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rotary tool - recommendations?

YNOT2K

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Aug 2, 2010
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Lynnwood, WA
i'm in the market for a rotary tool, probably a Dremel or Proxxon.

there are lots of models available and i'm pretty confused.

i'm looking for recommendations for the style that would work best in most home related uses. i also work on my cars/trucks a bit, so it might see some use there too.

what styles/models do you have and how do they work for you?
 
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neonnblack

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Jun 7, 2010
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Reno, NV
I think the one i have is an alltrade or one of the similar brands, its worked great for years now, the consumables blow though. It was only 20 or 30 bucks.
 

cheechi

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Feb 29, 2012
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Triad, NC
I have a Black & Decker RTX Type 1 (you can't find them any more, it's the variable speed one) that is the best of all my rotary tools ever period.

I also have and like the Craftsman 12v (if you are considering it, get the Milwaukee it's the same thing but you can use the batteries on more tools), the Dremel 4000, a Mastercraft $30 affair from Costco, and I had one of another brand that recently died, can't remember which.

You can get all of them now except my favorite B&D. but of what's out now, get the Dremel 4000 and get the most expensive kit you can afford because even if you don't want this or that accessory, you will get more of your money's worth with the bigger kits. It's not the accessories you really care about, it's the attachments that screw on to them that are overpriced outside the kits.

The Costco one is very solid for the money, but it's obvious when you're grinding, using a buffer or wire wheel, the Dremel is just a better tool. If you are willing to do the comparisons, the Craftsman rotary tools are rebranded Dremels. I don't think they have one that is exactly the 4000 though, they do have a 3000 equivalent for decent price on sale. I have used the Proxxon one in a store but not anything heavy duty. I would still go with the Dremel 4000.

I would recommend if you want a battery one, get that as your secondary or if you have specific things to do away from power. You won't get enough time on one battery to finish hardly anything.
 

larryq

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Does anyone use the rotary attachments you can hook up to bench grinders? Wondering how those perform vs the Dremels of Proxxons of the world./
 

jrlp

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Mar 20, 2012
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Laredo, Texas
Proxxon is pretty much the go-to for high end rotary tools. There is another alternative, but the name escapes me right now. It's a quite large DC motor running a flexible shaft to a hand piece and a proportional foot control. They ran them in college for shops and jewelry making classes. They stood up to hundreds of raging young adults trying their hardest to break them, and from what I understand, they never even had a hiccup. I remember them having GOBS of torque compared to Dremels. I'm talking an easy 10x. I wish I could remember the name, I'd love to pick one up now days. I remember they (were) made in the US.
 

Stuey

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28m above sea level
Proxxon is pretty much the go-to for high end rotary tools. There is another alternative, but the name escapes me right now. It's a quite large DC motor running a flexible shaft to a hand piece and a proportional foot control. They ran them in college for shops and jewelry making classes. They stood up to hundreds of raging young adults trying their hardest to break them, and from what I understand, they never even had a hiccup. I remember them having GOBS of torque compared to Dremels. I'm talking an easy 10x. I wish I could remember the name, I'd love to pick one up now days. I remember they (were) made in the US.
Foredom.
 

shoturtle

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Frankfurt AM
I have a proxxon and have been happy with them, no issue. And unlike the ones that are attach to a large dc motor, they are pretty easy to use around the house. Just need an extension cord. Dremmel has a Li Ion one that is pretty nice as well, but they are not as high end.
 

cheechi

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Triad, NC
Does anyone use the rotary attachments you can hook up to bench grinders? Wondering how those perform vs the Dremels of Proxxons of the world./

It's a quite large DC motor running a flexible shaft to a hand piece ... I remember them having GOBS of torque compared to Dremels. I'm talking an easy 10x.
That's basically the difference. The grinders don't spin as high (typically only about 10k rpm vs 30k or more for a Dremel), but they are better suited to grinding, polishing, and sanding, ie the tasks that need torque.

