Dremel 654 router bit

2017-05-14

I'm a huge fan of Dremel rotary tools. I currently have a Dremel 4000, and I think that if you're only going to own a single power tool, it's hard to go wrong with this one. It has variable speed, it plugs into the wall (so there's no battery to charge), and it has a wide assortment of available bits. Until today, I hadn't needed any of the accessories that can be attached to the front, and I had only used the tool for cutting, grinding, and drilling.

When I came across the 654 router bit a while ago, I didn't have any specific ideas for it, but I knew it would come in handy eventually. I finally had a reason to use it today, and here's what it looks like now, with some charred wood residue: I also got to use the cutting guide included in the 565 kit, which is crucial to set the depth of the groove:

The experience was exactly what I expected (except it was really loud; the first time I needed hearing protection with a Dremel). Needless to say, if I had a dedicated router, I would never use a rotary tool for routing. Since I don't, the bit together with the guide are a blessing. Here's what I can achieve with no training and a bit of work: It's not great, but it's good enough for me.

Naturally, there are compromises made when using a general purpose tool:

• Since the guide blocks a lot of light, it's hard to see what you're cutting.
• The bit is tiny, so it's not practical for large grooves.
• The depth needs to be increased very gradually; perhaps less so for softer woods, but I was routing oak and each layer was only a couple of millimetres.

All in all, I'm looking forward to routing again!