Guys,

I need to purchase some head porting/sanding tools for work and I'm looking for the best place to purchase nice, high quality stuff. It looks like Eastwood has all of the stuff I need but I'm hoping for a little higher end stuff.

So, where's a good place to buy a die grinder, some 6" and 4" mandrels, various grit sand papers or stones, cutting bits etc. etc? Also, does anyone know of a high quality electric die grinder for very fine work (ie not a dremel?).

What brands do you recommend?

I certainly don't have an unlimited budget, but I don't want a bunch of made in China Eastwood crap either. Not that everything Eastwood sells is either junk or Chinese made...

Any input is appreciated.

 

Best cutting tool I have ever seen came out of AMG's factory in Germany, but we cannot even find out the source.
So what I am trying to say is, any input to Efini's question will be greatly appreciated by everyone here.

 

I will ask some of the prostock engine builders what they use and get back to this thread.

 

I should probably PM Bogus, I doub't he checks the forum regularly. He's too busy winning

 

For my stuff, Braineack's, and BRGRacer's heads I used a combination of a Makita electric die grinder and a dremel. I get most of my attachments and bits regardless of application on Ebay or Amazon. Best place to get things for low prices since they are all wear items anyway. For the initial material removal I use the Makita with a bit that is sharp with wide valleys so it doesn't load up quickly from the aluminum. For the really tight stuff I use a dremel with the snake attachment and hang the dremel overhead. Don't buy dremel brand bits, they are way overpriced. You can get no name stuff on ebay that is just as good plus way more options, but still fits in the mandrel. You can also get the blue dye or whatever its real name is on ebay for dirt cheap.

 

Blue dye name brand is dykem, I swear they use gallons of it a week out in the shop laying out the machining on the multi-ton forgings. Generic brand will be called something like layout dye or machinists dye or something like that.

 

Have you tried the kits from Summit racing? Not very expensive...

 

My collects of bits and burrs is wide spread from years. my 6" burrs are from Matco tools, others are from different supply houses, I pick them up and fondle them and if I like them, I buy.

The cheap sand paper rolls are just cheap, I spend a few bucks more and get them from the machinist supply catalog, in a box of 50 or 100 at a time.

When I started porting I used a foredom Rotory tool from sears 1/5 hp with a flex shaft, about $350-$400
I got tired of having to stop and change over burrs and bits and loosing the flow when porting.

I switched to 4 air grinders with a 4" tip years back, best way to go IMHO.
I also have a purpose built light table for porting.