Dremel bit?

[Elkeater]

Will be shooting a Pedersoli kentucky pistol for first time. Sight notch will need opening up. Please recommend proper bit for dremmel tool.

 

[DaveT]

Just use a jeweler's file. Doesn't take long and if you slip.....nothing gets botched.

 

[ord sgt]

It sounds like you don't have any needle files. An inexpensive set can be easily found, like at Harbor Freight. Dremel runs too fast. Sometimes it removes more material much too quickly. It's best to go slowly rather than over do it.

 

[LawrenceA]

Dremel bit?
or
Dremel bit!

Stay away from the dremel as said above. In sights a little goes a long way.
Think carefully before you remove metal and get your load sorted first.
Consider if you need to thin or lower the front versus touch the back.
Personally I would rather alter the front as it is easier to work with.
If it is a simple v notch then a small triangular file is all you need.
Suggest you do get yourself a set of jewellers files. Cheap and cheerful is all you need.
You will be amazed how handy they can be. Especially for the fiddly stuff. A 4" flat smooth file is also very useful for sight work.

 

[Stony Broke]

I agree that a jeweler's file is the way to go. Remove material slowly and keep checking the sight picture as you go. I have bought 5 different Pedersoli pistols and haven't liked the sights on any of them....so I had to replace some and alter some. They are kind of a pain to replace as they dovetails are a lot smaller than most american guns.

 

[billraby]

Dremel should never be in the same room as a gun.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I use mine fairly often to grind a hollowground screw driver bit to proper fit on an unusual size screw slot for a perfect fit. I drum grinder works well in the dremel for this. Gun work? Not so much.

 

[Stony Broke]

Dremel should never be in the same room as a gun.

I think a Dremel has lots of uses on guns, a guy just has to use common sense. I use one quite often to do things like dress up or polish screw heads and similar projects. They are very handy with polishing wheels and sanding drums. I often need one to shorten up a screw with a cutting wheel and then dress up the screw.

 

[nhmoose]

NONE!!! Get a jewelers file set non - pros need to not have Dremel tools. More stuff is ruined by them in beginners hands.

 

[Eterry]

My friend whose been a working gunsmith for almost 50 years LOVES Dremel tools.
He says they constantly bring in more work for him. My few experiences with one have not been positive, vis a vie gun work.
Use a file, GENTLY.

 

[Don Steele]

Eterry nailed it..!!
Best friend a professional gunsmith ever had. I'm surprised they aren't standing outside Cabela's handing them out to every newbie buying a gun.

 

[Elkeater]

Being old and retired from construction work I have files, have to find them. Been using dremel recently (pistol stand), sure is handy and yes can be quick.
Thought I would chance it on sights that are too tall and proud. If I slip, I get more attractive sights. I'll look at Lowe's. Does Harbor freight carry dremel?
Either way, no need for gunsmith.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I recently used a dremel cut off wheel to start my rear sight notch. It was thinner than the smallest needle file in my kit. I went very slowly and carefully, with good support. Got a good square notch, well centered to the depth I wanted. Don't blame the tool....

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Eterry]

You're right, it's not the tool. The same gunsmith has a dental drill with foot control. He uses it often. But the Dremel in the hands of most people is a disaster waiting to happen. Especially dealing with sights, as small adjustments are needed.

My friend who helped me build my early Lancaster used a ball grinder with an air chuck to thin down my stock blank. My gunsmith friend showed up cause he wanted to see this. The wood chips flew as the 1 1/2" ball grinder went to work. I gritted my teeth and said a prayer... but the old man knew what he was doing.

 

[Eric Krewson]

A friend gave me all his B/P stuff before he died, in one tackle box were some files that were 1/2" wide but only about 1/32" thick, I am sure they are for filing a notch in a rear sight and I use them for such.

 

[Bill Rowe]

Use a fine tooth thin hack saw blade to deepen and size, nice to have good handle to tell if you are parallel and square to barrel. Blade thickness vary like pitch of teeth. Jeweler saw real good but thin blade, and easy to not run straight cut. They will work but they are a hand contour saw. All should own a set of needle files. Start out with the cheep ones, but look for a good set of swiss made, I have found them more than once for a mere fraction of what they cost on evil bay. Thickness on needle files varies, easy to open up sight, tough to shut gap. The Dremel cut off wheel is good , if you have a drill press throw the Dremel back in to its box, and take the fiber wheel and chuck it up in its mandrel into the drill chuck , lay barrel flat and parallel on its side and gently make a swiping pass taking very little, walk into the spinning disk as not to let the cut pull your barrel. Much more ridge than by hand.

 

[Eterry]

Being old and retired from construction work I have files, have to find them. Been using dremel recently (pistol stand), sure is handy and yes can be quick.
Thought I would chance it on sights that are too tall and proud. If I slip, I get more attractive sights. I'll look at Lowe's. Does Harbor freight carry dremel?
Either way, no need for gunsmith.

Yes Harbor Freight carries several sets of small file sets, dirt cheap priced, and good enough for this job. Good luck

 

[Col. Batguano]

As a cut-off wheel for bolts and the like I can see, but they can often create more work for you than you were trying to save in the first place. Maybe for hogging out the hole for the sear bar. Most of those tasks can be done with a drill press though. It's the hand-held nature of them and their tendency to grab and run away on you that makes control so difficult.

Sight width is a very tricky thing. I like about a 5 1/2 MOA blade width front sight and about 12 MOA for the rear notch. Getting those dimensions correct is a delicate job calling for hand work, and it's only a 5 minute job in the first place.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

The only thing I learned about using a Dremel around muzzle loaders is the fact that they'll get you into trouble so much faster than non power type tooling, not interested in that style of aggravation.

 

[Col. Batguano]

They are the smokeless powder of builders and muzzle loading.