I've been trying to port an extra lower manifold for the last 2 hours and at this rate I'm going to have 300 bucks in little cartridges for my dremel. I've seen online people using a die grinder and a metal bit. Where local can I get the bits?

 

You are after a rotary carbide burr
Must be listed for aluminum ; steel one will clog up
Cheap out local engineering supply shops or buy online

http://www.usacarbide.com/catalog/in...Path=1732_1762

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-8pc-Neik...item3cc6608a4a

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-NEW-1-4-25...item3a75619f9a

 

im using this now and it works good,
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ec...&storeId=10051

 

I bought a Makita electric die grinder and a carbide burr for aluminum through summit racing. Rough cut with the burr and finish smooth with the cartridges. Really made my manifold porting job quick and easy. Dremels just suck for alot of work..they heat up and break down. I ported a TPI base once with a dremel and it just sucked. Took forever and had alot of cartridge rolls Stealth ram base I just used the cartridge rolls for the big Makita grinder...got those big rolls through summit in a many piece head porting kit. Didnt take too long but a burr is much quicker. Used that on the single plane I did

 

Dremels are for grandma and grandpa Hobby.

Even if your doing just one thing its worth gettin proper tools for this job..

 

Mcmaster.com has all kinds of burrs. I'm just starting down the porting (mild) road but I've been using a Dremel with the flexible shaft. Easy to use and see what you're doing. And can get into small places.

 

I just went through this same process. I bought a couple burrs from http://www.carbidebur.com/automotive.html, which seem to be working out really well. A couple weeks later I picked up more burrs at 1/3 the price at a swap meet, and those are working just as well.

One big thing I learned is that the sanding cartridges are NOT all made the same. I picked up a bunch from Harbor Freight and then from that swap meet, and tore through them in no time. When I ran out I bought a Standard Abrasives 92 piece cartridge kit. This is a USA-made kit, and these cartridges are much higher quality than the junk I was using previously. They cut nicely, and they hold up MUCH better than the junk I was using before. I think I got the kit for around $30 on Ebay and it works great.

 

Yep standard abrasives kit is what I got through summit racing

 

Dremels are slower, yet more forgiving for first timers. When having to do this out of your own apartment it's about the only option .

 

Does Forney make any of these? I work at a carquest and we've got a few things that look something like what I need.