Handy cheap engraver from the big box hardware store

[zebcook]

Came across this little battery-powered engraver at Lowes. $10 including the batteries. I've been testing it the last few days and it does a fantastic job of cleaning up flash and mold lines. I imagine I'll come up with a bunch more uses for it when I go back to working on terrain.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_349147-56005-505_0__?productId=3361328&Ntt=

Hadn't seen it mentioned, so I thought I'd share.

[Kes]

I picked up a very similar one in Wilkinsons on this side of the pond - used it a couple of times to grind out some resin to fix a miscast,
and to do a bit of converting.

Haven't been brave enough to try it on mold lines yet.

http://www.wilko.com/power-tools/wilko-cordless-preci-sion-engraver/invt/0343439

[snitcythedog]

I also have one that I picked up in the states at Harbor Freight for about $4.00.  Pretty useful.
Snitchy sends.

[maxxon]

Hmmm... you can get something like this off eBay for about $2 delivered.

No idea about the quality, but we'll see when mine gets here.

As long as it's running on a couple of AA cells, it can't be hugely powerful. Then again, that might actually be a good point in delicate work and the light weight and cordlessness don't hurt either.

[Calimero]

Useful indeed... I bought one at Canadian Tire here. I used it to convert a resin troll figure.

[zebcook]

Knew I should have gone to Harbor Freight, 

[FramFramson]

I also picked one up today at Canadian Tire. It's 50% off through Boxing Day, so I got it for $10.

I'll see how useful it comes in. I want to say "This is silly - it's just a cheap, underpowered, one-use dremel", but it's also VASTLY lighter than my dremel and as maxxon pointed out, its being underpowered is actually a plus for anything delicate, so I think it'll have its uses.

[snitcythedog]

as maxxon pointed out, its being underpowered is actually a plus for anything delicate, so I think it'll have its uses.

Last time I used it to engrave some bass wood.  Worked like a champ.  I would not even think about using my dremal for that purpose since even at its lowest setting it is still too powerful.  Like I said I find it pretty useful.   
Snitchy sends.   

[Cubs]

http://www.wilko.com/power-tools/wilko-cordless-preci-sion-engraver/invt/0343439

Cheers Kes, that's one power tool I might be allowed to have.

[FramFramson]

Yep, this is definitely a handy little bugger. Nice to have something in between a dremel and needle files.

[Melnibonean]

I've got one of these. Had it for years but rarely used it.

[maxxon]

Got mine a few days ago. Tried it out and wrote a short review about it:

http://www.smallcuts.net/reviews/?id=1949

[bishop odo]

I need something to help add details to prepainted, Heroclix and WOTC Star Wars figures. hand and sleeve separation and cloth folds.  I wonder how the engraver will do with the softer plastic?

[maxxon]

I need something to help add details to prepainted, Heroclix and WOTC Star Wars figures. hand and sleeve separation and cloth folds.  I wonder how the engraver will do with the softer plastic?

It won't work for that. At least my version had about 2mm ball head, which means it can't do grooves smaller than that.