of the tool.) Hold down the collet lock button and remove the collet nut.

3) The collet. (This is a small piece with slotting in it that acts as fingers to hold the accessory in place; the collet rests in the end of the tool under the collet nut.)

You should have three pieces in front of you from the end of the rotary tool. In the packaging with the Flex-Shaft, there is a nut with a small square hole in it. (It's easier to see the square hole if you hold the nut up to the light.) Again, holding the collet lock down, carefully thread the driver cap onto the bare metal threads of the rotary tool where the collet and collet nut were removed. To make the Flex-Shaft functional, the collet needs to be placed in the end of the hand piece on the flexible shaft, the collet nut threads onto the end of the hand piece. To be able to tighten the collet nut onto the end of the hand piece, press the shaft lock button in the hand piece of the Flex-Shaft. This will stop the threaded area from turning as you tighten the accessory you want to use in the hand piece.

Creating Decorative Gourds

Long before people learned to fashion pots from clay, they used gourds to store and serve food. Later gourds were used to make a number of useful objects, including musical instruments, masks, and even birdhouses.

Today, gourds are popular decorative additions to cornucopias, centerpieces and wreaths. Using the Dremel Lithium-Ion Cordless Tool, you can create the perfect fall home accent just in time for the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays.

To begin, choose a design or pattern. With a thin, permanent marker, trace or draw your design onto the surface of the gourd. Wearing eye protection and a dust mask, use a rotary tool and the #7103 Diamond Ball Point to carefully etch the marker lines. If you prefer different-sized grooves, a variety of high-speed cutters or engraving cutters are available for you to choose from. We also suggest trying the #7134 Diamond Taper Point with the #481 3/32" collet.

Avoid applying too much pressure or the bit may pierce the gourd. If tighter control of the bit is needed, the #225 Flex-Shaft Attachment provides increased manipulation. Once you have completed the etching, use a clean cloth to clean off any dust remaining on the surface or in the grooves of the gourd. As a final touch, stain or paint your gourd for a different look or add a finish for protection.

Haunting Applications

If you're looking for something fun to do this fall, pumpkin-carving time is here. The new Dremel Pumpkin Carving Kit puts a modern spin on traditional pumpkin carving and decorating. Featuring the #191 High-Speed Cutter Accessory and a battery-operated rotary tool, the kit is ideal for carving fine details.

With variable speed controls of 7,000 and 14,000 rpm, you can create simple snaggletooth face designs or intricate tangled spider webs. The tool helps you and your family enjoy fast, easy carving of spectacularly sculpted pumpkins.

To begin a project, first determine the design you'd like to carve into your pumpkin. Having a design in mind will help you select the perfect pumpkin with the right shape and enough surface area. Next, stick your template design onto the pumpkin using spray adhesive. Don an apron (pumpkin carving can be messy) and place the pumpkin on newspaper for easy clean-up. Using the Dremel Pumpkin Carving Tool, begin to etch the design into the pumpkin's surface. Remember: the Dremel Pumpkin Carving Tool is not intended to cut through the pumpkin. To achieve the best results use the tool on the surface of the pumpkin once it has been cut and cleaned out. Consider leaving the top of the pumpkin in place and cutting an opening in the back of the pumpkin for the candle or light source.

To download jack-o'-lantern templates visit the Dremel Web site. Or, to talk with other Dremel users about their Halloween projects, visit the Dremel Owner's Club.

**Any activity that involves the use of sharp objects, including the Dremel Pumpkin Carving Tool, requires adult supervision.**

Carving Wood

Project by Bev Hashagen of Ault, Colo.

The versatility and ease of my Dremel helped me create a whimsical clock for my son. Made of curly maple wood, the piece measures 2 1/2" thick by approximately 18" high by 28" wide. Needless to say, it is quite heavy but a wonderful addition to his room and was a wonderful Christmas present.

Using a band saw, I cut the desired section of wood from a larger piece. Next, I carved the intricate design using only my Dremel tool. I experimented with different accessories (aluminum oxide bits #953, 921, 911, tungsten carbide cutters #9906, 9910 high speed cutters #117, 121, 124, 131, 144, 196, structured tooth tungsten carbide cutters #9934, 9931, 9932 and diamond points) to accommodate the hard and soft wood surfaces. Once complete, I coated the piece with four coats of Danish Oil finish. Though the wood was not a breeze to carve, my Dremel was a steady and reliable tool, which I couldn’t have done without.

Have a project that showcases the control and flexibility of your Dremel tool? Want to show off your handiwork? E-mail a digital image of your project and a brief summary of how you made the piece (250 word maximum, please!). If we select your project to showcase, we’ll send you the new 300 Series Dremel Tool! Plus, your project may be featured on the Dremel website.

The future of cordless rotary tools, the Dremel Lithium-Ion Cordless Tool was the first tool available powered with cutting-edge Lithium-Ion technology. The tool features 10.8-volts, variable-speeds and operates from 5,000-35,000 rpm. It features the longest run-time of Dremel cordless models, 50% more power, 40% more speed and the ability to recharge the battery anytime without damaging battery capacity.

The Dremel Lithium-Ion Cordless retails for approximately $69.99 - $79.99, and has a two-year warranty. It is available at most major home centers, hardware and hobby stores.

Million Dremel Uses

Dremel will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2007. And we are looking for Dremel users to give us a year's worth of projects - big and small - to showcase the many uses for rotary tools. Send your project ideas via e-mail to dremel@jsha.com, or via regular mail at Dremel Million Uses, c/o JSH&A, 2 TransAm Plaza Drive, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181.