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Anyone use one and have a recommendation?

Mike

Never heard of one.

But here is one just in time for Halloween...

This is what I mean. These are pricey. Just wondered if there were alternative makes at lower prices.

EDIT: Nevermind. Seems I was looking at the pricing incorrectly. These are typically in the $129 range. Meaning I am getting one.

Mike

Thanks for the picture. I sure couldn't figure out why someone would want a pencil with that wide a bevel angle.

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Mike Lindstrom

Some people call them pneumatic routers. They call them pencil grinders because of their shape and size and the way you hold them. I have the normal grinder. It's awesome. But I want this for brace shaping.

they are actually Pencil Die Grinders and are often used in Tool and Die repair. I have used them but for luthiery the straight one is more useful.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

yep it's a die grinder. handier with a sanding disc on the end of it.

LOL... I have never heard of them being called a pencil grinder. I do know what a die grinder is and actually have one but I don't use it on guitars because it is air powered and it tends to spit oil out once in a while.

All I could think of was you meant a pencil sharpener but never heard of a 90 degree one... hence the Halloween one...

Bob

I agree. But for my desired application, 90 deg is the way to go.

You don't know what your missing. These things are awesome for detail work. The exhaust port is rearward. A plastic flex hose extends that a foot or more away from the tool. Shouldn't be spitting oil anywhere near your work

(you can order these from John Hall, Blues Creek Guitars)

http://www.amazon.com/Sioux-Pencil-Grin ... il+grinder

My Sioux 90 Pencil Grinder arrived yesterday. I used a 1/8" tungsten carbide Dremel drum bit and 80 grit drum sanding bit to shape top braces on 5 tops today. Worked like a dream.

Thanks for the info and the link Mike, There have been times I have wanted something more than my Dremel and that looks like the tool. I have used my Die grinder on tools and jigs and I know it is really handy so I may have to look into buying one of these. I can see where the 90 degree head could be pretty useful too.

Where did you find that 90 degree one?

Cheers,
Bob

I like them a lot... the straight one that is, have not tried the 90 degree ones. They're very easy to control which allows for great precision.

The only problem is they require a lot more air than it looks. Unless you got a 10HP rotary screw compressor, it's going to be running nearly all the time. It's actually pretty bad energy efficiency too, electrics would be far more efficient in terms of amount of equipment needed, except a lot of them tend to suck (Dremel for example) It's like requiring 5HP of power draw for a tiny tool that can't carve 1/8" worth of materials... even Foredom type tools can do better, and those are like 1/8HP.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I got mine here: http://www.browntool.com/Default.aspx?t ... 33&Level=a

I do not have a 10 HP rotary screw compressor, nor do I need one. I do not even have a 5 HP compressor. But I do have a 60 gallon tank. And yes, they use a lot of air (more than you would think). The problem I have noted (so far) is that electric grinders have trouble making the 90 degree turn in a small space. Dremel makes such a transmission, but its bigger than the Sioux 90 degree. If I am not mistaken, in the Sioux, the turbine is right there at the collet. I guess it all depends on what your application is. Mine required a small head. It's also nice not having the device heat up in your hands, or transmit nasty vibrations.

If you have a straight pencil grinder that does all you need, I would not bother with this.

Mike