Diamond and Carbide Burs

[Won with the Wood]

Hello everyone my name is Eric Greenstein. I carve birds from Tupelo wood www.songbirdsinwood.com. I have been using an nsk emax (35k) micromotor for years now and have really enjoyed it. Recently, I was lucky enough to purchase a powercrafter air turbine (400k) off ebay for what I thought was a good price $150. This thing is awesome! It is very comfortable to hold and goes through wood like a million tiny beavers on speed. I should also say the nsk can still do things the powercrafter could only dream of. Its ok emax, i'll keep you.
I have been looking to build my stock of 1.6mm (1/16) friction grip burs. I have found them to be a bit expensive at most places but have found one dealer that seems like a good deal. They are only a $1 a piece the only catch is you have to order them in boxes of 10. I would like to try 10-15 different grits and shapes but this would get expensive. My question is, can we wrangle up 10-15 guys to go in on this and split the cost? This way we are only spending $10-$15 and not $100-$150. Heres the link to the site http://bursusa.com/index.php, check out the berry burs. I know im new here but im an honest and trustworthy guy. Im willing to do this however you guys (or gals) want to. The hardest part is probably going to be agreeing on the shapes and grits. Hope to here from you soon.
Eric

[Hugh-P]

Eric, I'm not sure about this comment, but I think that the dental burrs are minature. A friend gave me a 3 lots of them, and they are real small. Check the sizes. Have you tried the utility diamonds, they come in assorted sizes and 30 to a package. Selling for $25.00 pkg They also come in Coarse, medium, and fine grits.

[Won with the Wood]

Hugh,
I am aware that these are the small fg 1.6mm shank burs. They are great for the high speed 400,000 rpm air turbines. Great comfort and great for detailing with the fine grits. I use 3/32 in my micromotor and they are really nice for allot of things. What is the shank on the utility diamonds you mentioned and where can I check them out? Also what are you doing with the 3 lots of fg's your friend gave you?
Eric

[susieq]

I love the tiny diamond burrs for my micro motor.... I bought a 1/16 collet just so I wouldn't have to use that stupid friction grip adapter anymore.....best thing I ever did. If you carve a lot of tiny detail, you can't beat these little bits.

Luckily, I have a Dental Surplus warehouse just up the road from where I live and I can buy them for .50 a piece. Half the time they don't even really count what I have. They just eyeball it and tell me a price. I always come out ahead. I have picked through every darn bit they have now.

The other good bit to have is a carbide bone cutter...what a great bit. Not cheap. They don't have any of those where I bought the diamonds. I have to get those through my dentist. A 6 pack of them cost me nearly $40 bucks but they are terrific.

[Won with the Wood]

Thanks for the input susieq.

[Thomp]

i get used dental bits from my dentist, he only used them once, and collects then in a cup of alcohol, and they call me, the nurse autoclaves them over 200 degrees?,
i collect them take them home and soak them in bleach, and with rubber gloves scrub then each with a fine brass brush if any discoloration is apparent , then another bleach bath,,then boil them
dentist says there ain't no bugs that can escape that treatment.. and there all free...

when i was a kid we use to have a army surplus that had lots of medical & dental items bits and cutters by the bread pan full for 5 bucks each, awe if i would have known then ....

[Jcocca]

I have a powercrafter (400k) that i LOVE, but your right the burrs for it are VERY expensive and its hard to keep up the hobby when it coasts me so much money. Ive looked for weeks now online to try and find the burrs. I have found a few places but cant seem figure out some sites. They advertise 1/16 but when i call to order there 3/32, and they tell me it wont make a difference. I keep telling them it will but they dont get it. And part of the reason i dont wana order it from them is now im scared that there going to send me the wrong things or that any questions i ask them are not going to get answered correctly. As for the dental burrs im having some trouble converting the sizing factor for the powercrafter VS a norman dental FG turbine. is 1.6 equal to 1/16 shank? Thanks for the site Eric, i might be interested in doing that with you