Dremel died a slow death... now what ?

[WR250F]

My Dremel finally died last night as I was playing attic rat sorting out some wiring problems with the coax that evidently was originally put in by a cable company field tech who was on his first job, or having an incredibly bad day.

I went over to the local HD and Lowes this morning and was completely underwhelmed by the current Dremel product line.

It seems like none I looked at have any power, at least compared to my old one. The new versions spin up to RPM's in the stratosphere, but no torque behind it.

I also noticed the speed adjustment was linear now instead of a 3 speed. That's fine, but the slider to adjust the speed only worked through about half of the adjustment range effectively making them on/off.

I need to replace my old one, and the ones I saw at the DIY stores appear to have been cheapened to the point they are bordering on being a POS.

I like Dremel tips, and have a good number on hand of the ones I commonly use. If possible, I would like to either find a decent quality Dremel, or something that will use the same wheels and stones.

Brand isn't important, but quality is - if such a thing still exists. Corded is fine, cordless is fine, three speed or variable is fine, as long as it works.

I got over 20 years out of the one that just died, I'd be surprised if I could get 20 minutes out of the ones I saw this morning.

Any suggestions for a replacement ?

 

[Macgyver_ga]

When my Dremel took a dive a few years ago, I just bought a Black & Decker brand rotary tool from HD. It was significantly cheaper and I can still use all my Dremel bits for it. The only thing I really use it for is finish sharpening (smooth it over after the angle grinder) of lawnmower blades every few weeks, Occassionally cutting off a screw, or cutting a hole in drywall.

 

[Monte]

Proxxon

http://proxxonusa.com/

 

[Outlawmws]

Maybe Craig's List? I'd guess a low hours used one could be had cheaply. (I just passed on an older one at an estate sale...)

 

[DrunkSmurf]

Have you ever replaced the motor brushes in your old Dremel?

 

[softailgarage]

Have you ever replaced the motor brushes in your old Dremel?

^^x2

 

[mikew13]

I saw those cheaply looking Dremels with the top model online selling for $120.
No thanks Dremel! I could get a Proxxon Pro for about $120!

 

[plinker]

+3 on the brushes


IMO, when Bosch bought Dremel, Roto-zip & Vermont American, all three went downhill.

 

[cashishift]

+3 on the brushes


IMO, when Bosch bought Dremel, Roto-zip & Vermont American, all three went downhill.

did not known they were all the same company

 

[plinker]

Yeah, Bosch bought all three a few years ago and promptly outsourced them from what I've seen.

 

[mooseracing]

I've never been impressed by dremel style tools, I have a smaller die grinder that has different collets and takes the small sized stuff.

 

[puttsy]

As others said, brushes. You'll probably have better luck rebuilding your old one. I unknowingly bought one of the last of the good ones. Looked at getting another a year or so ago and shook my head in disappointment.

The bottom end one with 2 speeds are about the best ones I've seen. The new models with high price tags seem pretty shoddy.

 

[WR250F]

+3 on the brushes


IMO, when Bosch bought Dremel, Roto-zip & Vermont American, all three went downhill.

Well there's the missing link.

I could tell something changed.

Any idea where to get a hands on look at the Proxxon ?

Does it use Dremel disks and stones ?

Do any of you know of a retail source for the Proxxon ?

Outlaw, I've been looking for a used one as I get the chance. Not many estate sales in this area, most people use CL pretty extensively or go to the flea market which attracts some 20k people every weekend. The flea market is OK, but if you aren't there at 6:00 AM when it opens, you end up browsing cheapo import leather goods and (most likely) stolen CD's and other non-tool oriented stuff.

There is one booth with a ton of tools, but the guy that runs it is one of those who think used tools at a flea market are worth more than retail. The last time I went in there he had a 7 piece CMan RP SAE wrench set for $59. Sears had them on sale at the time for $22.

Looking for used is definitely a good suggestion though, you saying that inspires me to get on the hunt again.

As far as the brushes, I have replaced them in my old unit twice. I opened it up last night to see if I could revive it and it looks like a bearing is frozen or the shaft is just worn out. It tries to spin up, but the shaft doesn't rotate and it gets seriously hot in a hurry. I'm thinking it is a winding, or something equally catastrophic.

I thought no use in trying to rebuild it again, and dropped in the DIY places for a new one. I'd rather use an air grinder than the stuff I saw this morning.

The Proxxon looks great, but, everything does in the advertising hoopla, so I would really like to get my hands on one if possible. They aren't cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but if that's the price of something of decent quality in todays market, I would rather swallow hard and pay the price for something that isn't junk than get a POS for free.

 

[lzenglish]

I would call dremel on their 1-800 number, as they have some trade in deals from the factory. They have always been good to deal with for me, anyway!

Wayne

 

[plinker]

Does it use Dremel disks and stones ?

Anything with a 1/8" shank will work with Dremel bit and such.

If you have a smaller local type hardware store they may have an NOS Dremel model, you may pay more for it but I'd say it's worth it.

 

[woody 73]

Funny about reading how the dremel tools have gone downhill;because I was just looking at them in lowes and I thought the same thing.

I bought one of those flexable shaft type tools where you mount the motor up on a high stand and then you use the shaft, but because the shaft is rather short you are somewhat limited to your reach.

My brother-in-law sent me a chinese type dremel tool and it works off 220 volts ,after finding a special three way prong it will only work in one speed; I have used the snot out of it but only in very fast speed.

The proxxon looks like the best way to go if I ever needed another one.

