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Just looking at buying one of these rotary tools. The genuine Dremels are about twice the price of the "own brand" rotary tools sold by the Hardware stores. Question is, is the Dremel worth the extra money and if so, in what way?? | ||
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one of us |
I don't know about the private brands but I do own an old Dremel, bought 25 years ago. It has worn out a lot of stones and bits but it's still running and doing as good a job as when new. ------------------ | |||
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| one of us |
My Dremel has 15 years on it and I have really taxed the motor and abused it... It has had several motor brush sets and worn out collet chucks- It still does the job... Several years ago, I got a variable speed Dremel which I find much more useful than the single speed... Look for sales on the Dremel. Alternatives would include the Dremel's big brother, the Foredom engine with flexible shaft. Just don't get tempted to inlet stocks with them | |||
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one of us |
I have 3 of them plugged in (I don't like to stop to change tools) They are about 19 year olds & I just change the brushes went they need it & keep on going. Kind of like the Enegizer Bunny.   ------------------ NRA Life member [This message has been edited by Bear Claw (edited 01-31-2002).] | |||
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| One of Us |
Pete, I have three Foredom tools and about 6 heads. I have had dremels in the past and got rid of them. I think they are much better than the dremels. I don't know the availability to you there. I can get a head fixed very quickly from them just by sending it 2nd day air (not an advantage to you of course). When I call I get a person which is a rarity these days. I use them mainly for checkering but also for polishing (cratex) and never for inletting, they can get away from you too easily and do a lot of damage. Which ever one you end up going for, you might check EBAY. You can buy anything there. Havent checked for fresh milk but it would not surprise me. Some folks won't ship outside the US but if you need some help, give me a holler if you go that route. Chic Deebee, glad you didn't go any further. I heard an old joke about great great great grand fathers hatchet. It had been in the family for over 100 years. The handle had been replaced 13 times and the head had been replaced four times. [This message has been edited by Customstox (edited 02-01-2002).] | |||
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| one of us |
As an Eskimo ivory carver, I have worn out several Dremals in the past 5-7 years. I put literally tons of miles, as it were, through them. The ivory dust, being hard and sharp, causes the motor to become rough after about a year or two. I also have gone through many sets of brushes with them as well. I tried the flex shaft on the Dremal, and it robs power, so a Foredom may be a better flex shaft buy (or Dremel's version). Heres a few pointers... buy the variable speed version, this helps with many cutting chores that may require a different speed. Take the 'cap' off the grip area(where the flex shaft screws on) and round off the sharp edge on it, still leaving it realivily large. Re-install. This makes for more comfort. When holding "stranglehold style", keep a gap between the palm and the Dremel for forced-air venting, since choking off the vents causes it to over heat. Keep the Dremel-holding hand's thumb on the object, for steady work, and bring the cutter towards the thumb, like you were closing the two together. Don't grind the thumb! Be careful. You'll note from many of the above posts, they had theirs for plenty of years, and still counting. That speaks well for occasional use. In my case, the Dremel is used for many hours on end, literally everyday, with sharp, hard, microscopic dust causing damage, yet I still use them. I'm in the process of making an order for more rotory tools, and will add the Dremel version of the Foredom. ~~~Suluuq www.northwestarcticborough.org/arcticraft/donferguson/index.htm [This message has been edited by Rusty Gunn (edited 02-01-2002).] | |||
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Moderator |
I had two dremels, the old and new style variable speed tools, and now use a foredom like set up. I had a Makita 1/4" die grinder, and fit a foredom flex shaft to it, and use foredom handpieces. The dremels are ok w/ 1/8" dia and smaller cutters, but w/ the 1/4" cutters just doesn't have enough power. With a foredom set up, you can use 1/4" dia cutters, as well as the 1/2" dia cutters. I use a variac to vary the speed on the makita head. For occasianal light use the dremels are fine, for heavy use, go with the foredom or equivalent and never look back. | |||
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| <Indiana Tone> |
Paul H can you give me the low down on how you hooked up the Foredom flex shaft to the Makita die grinder? Any special adapter or anything? Just curious sounds like a heck of an idea there. | ||
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| Moderator |
quote: Foredom makes a flex shaft that attaches to a 1/4" shaft. I simply got a 1/4" drill blank, chucked it in the die grinder, and connected it to the flex shaft. At the time, the flex shafts were only $25, foredom handpieces run ~$50. I also have some NSK angle heads and an adapter for porting two stroke engines, or other tight applications. With extreme care, and a set of carbide burrs, a rotary tool can perform many of the functions of a mill. With a moment of inatention, it can also butcher whatever you are working on in an instant BTW, anyone looking for some superb ivory carvings, drop a line to Rusty Gun, he does great work, and the salmon earings he made for my wife get worn more then most other earings she has. | |||
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one of us |
As far as going for the store brands. You will probably be sacrificing "bearings" for "bushings", and other quality issues. Dremel accessories and repair parts can be had almost anywhere. I live in a very small community (13,000 pop.) in the Northern extreme of New York State. I can think of at least four retail outlets in this small town that have extensive selections of "Dremel" parts and accessories. I have a router base for mine that I use for inletting locks on muzzle loaders. There ar many, many attachments available for the genuine Dremel Tool. If you are going to use this tool extensively, by all means choose to "upgrade" to a higher quality tool such as those recommended here. If you are a "hobbiest" that will not be using your Dremel Tool constantly, it would take you years to wear it out. Buying a cheaper "store brand" would be "penny wise and pound foolish" I also vote for the variable speed model! ------------------ | |||
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| <sure-shot> |
I picked up the Dremel Pro Rotary w/tools kit for a whopping $69.00 at Price/Costco. A few weeks later my wife was shopping at Costco and noticed the price had been lowered to $49.00. Did she pick up a spare for me? A big "YES"! By the way this kit sells for $172.90 in a major 'smith supply catalog. Just had to share this bit. sure-shot | ||
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| <Big50> |
Ok I bought a Variable speed Dremel, the thing vibrates a little and gets hot after a minute, the the thing starts to slow down gradually and eventually it stops and locks up. My guess is a bad bearing. Anyone had this happen? I'm going to return it for either the Black & Decker or another Dremel. My brother blew his Dremel up when he bumped the lockup pin while it was running. You can't do that with the B&D model, it looks more comfortable too. What do you think? | ||
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| one of us |
Bog50... The spare rotary tool I have is a Ryobi, which is new. This thing is only to be used as a last ditch wait-til-I-get-a-new-Dremel situation due to it getting very hot within minutes. I haven't run it beyound this, so don't know if it would slow and stop though. I put it away, as a back up to the back up. ~~~Suluuq | |||
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