I wish Mr Dremel went both ways

[up1950s]

When using grinding wheels with my normal right hand crap flies in my face , hair , couch , and clothes . If a 3 rail O Scale engine can be reversed ..............

[C855B]

I can't begin to imagine the nightmares of dealing with a mix of mandrels with both left- and right-hand threads.

[up1950s]

I can't begin to imagine the nightmares of dealing with a mix of mandrels with both left- and right-hand threads.

Some grinding stones have no disconnecting mandrels . I could paint any lefty tightys any color to ID them , well worth the minuscule effort .

[Mark W]

You could always do some surgery and re-wire the motor of a second dremel.  One for lefty one for righty.

[peteski]

Become a South-paw and your problem is solved. 

[TiVoPrince]

Double-Ended
Mr. Dremel would be the solution. Great for cut off wheels too. A shroud to cover the chuck not in use for safety makes it so very useful. I would be among the first in line for one of those things. Just brass vs black finished metal collets to identify left/right rotation should be enough for reasonable users...

[rschaffter]

Run it on DC with the polarity that gives the desired rotation...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Run-AC-Tools-on-Batteries-Directly,-without-an-Inv/

Note that this may void your warranty...

[up1950s]

Run it on DC with the polarity that gives the desired rotation...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Run-AC-Tools-on-Batteries-Directly,-without-an-Inv/

Note that this may void your warranty...

Holy crap batman . Thanks Ron . Now how pure ( ripple free aka flat line ) does the DC have to be ? Will half wave AC work one way and the other half wave work the other direction ? In search of a 70VDC rectified transformer with a 5a ( guess ) load capability .

I ordered one of these 60vdc 5a , these have many clones , found an eBay source in Calif for less than 90 bucks and free shipping , search ---  60V 5A 5AMP 605D PRO DIGITAL DC POWER SUPPLY .

[peteski]

Run it on DC with the polarity that gives the desired rotation...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Run-AC-Tools-on-Batteries-Directly,-without-an-Inv/

Note that this may void your warranty...

If the Dremel in question has a built-in speed controller, this will not work. The speed controller is designed for AC only (similar to household dimmer switches).

Also, make sure to use mandrels which will not loosen when running in reverse - you don't want the cutoff wheel flying out (like a Ninja star) at you at 20,000 RPMs!!

The other thing is that most bits (drills, routers, mills) are designed for clockwise cutting.

[up1950s]

If the Dremel in question has a built-in speed controller, this will not work. The speed controller is designed for AC only (similar to household dimmer switches).

Also, make sure to use mandrels which will not loosen when running in reverse - you don't want the cutoff wheel flying out (like a Ninja star) at you at 20,000 RPMs!!

The other thing is that most bits (drills, routers, mills) are designed for clockwise cutting.

Maybe I can use the variable voltage on the DC power supply to reduce the speed a bit . I will use AC for normal rotation . Kodiak Tools probably has the carbide cutters IIRC .

[up1950s]

So far in non structured carbide left cutting , CCW , burrs I found these but caveman age ordering .
http://www.ccspecialtytool.com/catalog/carbide-cutters/left-hand-cut-carbide .............. sent eMail

I have so far ordered many shaped STRUCTURED tungsten carbide burrs .

[TiVoPrince]

Thinking
that I just might set up a reversing switch on that Harbour Freight 12v toy dremel just for grins. Hmmm not much scheduled for Thursday afternoon...

[pnolan48]

Who says you have to cut from the top down? After years of frustration, I just started cutting from the bottom up. Took a few cuts, but it soon became natural. Same thing about cutting toward yourself: just reverse and cut away from yourself. I did not switch hands, but I'm fairly ambidextrous, so perhaps switching orientations is easier for me. Also, my dominant right eye went bad with a twisting cataract, so I learned to use my left eye more, which would make the switch easier, I think. (I'm probably also a natural left-hander, forced to switch or "choose" in 1954 in first grade).

[randgust]

This probably isn't helpful Richie, but I put on a pair of safety goggles to protect my eyes, and put on a hooded sweatshirt when I am cutting or grinding on metal.  I often move it outside, even in winter, underneath the porch overhang.     I've had enough disks and tiny drill bits shatter that I take the eye protection very seriously.   

Just a couple weeks ago I was cutting a CF7 frame and the abrasive disk got away from me and 'spun' right into my left index finger at about 3/4 max speed.  If I hadn't had a heavy leather glove on for heat and shard protection on my left hand, it would have been a severe injury.   The glove was scarred, but intact.   

I'm not sure that reversing it (given the mandrel and thread design) would be more of a hazard than a help.   One of those things that sounds good until you think about it.   I do know that when I'm doing 'shade tree bodywork' on my well-worn automobile collection, running the wire brush in reverse to take off rust AWAY from your face instead of into it makes a whole lot of sense in a reversible power drill.

[up1950s]

I wear my bi-focals and optoivisor over that .