I have used the 3" one with the flex shaft and it's good for some things, depending if you can bring the work over to the bench to use it. Definitely not the only option you would want to have, but if you have the room and do those kinds of things often they would be beneficial. I am actually going to pick one up sometime soon if it ever stops raining here and I can actually clean the rust off some of this stuff.
 
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shoot summ

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Jun 8, 2010
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thanks for the replies, i'll be checking out Foredom now as well.

Foredom is a completely different class of machine, with the cost that goes along with it. There are Foredom style knock offs(I think HF has one) to be had cheaper if you aren't going to put one through the paces that a Foredom can handle. I have a re-branded Foredom I used for porting two stroke cylinders, it was passed down to me, still runs like a top, occasionally replace brushes and the inner cable and you are good to go.
 

plumber84

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Dec 18, 2011
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England
I used a Fein cutter yesterday to cut some floor boards and it was amazing! it cut the boards in seconds with no trouble, the tool is made in Germany and feels really solid it also comes with a wide selection of cutters for different materials.
 

JayL

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Apr 17, 2008
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Location
Manila, Philippines
Proxxon Question please.

Will there be an issue if I used a transformer w/ variable speed control and a rotary tool with variable speed control too?

I'm currently looking at this for a bench type work setup. Is this a better setup than going full AC? Thanks

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017NP2SO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S5KO3K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017NP2M0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000209ZAE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S89UGO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 

e30bradley

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Aug 3, 2011
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Don’t have a garage in Arizona USA
I like my dremil but I don't like paying $40 for a small cutting wheel assortment and then a 12 dollar thing to hold the wheels to the tool. rotary tools are only good for small 'crafty' stuff. I used it most often to trim plastic or put a notch in rusty/ stripped ph head screws
 

JayL

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Apr 17, 2008
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Manila, Philippines
I think I should have included this info but was not sure because it might be off topic. The Proxxon unit will be used for making button accessories. Mostly a bit of grinding and drilling on plastic, soft metals and the like. ( my wife's hobby ).

Mods kindly delete if off topic. Thanks

IMG_9978.jpg


IMG_7684.jpg


Currently she has this unit and a Dremel 4000 I just ordered because I did not see the Proxxon DC unit first. The Proxxon weight / slimness might be a factor for me to purchase it if the setup I previously posted is good.

IMG_0007.jpg
 
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bobbyrae

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Jun 15, 2008
Messages
29
Location
Alameda, CA
I am looking at that Dremel drill press setup and am wondering if precision is an issue for you. Many people have found that particular setup unacceptable. Looseness in the drill press mounting and runout in the tool itself. I opted for a Proxxon drill press for just that reason.
 

JayL

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Messages
1,789
Location
Manila, Philippines
I am looking at that Dremel drill press setup and am wondering if precision is an issue for you. Many people have found that particular setup unacceptable. Looseness in the drill press mounting and runout in the tool itself. I opted for a Proxxon drill press for just that reason.

Will be needing precise hole locations ( mostly 1/32" bit ) but not even close to machine shop tolerance.

I checked the new model 220 Dremel drill press stand . Mostly plastic and does not even come close to the build quality of the older model.

Anyway do you mean this one?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017PUR1Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
Last edited:

bobbyrae

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Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Messages
29
Location
Alameda, CA
Will be needing precise hole locations ( mostly 1/32" bit ) but not even close to machine shop tolerance.

I checked the new model 220 Dremel drill press stand . Mostly plastic and does not even come close to the build quality of the older model.

Anyway do you mean this one?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017PUR1Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yes, that is what I have. Price has gone up! I found that Micro-Mark now has the same thing along with a drill chuck for $170 (which is a savings of about $85). It is rebranded as Micro-Lux, but it is obviously identical in all other respects.

I also bought the x-y table and when used with Dremel bits you can do some neat stuff not possible by hand or even just a drill press.
 
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