 

[knobby]

Anything with a 1/8" shank will work with Dremel bit and such.

If you have a smaller local type hardware store they may have an NOS Dremel model, you may pay more for it but I'd say it's worth it.

if you can find a NOS #398 they are the "high water mark" for dremel rotary tools IMHO and yes motor brushes are still available for this model

 

[Trucky]

Which model was it specifically? I had an old 400 XPR that could handle anything you threw at it. I sold it... horrible move on my part.

I read a lot of the newer 400's had issues with dying very quickly. I bought mine many moons ago, maybe I got one of the good ones luckily.

 

[knobby]

Well there's the missing link.

I could tell something changed.

Any idea where to get a hands on look at the Proxxon ?

Does it use Dremel disks and stones ?

Do any of you know of a retail source for the Proxxon ?

hobby shops seem to be the most common retailers for proxxon gear if you want to see one in the flesh but ebay often has the best pricing

 

[SMKS]

I've been considering getting a Proxxon. Amazon has quite a few different models.

 

[Outlawmws]

Doesn't Proxon run at a slower RPM?

Maybe Dremel has the bearing if you can get it out, or maybe it can be sourced if it has a number or you can measure it?

 

[geologist]

The bearings went out in my Dremel as well. Couldn't get the part (and it was under a year old). My grandpa burned up a few as well - I'll let him know about Proxxon. My Menards "$9.99 special" ToolShop rotary tool sounds like it's going into runaway all the time, has high speed but not so much torque, but it's outlived 6 Dremels.

 

[billymade]

A number of years ago I contacted dremel customer service; they told me to send in mine (it was actually a craftsman oem dremel), they sent me back a refurbished model free of charge. You might contact customer service and see what they can do for you, its worth a shot! Good luck!

 

[SMKS]

Doesn't Proxon run at a slower RPM?

There are quite a few different models. The one I'm considering is variable speed from 5k to 20k rpm.

 

[Monte]

Do any of you know of a retail source for the Proxxon ?

They have plenty of dealers in every part of the US:
here is a dealer search:

http://www.proxxonusa.com/

click on "customer service" and then "Retailers US"


a online retailer:

http://www.woodcraft.com/search2/se...n&orderby=sales rank(int)&sortorder=ascending

 

[TjoFrasse]

Another vote for a Proxxon IB/E. Got mine about a year ago, I'm very satisfied. Prices are perhaps higher over there, but I paid not much more than a Dremel costs. Dremels feels like toys in comparison.

 

[lametec]

Doesn't Proxon run at a slower RPM?

If you've ever heard one run, you'd think so. They're so quiet at 20,000 RPM, they sound like a Dremel running at 5,000 RPM.

But no, the rotary tool is rated from 5000-20,000 RPM.

 

[jfleisher]

Woodcraft stores carry Proxxon too.

 

[plinker]

One place to check for rotary tool stuff in general is micromark.com. They are a hobby/miniture scale type catalog.

The Dremel I have is a Blue point branded #395 Dremel. Got it around '98-'99.

 

[240sxguy]

I bought a 398 dremel when I was in 5th grade. Some jerkoff stole it 5 years back. The new ones don't hold a candle to my old unit. *****.

 

[Robbie UK]

Over here the Proxxon is the daddy since Dremel lost their way. It has become the de facto standard for the modellers who run these things hard. Proper gearboxes and proper motors make these things sing. Compared to a Dremel they also vibrate less and make less noise. In another strange twist they are also cheaper (well in the UK anyway) then Dremels.

 

[AV8OR]

I don't have one but Milwaukee has one in their 12v lineup -

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/.../m12-cordless-lithium-ion-rotary-tool/2460-21

Then if you want to move up to the bench top level there is Foredom tools -

http://www.foredom.net/

Or there are the pencil grinders that spin up to 70,000+ RPM

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001X1YLA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Monte]

Dremel grinders also have a collet made of aluminium , Proxxon collets are made of steel like all other collets...

 

[Outlawmws]

Dremel grinders also have a collet made of aluminium , Proxxon collets are made of steel like all other collets...

Not 100% true. All three of mine (older, granted) are steel collets... Can't say for the new ones

 

[Monte]

Not 100% true. All three of mine (older, granted) are steel collets... Can't say for the new ones

The new ones at least and at least in Germany
silver color and soft, you can press them together with your fingers...

 

[JASTECH]

I have 2 Dremels, one is digitel with LCD display and metal colets with wrench less chuck. The other is heavy duty, a bit larger with flex shaft came in same case. I may get rid of the digitel unit as I need something stronger so why destroy it on things it's not intended to be used on. I too was looking at Proxxon or similar.

 

[rsanter]

How about a roto zip kit with the flex extension

Bob

 

[JASTECH]

www.gyrostools.com/i6/Tools/information.html


Their bits and cutters are waay beter then Dremel but never could put my hands on the rotory tool. Anyone else chime in?

 

[ishiboo]

I bought the Black & Decker RTX, at the time it was my understanding it had both more torque and higher RPMs than the comparable Dremel, and accessories are interchangeable. It's several years old and hasn't let me down yet.

It still seems to get good reviews, and it's only $30... if mine ever goes I'll probably grab another.

 

[jtrace]

I have several Dremels both corded and cordless,and I recently bought a Proxxon,there is a crazy difference but you need a power supply for it.I got the rotary tool and the sander nice tools.But I just use them for building scale models.I have a blue point in my shop box.

John