Rotozip fun

[southadc]

Hi all,

I've got a guitar which I need to fit some new pickups to, and I need to make the pickup cavities larger.

I bought a rotozip off ebay just for this purpose. I was doin some practice cuts on some pine earlier, and I noticed that there was a bit more smoke than I would have expected, and it actually burnt the wood slightly.

Anyone here know what I'm doing wrong? I was using a sabrecut bit, and I was moving the roto along at maybe an inch per second, on the lower speed setting.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Rotozip fun

You're moving too fast IMO ... I would not cut at a speed of an inch in one second. Go a little slower and don't always push the bit.

 

[Artie]

Re: Rotozip fun

Is the speed adjustable . . . you may have the RPM's set too fast.

 

[southadc]

Re: Rotozip fun

Is the speed adjustable . . . you may have the RPM's set too fast.

It has two speed settings, I think they are 25000 rpm and 33000 rpm. I was running at the slower speed.

It's possible I've made the bit blunt too - my first couple of practice cuts were on oak. It burnt that too though

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Rotozip fun

I still think the speed (inch/second) at which you're cutting through the wood is forcing you to push the bit to hard which is causing some of the dulling.

 

[southadc]

Re: Rotozip fun

Cheers, I'll try it a bit slower then tomorrow. Roughly how fast should I be cutting, and on what speed setting?

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Rotozip fun

The speed setting is relative ... I only have one speed setting on my Rotozip so I can comment.

However I'd be aiming for a either a cm over 2/3 seconds or an inch over 5-6 seconds. Even then pull back a little from time to time. I'd also get a new bit to try with.

 

[butnut]

Re: Rotozip fun

The speed setting is relative ... I only have one speed setting on my Rotozip so I can comment.

However I'd be aiming for a either a cm over 2/3 seconds or an inch over 5-6 seconds. Even then pull back a little from time to time. I'd also get a new bit to try with.

I love my RZ and the thing to remember with most power tools is 'let the blade/bit do the cutting'...if you PUSH the tool, you'll burn wood and chance slipping or worse if the bit bites into a hard section. I don't really push the RZ, it's more of 'guiding' it to follow the cut line, take your time..no need to rush a small cut, makes for more precise work.