Which Dremel

[Alan D. Hyde]

or similar tool offers the most value for money, based on your experience?

I've never had one, but have decided they're so useful I'll have to go get one.

The other day, I was at my son's house, helping him take the exhaust system off his '88 Volvo, which is still ticking along nicely. I was using a nut-splitter and a hacksaw, which work, but are slow and cumbersome. I was wishing for a torch. His neighbor came along and cut the rusted metal off in a flash with his Dremel. Impressive!

Alan

[ken mcclure]

I have a benchtop scroll saw that has a flexible shaft that attaches to the motor. I can use all the little Dremel-type bits with that shaft. Best of both worlds.

[Donn]

Alan...the two most common types are hanging motor with flexible shaft ending in hand-piece that holds the chuck or collet; or self-contained units that put the motor and chuck/collet in your hand. There are good reasons to have both types. Dremel, IMO, makes the best self-contained unit, and Foredom makes the best hanging motor unit.

[ishmael]

Alan,

Short of a flexible shaft machine (no pun intended), Dremel, and probably others, make a battery powered tool. Better for exaust work. ;)

No personal experience. I'm suprized Donn hasn't chimed in yet. Variable speed is always nice in a tool like this also.

[Donn]

:D

[Wild Wassa]

I don't know if Dremel make big ones, but get a small one, with a long cord.

Don't expect to drill with a Dremel (I use mine as a drill, a very fine drill). My Dremel only takes drill bits to 3/32" (?), it will not take larger bits. Dremels fit in tight spots. For restoration they are real value. The range of cutting tools and grinding bits, is awesome ... in price. I have a lot (from a gift), but I don't use the bits. I tend to only use a couple of grinding bits and one fine drill bit. One thing about the Dremel is, it is tough. The Dremel grinding bits, aren't. I don't overuse my Dremel. I can usually only find 2 or 3 job a year for the Dremel, not good value. Only the dremel can do it though, that is very good value.

With a mind on value, don't buy a lot of cutting tools, if you are thinking about having a good range, buy them as you need them.

The hardest thing about owning a Dremel is saying, " No, bring it here".

Warren.

ps, Usually I can't see the Dremel when I'm using it. Buy a small mirror or next time you visit the dentist, ... ask.

[ 01-16-2003, 04:40 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[NormMessinger]

I got one for Christmas. Had one, didn't know I wanted another. The new one is so much better than the 18 year old one there is no comparison. Still I wonder about the literature that came with it. It shows a dude cleaning the rust off a mail box post and other heavy duty jobs. That strikes me as being similar to digging a post hole with a dental pick but it is a dandy tool for what it is.

Ya gotta see for yourself however, $50 for the kit from Amazon... cheap.

[Donn]

Try to avoid the Dremel kits, because Dremel's branded bits, etc...are low quality and high priced. If you shop around for bits, brushes, sanding drums, cutting wheels, etc..you can get much better stuff, at lower prices. There's a great selection at Widget Supply. (http://www.widgetsupply.com/Dremel/dremel-index.html)

Things that I use regularly in my Dremels include sanding drums (including diamond), cutoff wheels, grinding wheels, stainless steel brushes, brass brushes, diamond burrs, carbide burrs, buffing wheels, and grinding stones.

One last tip would be to go for a tool that is infinately speed adjustable. On most of the preset speed models, you can't get a slow speed, which works better for grinding, drilling, and sharpening.

[Tom Lathrop]

Norm,

I got one for Christmas too and also have a 25 year old one that I heve kept going by sneaking a little oil into the overworn sleeve bearings.

The best Dremel is one that you get as a gift. I use mine for numerous little jobs that are nearly impossible to do with something else. It would be nice if the motor were more powerful. The thin grinding discs are great for getting at fine work and work better and are less breakeable than you might think. The best additions to the new one are the hand tightening chuck, the more flexible power cordand a bit more power.

[Wild Wassa]

Norm, Model makers swear by them, letterbox restorers should be industrially sensible. I agree with you, very bad marketing of the tool. They would do better to market to dentists. I imagine the hit rates would be the same or slightly higher.

Loon, My Dremel has adjustable speeds upto 25,000 rpm (?)). I don't know the new Dremel. I am hoping mine will last another 20 years.

Warren.

[ 01-16-2003, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Bob Cleek]

Ditto to the above. I've got two of 'em. Dremels aren't nearly as competent as their advertising claims. You get a book with it, "1001 Uses for Your New Dremel." Yeah... right! LOL It should be called "50 Uses for Your New Dremel, and 951 Stupid, Futile, Misuses of This Tool by People Who Don't Have the Right Tool for the Job at Hand."

