Jumble Jumble said:
What would be a good bit for a Dremel to do the sort of work shown above by hand? I don't have the required anything (space/money) for a proper router and bench, but little bits of wood removal like that should be just fine by hand so long as it's cutting reasonably slowly and doesn't grab.
Just a coarse sanding drum seems like it wouldn't quite be aggressive enough.
I don't think I'd try a Dremel on that sort of thing. Too easy to lose control. On the plus side, you'd get to invent a whole slew of new cuss words.
You don't necessarily need a special bench to use a router. If you check the local DIY hardware, you'll probably find they have some perforated/corrugated rubber mat material intended to line tool drawers with. It's cheap, and if you put that under the item you're going to route, it'll hold it in place. So, you could use just about any flat surface available. The only thing to keep in mind is how much mess you'll make, which means maybe the kitchen table isn't a good choice. Routers
excel at making mess, and I can't emphasize that strongly enough. I mean, it's amazing. Has to be seen to be believed. So, no kitchen.
Also, an aggressive bite is not necessarily a Bad Thing. Routers bite a LOT harder than any abrasive you might use, but they do it so fast that things don't have time to react to them. It's part of what makes 'em dangerous. They're like a chainsaw - they don't hurt you, they cut off limbs before you know you've screwed up and there's no time to react.
I know you said you don't have one, but you don't need the Router of Doom for occasional use. A cheap Craftsman or DeWalt unit will serve you well for occasional use.
