Battery Rotary Tools - Dremel vs 12v Milwaukee vs ?

[Armatron]

I am fairly invested in M12, Makita 18v and Makita 36v. My trusty Dremel that I use a couple times a week is getting annoying as one of my only commonly used corded tools.

I have put a lot of effort into sticking with m12 and makita 18v and 36. I REALLY don't want to add another charger and **** for the dremel brand battery rotary.

Anyone happy with the m12 rotary tools? I see there is a brushed and brushless version. I read a lot of complaints about collets, but then a lot of responses saying collets are easily available and last forever anyway. I have ton of dremel bits and kits, I assume they will all fit the m12. I don't care about the flex attachment, just cutting discs, sanders, etc

Thoughts?

 

[finn]

Get the Dremmel.

I don’t get the aversion to multiple battery platforms. It’s really not that big of a deal, and by shaking that phobia, you don’t stress out like this “decision” is putting you through.

 

[RTM]

Make sure you like the ergonomics of the battery powered tool before you stick to a platform. Heard complaints they are *** heavy, and not comfortable to use for extended periods of time.

 

[Armatron]

Get the Dremmel.

I don’t get the aversion to multiple battery platforms. It’s really not that big of a deal, and by shaking that phobia, you don’t stress out like this “decision” is putting you through.

I wouldn't say I'm stressed about it, I just already have a bunch of battery tools including stihl and other junk. I'm trying to limit adding more unless it's the only option.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have the dremmel and milwaukee, personally I like the milwaukee better. Sometimes I go for just the rotary which has a higher rpm but usually the die grinder works. I gave my wife the dremmel, it's more suited for craft work.

 

[Komet]

I have the M12 brushed rotary tool and it's fine for light duty stuff, but bogs down when you use it like a die grinder (the way we all use them, let's be honest). Not as much torque as my old corded B&D RTX, otherwise no issues with the collet or anything like that.

Now that there's a brushless model, I'd advise going with that one.

 

[dnschmidt]

THE BRUSHLESS versions of the Dremel and the M12 are virtually identical as I have both. The Dremel uses Bosch's 12V battery and the M12 obviously the M12. Cough up the cash for the brushless as they're worth it.

 

[tarmy]

I have had several cordless Dremel tools over the years. The older ones no longer are supported and battery replacement is only with knockoffs. I have started switching over to M12 because I have a ton of batteries and they are always charged so that pain of waiting for a Dremel to charge up is now no longer an issue.

 

[finn]

I have had several cordless Dremel tools over the years. The older ones no longer are supported and battery replacement is only with knockoffs. I have started switching over to M12 because I have a ton of batteries and they are always charged so that pain of waiting for a Dremel to charge up is now no longer an issue.

I bought the knockoff battery for my old cordless Dremmel. Still fine after two years. I don’t use the Dremmel much. I also have a corded Dremmel from 1966 and a Craftsman that’s about twenty years old. Don’t use them much, either. I prefer air tools for the things a Dremmel will do.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I had a Dremel but it was stolen. Bought the M12 I find it a bit awkward from the Dremel even though mine as corded So ergonomically a little handier.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I have an aversion to too many different batteries. It's very inefficient from a supply chain perspective. To put into context of producing cars, suppose a carmaker had 10 different models of cars. And all 10 had different axles. They have to stock 10 different sets of axles. And they dont know how many of each car they'll need to produce in the future, so due to the time constraint in having axles made, they have to slightly overstock 10 different axles. Or they risk not having the axles to make whichever model of the car turns out to be demanded.

Now imagine the same car company had 10 different cars that all shared the same axle. They dont need to overstock as many axles because if one model is very popular, and one model is not popular, then they use fewer axles on the less popular model, and more axles on the popular one but they're the same axle.

Back to batteries, suppose you want to make sure you always have a working battery. Two is one and one is none. If you only have one battery it might die and leave you with zero. Suppose you plan to use the tool a lot in a certain day, you might need three batteries to be safe. And what if one or two dies under warranty, now you need four or five while you're waiting for the return.

Or maybe one or two dies outside of warranty and the batteries go on sale for 30% off a few times per year, so you either have to have extra on hand that you buy during the sale or you risk having to go to Home Depot and buying the battery at full price.

