When I drill rocks with my dremel, I do it under just a little bit of water.
If the diamond-tipped bit heats up, it wears out almost instantly because the glue holding the diamond chips on can’t take the heat and lets go of the diamonds! I’ve already showed you how to drill rocks, but just recently I got an extremely helpful tip from a reader to make rock drilling safer!
Water and electricity aren’t the safest combination as you already know.
I haven’t had any trouble drilling my stones under water and am comfortable living with a little risk, but recently a reader, Jennifer, asked “My husband is concerned that I am going to electrocute myself dremeling in water. I pointed out that you survived the process long enough to share the ‘how to’ on your blog, but he is unconvinced. Anything I can share from your experiences to put his mind at ease? :)” Well, I didn’t have much to share except that I’m always careful not to grab the dremel with wet hands or to let the water drip up to where the motor is. Not a whole lot of help when you’re trying to argue with a concerned loved one. Happily, another reader, Wade, shared with us the key to maximum water/dremel/rock drilling safety!
To avoid electrocution while using electrical devices near water, use a GFI outlet!
What’s a GFI outlet? It stands for “ground fault interrupter outlet”. They’re the little guys with red buttons that you’ve probably got in your bathroom right now. As Wade says: “If you’re really concerned about the electrical hazard, plug your drill into an outlet with a ‘ground fault interrupter’, or GFI, for short. They are expressly designed for this sort of thing, which is why all modern construction codes REQUIRE them in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, outdoor outlets, and any location near water pipes or dampness. They constantly watch for electric current going someplace where it shouldn’t be (like through your body), and instantly shut off all power to the outlet if and when such a current is detected. These devices have been around for years, and are a technically mature and reliable product, and also not terribly expensive.”
I already knew about these magical little outlets, but for some reason I never connected the dots on my own. A big thanks and a wave to Wade for helping me and Jennifer out with our dremel/electricity/water question! I’m going to have my little fix-it man change my work bench outlet for me soon. In the meantime I might run an extension cord in the bathroom. After all, prevention is the best medicine! Wishing you many happy and safe rock drilling adventures 😀