Hobby multi tool or die grinder.

[top drive]

My dremel went up in flames using it with a burr to clean up a joint for welding in an enclosed space- occasionally i use it to do cuts with small disks in tight spaces

Do i buy another dremel or similar or should i just go and get something with a bit of meat behind it like a die grinder.

Or is there something between a dremel ( which frankly was **** anyway) and a die grinder as the die grinder does seem a bit wild and most only seem to have one speed at 20k rpm..... The dremels multi speed was good.

Any ideas

Cheers

 

[woody 73]

Although I have a ton of die grinders (they are very nice for the heavy jobs); I found the following to be the Kat's Meow::beer

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...l-Tool-Only-2460-20/203111683?N=5yc1vZc2fpZzv

Just my two cent...

 

[Dave455]

If you are going to be doing much work with burrs then a Die Grinder is the tool you need!

Assuming you have access to air then go for an air powered one! Even a Taiwanese Die Grinder will cut like you won't believe compared to a Dremel, and you can often pick up good quality used tools for reasonable money! With air tools you can control the speed by the air pressure so don't worry too much about the free speed!

 

[DodgeMech]

Kobalt 1/4 inch collet right angle die grinder...I use it daily at work for various things and it kicks ***

 

[bob from indiana]

We have a Harbor Freight electric die grinder at work. It has held up well and didn't cost to much.

 

[machine_punk]

If you have air, I'd go with a die grinder. These generally have a 1/4" & 5mm collet for tooling.

If you want something more the size of a Dremel, they make smaller pneumatic 'pencil' grinders...straight grinders, with a 1/8" collet.

Even the HF die grinders (if I buy from HF, I get the one with a normal retail price of $25, not the cheaper one) have a speed/power adjustment on them. If you turn the thing which looks like it fits a straight screwdriver, you can control how much air gets to the air motor. I usually run mine 'full speed,' but they are adjustable.

For finer work, make sure you brace your hand against the work. This allows you a little bit better control. Also, try your bit with a straight vs. angled die grinder. Some bits are easier to control with a different angle to your hand.

And that is all I know about die grinders.

Kev

 

[cheechi]

I would only use a dremel for that kind of work if it was my only choice or if i needed a very exact/small thing to work on. There are a handful of things that you can say using the words 'dremel & grinding' in the same sentence but generally not ideal for it.

There are a handful of electric 'grinder' motors that use dremel bits, that are better than the dremel-sized motor. The one I chose was the HF 3" bench grinder with the flex shaft. You can also get a Proxxon benchtop unit, I think HF has one, woodworking store and/or lumber yard is sure to have one aimed at woodworkers, probably with a foot pedal control.

And I'm speaking as an owner of about 8 dremels.

 

[top drive]

Looks like i need to go to store and have a play.

No air here im afraid , never really had a need

dremel was my only choise for what i was doing from the tools i have , was trying to avoid cutting open my land rover bulkhead more thsn neccessary but still clean up well in a 3/4 inch gap between the two faces

 

[machine_punk]

If you only have electric, get something like the Fordom tool (not sure of spelling, or if it is even the correct name). It is a motor you hang on the wall, with a flex shaft for holding the tool bit and a foot switch for turning it on and off. A high-power dremel tool.

Kev

 

[Dave455]

If you only have electric, get something like the Fordom tool (not sure of spelling, or if it is even the correct name). It is a motor you hang on the wall, with a flex shaft for holding the tool bit and a foot switch for turning it on and off. A high-power dremel tool.

Kev

Yes, good advice! Think it's spelt "Foredom"! Shesto's used to sell them in the U.K, probably still do!

Great tool for a bench but not sure how it old work out for vehicle repairs!

Get yourself an MSC catalogue and have a look at what they've got. Think they offer an electric die grinder which may be what you need!