So why do I flat out refuse to add a new battery to my lineup? Because I already have a dozen M12 batteries of different sizes. If I got a new platform, now I need to add at least three more of that battery. And it probably comes with some subpar bundled battery as these things usually do, so now I wind up with four of that battery taking up space. And another charger taking up space. And you shouldn't store lithium batteries in un-airconditioned spaces so they are taking up living space.

That said, from all reviews, the M12 dremels are junk and I have avoided buying one. I want one, but I don't need one, and the few times per year I need a rotary tool, I bust out my Foredom and use that. It's a lot less convenient for smaller jobs than a cordless Dremel would be, but I flat out refuse to add another brands battery to my toolset for one tool. And both the old and the new M12 dremels are reportedly junk.

I was considering getting an M12 straight die grinder with a step down attachment for smaller Dremel size bits, but I was holding out hope on a new brushless m12 Dremel. Which finally came around 6 months ago and is also reportedly ****.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have the old school M12 version on my service truck and it's ok but I only use it a couple of times a year. My only real complaint is that when using the cutoff wheels, the battery life *****. I have a ton of batteries, so as long as I remember to grab a couple when I have to cut something, all is well. When I forget to grab a battery and have to make the walk of shame back to my van is when I am disgusted with it.

 

[Armatron]

Appreciate the comments. I think I’m going to go with the 12v fuel die grinder and buy the Milwaukee 1/8” collet for my dremel junk. Best of both worlds, and if I truly need the occasional detail work stuff I can pull out an extension for the dremel

 

[65k10]

Make sure you like the ergonomics of the battery powered tool before you stick to a platform. Heard complaints they are *** heavy, and not comfortable to use for extended periods of time.

That is something to be mindful of. I use a brushed M12 rotary tool for engraving livestock ear tags in the field. It works but the extra weight at the back makes it somewhat clumsy to use when holding it like a large pencil. If I have time and need to engrave a large number of tags, I prefer to go back to the barn and use a better balanced corded Dremel.

 

[Plastikosmd]

I prefer the m12 over my dremel for the “dremel style “ tool

For my die grinder I have the m18, and you have to be careful with that beast. It doesn’t stall, it attacks

 

[carmantl]

I have the OG non fuel and it works but performs way less than a cordless dremel. I agree it's ****-heavy and REALLY easy to stall. My 12 or so years cordless dremel will run rings around the M12. Does anyone with a fuel version have a comment?

 

[dnschmidt]

Appreciate the comments. I think I’m going to go with the 12v fuel die grinder and buy the Milwaukee 1/8” collet for my dremel junk. Best of both worlds, and if I truly need the occasional detail work stuff I can pull out an extension for the dremel

If you go that way make sure you have the XC 4.0 or 6.0 batteries because the die grinder is useless with the smaller compact batteries. The tool will stall out before you will get it to do any work.

 

[ChevyEFI]

THE BRUSHLESS versions of the Dremel and the M12 are virtually identical as I have both. The Dremel uses Bosch's 12V battery and the M12 obviously the M12. Cough up the cash for the brushless as they're worth it.

I have had several cordless Dremel tools over the years. The older ones no longer are supported and battery replacement is only with knockoffs.

I didn't know the history of Dremel batteries. But I like what Bosch puts out. From brief Google-Fu, it looks like 4.8v, 7.2v, and 10.8v are old Dremel batteries. The initial use of Bosch 12v batteries had a Dremel battery clip-end-cap and tool bodies that prevented easy use of Bosch batteries without modification. All 12v Bosch batteries charge in Dremel charger and vice versa. And some newer Dremel 12v tools take Bosch batteries except some 4.0ah and the 6.0ah.

That all sound right?


I have had my brushed 2460 Milwaukee M12 rotary for 3 years? The collet broke. The balance and vibration could definitely be better. I don't use it every day, so that's not a big issue. I did have to send it in for warranty. Call it overuse if you want. As someone above said, we use it like a die-grinder sometimes.

Appreciate the comments. I think I’m going to go with the 12v fuel die grinder and buy the Milwaukee 1/8” collet for my dremel junk. Best of both worlds, and if I truly need the occasional detail work stuff I can pull out an extension for the dremel

Honestly, if you can confirm other 1/4-to-1/8 collets fit, you may find better quality.

