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After retiring as a mechanical engineer, following years of work designing complicated mechanical systems such as car shredders and assembly machines, Fredric T. Radloff was not content with putting his education to rest.The Orlando, Fla., resident took up a new hobby of designing and building mechanical-educational clocks based off of mechanisms created in the 17th and 18th centuries: A weight/counter weight mechanism, invented by Christaan Huygens in 1695, powers the clocks, and a dead beat escapement invented by George Graham in 1715 is the timing mechanism.
To combine the two mechanisms, Radloff needed to fabricate gears, and Dremel’s 1800 18-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Station™, the predecessor to Dremel’s 1830 18-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Station™, proved a perfect fit for the job. Radloff draws each gear using a computer-aided design program, then pastes the patterns to ¾-inch red oak. Using a No. 16446 blade, Radloff cuts out four gears for each clock: two eight tooth pinions, a 48-tooth driving wheel and an 80-tooth timing gear.
He also uses a Dremel 300 Series Variable Speed Rotary Tool for sanding the clock’s locking faces and cutting slots in brass inserts used on timing wheels.
“I’ve been using Dremel tools for about four years and have found them very useful to accurately and quickly prepare all of the individual pieces that make up each of my clocks,” said Radloff. “I’ve also found the Dremel staff – both online and via telephone – easily accessible and helpful.”
Radloff has created two clocks to date. Each are remarkably accurate – within one minute per week. Unlike most clocks, the inner gears are not enclosed in a case so viewers can more fully understand how they work. Radloff’s first clock was sold to the Kessler Art Collection and the second was offered for sale at the Orlando Museum of Art Gift Shop.
For more information on Radloff’s clocks or designs, he can be reached at (407) 896-6046 or radloffe@bellsouth.net.
With the official start of spring on March 20, there’s no better time for spring cleaning. The Dremel brand offers an entire line of rotary tool accessories specifically for that purpose, so read on, roll up your sleeves and get to work.- Bristle Brushes (403, 404, 405) : Use for removing dust from a tight area, such as a couch that features ornate woodwork.
- Carbon Steel Brushes (428, 442, 443) : Versatile brushes can be used with light pressure for removing rust and debris from shovels, trowels or other garden implements prior to sharpening them.
- Stainless Steel Brushes (530, 531, 532) : Because they will not cause "after-rust" when used on corrosive-resistant materials like pewter, aluminum and stainless steel, these brushes work well to clean car parts, bikes, bolt threading or a nut – where after-rust can be problematic. Store them away from contaminants to avoid transferring rust to materials they are used on.
- Brass Brushes (535, 536, 537) : These brushes are non-sparking, because brass will not create a friction spark when in contact with a ferrous metal. Brass bristles are softer than steel so they won't scratch soft metals like gold and copper.
- Nylon Brush (538) : This quick, relatively aggressive brush offers some forgiveness if you’re not sure how hard to press. It’s great for removing paint from a window because it won’t eat into the wood unless you’re pushing too hard.
The Dremel brand offers several different cut-off wheels designed to help users make easy, clean cuts in a variety of surfaces with our rotary tools. Choosing and using them properly takes a little practice, however. The Dremel Experts offer the following tips:- Pick the right wheel for the right material.
-Wood: Carbide cutting wheel. Do not use a regular fiberglass reinforced wheel or an emery wheel, as those wheels will burn the wood surface.
-Plastic: Plastic EZ Lock wheel. The wheel has a silicon carbide base, so it runs cooler and reduces the chances of melting.
-Metal: Emery or fiberglass reinforced. Wood or plastic wheels won’t withstand such a hard surface. - Hold the rotary tool with both hands. Gripping the tool like a golf club will give you the best control over cutting.
- Avoid canting the wheel. Canting means to catch the wheel on an angle in the materials. If the wheel gets caught, it can kick back or fracture.
- Bring the wheel up to its optimum speed before touching it to the material.
- Bring the wheel to the material slowly. Guide, don’t force it through the cut.
- Have extra wheels handy. Wheels wear down as they’re used. If you’re cutting big or thick materials, more than one wheel might be necessary. If the wheel being used gets too small, change the wheel. The smaller a wheel gets, the more likely you are to cant the wheel in the material.
- Use Dremel EZ Lock™ accessories. When time is of the essence, cut-off wheel replacement is 80 percent faster using an EZ Lock mandrel and accessory.
- Always practice first. Using a circular cutting wheel is tricky, and you don’t want to ruin the piece you’re working on.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our eNewsletter reader survey last month. Keep an eye out as we incorporate some of your helpful suggestions into upcoming eNewsletters. Congratulations to our five lucky winners, drawn at random from all survey participants: Thomas M. Severino, Monroe, Conn.; Clement D’Andrade, Oshawa, Ontario; Wayne Parker, Oak Ridge, La.; John Morette, Scotia, N.Y.; and David G. Copeman, Sterling Heights, Mich. Each winner will receive his choice of one of three tool prizes: Dremel Duo™ Two-Tool Kit, 300 Series Variable-Speed Tool Kit or Glue Gun Kit.
Stay tuned for more Dremel news this year!
Safety reminder: When working with Dremel brand or any other power tool, always wear eye protection and a dust mask, and read and understand the owner’s manual prior to using.
Dremel.com offers more than tool facts and projects – it’s an interactive community. Visit the Projects and Community section to provide your own insights, get answers to your questions and show off your creations. The Customer Gallery offers a place to post your Dremel creations for others to see, and the Message Board is a great forum for inspiration and advice from other Dremel owners and product managers. Visit today!
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For more information on Dremel® tools and projects visit Dremel.com. Our membership list is comprised of consumers who provided their e-mail address to Dremel® tools via the Dremel.com Web site 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. E-mail the Dremel® Customer Service Team Newsletter Team: dremel@jsha.com |
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