Still and all, for the right job, it is very handy. The right job is most often a very fine detailed task. I use mine a lot doing model building. I'd spring for the kid that gives you the carrying case and the flexible shaft for about $75 bucks. The shaft will get you in places the tool won't fit and is much better for very fine work because it is easier to hold.

I have the variable speed 120 VAC model and have been quite happy with it. Years ago I had a Crapsman knock off and it was crap. One trick with the Dremel is to get all the various size collets. This lets you use off brand bits. Most of the Dremel brand bits are next to useless unless you spring for the carbide ones. Their HSS just doesn't stand up to the high speed applications and dull very quickly. If you have the smaller collets, you can lean on your dentist to give you his worn out dental burrs. These work great and while too dull to do teeth, still cut fine on wood for fine carving and such. (Unless, of course, your dentist is a cheapskate and drills your teeth with a dull bit! LOL)

I also finally bought one of the little rechargeable battery powered Dremels for SWMBO. She discovered use number 1002, which is filing her dogs' nails. Basset hounds have to have their nails done (something to do with their being dwarfs and not wearing them down as much as other breeds. Long nails cause them to walk improperly and develop joint problems... so she says.) The little drum sander works fine for this use and the rechargeable model allows for use where a plug and extension cord isn't around. More to the point, I don't have to go looking for my corded model every time I want to use it anymore!

Now, if I had to do it over again, I WOULD take a closer look at the Dremel-like system that is sold by MicroMark, the outfit that sells minature tools for model makers. (They have a good website.) I can't remember the brand name, but it is a very wide range of powered minature tools that all run off a 120 VAC rectifier that pumps out DC power. They have Dremel like grinders, plus band and table saws, drill presses and all sorts of neat toys. Even micro-miniature sabre saws and sanders, belt and vibrating. The cost is lower if you are looking for a wide range of powered minature tools, since the power supply works for all the tools, sort of like with a compressor and air driven tools, and, what is to my mind the biggest advantage over Dremel is that the torque from the DC motor is constant over all speed ranges, unlike an AC motor, as in the Dremel. If you try to get your AC Dremel running at slow speed, the torque goes way down.

[ 01-16-2003, 04:43 PM: Message edited by: Bob Cleek ]

[Todd Bradshaw]

I just bought a new one as my 20 year-old one was getting kind of worn out. It was a kit with the variable speed "Multi-Pro model, a whole bunch of gizmos and a well designed case (you drop the tool in the top and there is a big hole where you just dump the cord in, rather than having to wind it carefully back and forth before the case will close - pet peeve). Even hangs on the wall neatly. I paid about $55 at a home improvement store.

I find myself using the little cutting wheels about as much as anything else. Note though, that the stock, inexpensive ones have a very nasty tendency to fly apart at high speed if you torque them by accident in the slot that they are cutting. Buy a package of the Dremel fiber-reinforced wheels. They aren't cheap, but have some sort of mesh-like reinforcing inside them that you can see telegraphing it's pattern on the outside. You may occasionally tear a chunk out of the edge, but they don't generally self destruct and throw pieces at you like the unreinforced ones do.

The little router attachment can also be handy at times and for about $22 you can hang up the tool and plug-in a flexible shaft if you want to do your own dentistry....

Gee Bob, dog nails. Our dog scratches the crap out of our oak floors. Might be worth a try. I attempted to file them down with the P.C. 5" random orbit once. I about got bitten and he payed me back by peeing on the carpet. Maybe I'll try the Dremel.

[ 01-16-2003, 04:50 PM: Message edited by: Todd Bradshaw ]

[Donn]

This is my next rotary tool...Foredom SR...1/8hp motor that's reversible. Finestkind.

http://www.foredom.com/images/S_150px.jpg

Foredom (http://www.foredom.com/index.html)

[NormMessinger]

"Try to avoid the Dremel kits..."

Harrumph! Now ya tell me. Actually it doesn't come with that many bits but the case is handy as Todd says.

Check out Lee Valley, they have sets of diamond burrs that seem pretty reasonalbe.

And thanks for that wideget site Donn. I didn't save it the first time, a few weeks ago, that you called it to our attention. Didn't know I needed a Dremel then.

[Donn]

You got the right kit, Norm. 10-pc 395?

[Ross Faneuf]

I have a standard dremel that I mostly use with cutoff wheels for hopeless nuts and the like.

I also have an old Craftsman 1/4" die grinder that I use with carbide burrs to deal with things like sheared-off unremoveable screws and the like (grind down and fill with epoxy putty). Capable of much heavier work than the Dremel, but larger and clumsier.

[hoss]

Don't buy a Dremel I've fixed the shaft on my top end model, 3 times with very little use. Buy a Foredom.