[Harp-L] which Dremel tool Harp-L Digest, Vol 278, Issue 2

[JOSEPH LEONE]

> On 10/12/2026 12:26 PM EDT Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
>  
> I have a Dremel bought many years ago for some detailed DIY tasks. I'm not particularly dexterous but WARNING it is extremely easy to take too much material off with  a Dremel, you need a very steady hand and total concentration, and I wouldn't recommend it for harmonica reeds for that reason.

And I am in agreement with King Richard. Ok, here's the deal. Believe me now or trust me later, lolol. Starting in about spring 1954 I have tried just about e erything and keep coming back to 'sanding wands'.

Scene#1 I took a motor from a plastic model kit, taped it to a penlight. I took ink eraser, burned a hole in the end, glued it to the shaft of the motor and MADE a rotary tool. It worked fine. 

For over 60 yrs. have taken popsicle sticks and placed several side by side, coated the edges with glue and placed them on various grits of sand paper. After the bundle dries, I cut them apart with a single edge razor blade, and put a 45 degree anglwe on the ends of the sticks. As the 'points' load up with brass, I trim them back. Easy and cheap.

I watch these home improvement shows and EVERYthing is electric powered. Now IF you are in a business and need to save the time, this is fine. But I have built furniture and cabinets by hand. Hand plane, hand drill, hand screw driver, hand hammer. Sometimes power is overkill.  

 My penknife still bears the scars for instance. In my very amateur but successful attempts at retuning I have used an emery board for filing finger nails. Is that what they're called in America too? Take care

Well basically sanding wands Are emory boards. The may take more strokes than a machine, but the control is worth it. 

smojo

> 
> Richard Hammersley
> 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2026 08:13:21 -0400
> > From: Tin Lizzie <TrackHarpL at xxxxx <mailto:TrackHarpL at xxxxx>>
> > To: harp-l at xxxxx <mailto:harp-l at xxxxx>
> > Subject: [Harp-L] Which Dremel Tool?
> > Message-ID: <70E0740D-0280-4200-B17F-63C073461FB7 at xxxxx <mailto:70E0740D-0280-4200-B17F-63C073461FB7 at xxxxx>>
> > Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=us-ascii
> > 
> > When you least expect it....
> > 
> > Hi, everyone!
> > 
> > I've been harmonica-dormant for many years, and so have my harps.  I've recently excavated my Suzuki SCX-64 from the back of the closet and have been playing it a bit.
> > 
> > Some of the enharmonic notes are different enough in pitch that even my rusty ear can hear a significant difference.  I just watched this lovely video by Filip Jers, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOxpWTOxjYg, and the Dremel tool he uses looks way easier to use than my old scraper tool.  Which I still probably have.... in a box, somewhere.
> > 
> > Amazon offers a plethora of Dremel tools.  Could someone please tell me -- a link would be even better -- which Dremel tool would be best for this task?  I don't want to buy a huge multi-use set with every accessory under the sun.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Tin Lizzie
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> > **************************************