 

[Plastikosmd]

My m12 fuel runs circles around my battery dremel, it may have more umph than my corded (both do the job asked of them without a whimper)

The m12 seems to work better at lower rpm (torque) than the corded dremel which needs more rpm to avoid stall

 

[oldschoolcraft]

If you go that way make sure you have the XC 4.0 or 6.0 batteries because the die grinder is useless with the smaller compact batteries. The tool will stall out before you will get it to do any work.

What if you're using it like a Dremel tool with the smaller collet adapter and smaller bits? Even then does it need the bigger batteries? I would assume with the smaller batteries it's just going to work as good as the rotary tool at least?

 

[dnschmidt]

What if you're using it like a Dremel tool with the smaller collet adapter and smaller bits? Even then does it need the bigger batteries? I would assume with the smaller batteries it's just going to work as good as the rotary tool at least?

That much is true but if you want ot do anything serious (like real die grinder stuff) using rotary carbide burrs or 2" wire wheels it's go big or go home.

 

[HenryAZ]

I used a dremel for decades, but a couple of years ago switched to the Milwaukee M12 rotary tool. I prefer it tons over the dremel, and I do use it for smaller die grinding jobs. (I also have a pneumatic die grinder for the heavier jobs). One trick I found out is to use the larger "L" shaped battery. It never gets in the way and provides some good balance to the tool.

I use one of those small Trusco tool boxes to keep everything in, tool, bits, and a few other accessories. The tool with the larger battery fits in just fine.

 

[pizza]

forget dremel. forget milwaukee rotary tool. get m12 fuel die grinders. both straight and right angle.

 

[pizza]

also get the 1/8" collet for dremel-style accessories.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-8-in-Collet-Accessory-48-66-2486/313420816

and a cutoff wheel arbor and a 3" lenox metalmax diamond wheel.

 

[u118224]

Here's a comparison of dremel type tools by Tools Tested from about 3 months ago. Objective and informative.

 

[Armatron]

Update - bought the m12 fuel die grinder and 1/8 collet. TOTAL game changer for most jobs. Only downside is occasionally for certain plastics it would spin too fast even on the slowest setting. So I don’t think it’s a full replacement for the dremel, but out performs the other 95% of the time

 

[pizza]

Update - bought the m12 fuel die grinder and 1/8 collet. TOTAL game changer for most jobs. Only downside is occasionally for certain plastics it would spin too fast even on the slowest setting. So I don’t think it’s a full replacement for the dremel, but out performs the other 95% of the time

i actually haven't tried it on plastic. slowest setting + light trigger pull was still too fast? i see

 

[AirMech#406]

I have the m12 rotary tool and use it almost daily. The convenience of not having a cord to drag around and tangle in things is actually really nice. I have the older brushed version but our shop just bought the brush-less to replace our aging corded Dremel.

Both the brushed and brush-less M12 are great tools and I highly recommend them.

 

[AirMech#406]

forget dremel. forget milwaukee rotary tool. get m12 fuel die grinders. both straight and right angle.

Good tools but generally not as suitable for smaller detail work. As the OP has pointed out, speed control for small detailed jobs is difficult with the die grinders.

 

[pizza]

generally not as suitable for smaller detail work

like what, specifically? serious question.

 

[yhprum]

Curious if anyone has used the Bosch GWG 12V-50 S PROFESSIONAL It’s similar size, but has different RPM range, 5 to 16000 Rpm. The Milwaukee fuel equivalent is 10-24500 RPM.

 

[AirMech#406]

like what, specifically? serious question.

In situations where you want very fine speed control, like trimming a very small or specific section of plastic or sheet metal, where you don't want to accidentally trim too much. A die grinder CAN work, but its not ideal. Installing interior panels in aircraft is a good example. You want to trim small sections at a time and have very precise control over any sanding or cutting. This will be hard to achieve with a die grinder (not impossible, but hard) but it is exactly the kind of situation a dremel-type tool was designed for. Also, it does this work at a much lower price compared to one of the M12 die grinders.

 

[Armatron]

i actually haven't tried it on plastic. slowest setting + light trigger pull was still too fast? i see

I technically haven’t had to even try it yet, but “melty” thin plastics with long cuts need a fairly low setting even with the dremel to prevent slinging molten plastic Die grinder could possibly do it, but I don’t think I would even attempt it.