Dremel 400XPS replacement

[JohnJL]

I have had a Dremel XPS in the shop for 5 years now, it doesnt get much use as I have lots of air tools, but there are times when the weight and maneuverability of the dremel make it handy.

Over the past year it died slowly, first charring the stator a bit and then today total meltdown.

I have never been happy with the torque (it bogged down easy) or the duty cycle - it seemed it needed to be cooled off every 3 minutes. I used compressed air to keep it cool on breaks, but still it eventually died.

I have a fair amount of dremel bits so I would like to replace this with something that uses the same collet size, but something with a much better duty cycle and torque. I am thinking in the 5-8 amp range with a good internal cooler fan if the XPS was something like 2.2 amps.

What alternatives and recommendations do you have for something that is compact, sturdy, powerful and used dremel-style bits. And available in Canada - 110/120v.

Thanks!

 

[JohnJL]

How about this guy? The Dremels all seem to top out at 1.6 amps, this rotozip uses 1/8 ad 1/4 collets and is 5.5 amps. OK, rpms arent adjustable but i usually have it on full beans anyway.

Anyone use these rotozips? Its actually 60% of the cost of dremel on Fastenal...?

 

[warweapon762]

Rotozip or the Sears knock off from a few years back are great if you can find these attachments for them:

I have one on my Sears model and it blows the dremel out of the water in terms of torque/duty cycle. It works great when you don't have access to air die grinders. You can also get an adjustable rheostat to use with them if you are concerned about RPM control. I have a footpedal model for use with my setup.

 

[Indexmill]

Hi,

I also had a Dremel 400XPS. It was a Christmas gift. Used it a little over some years... and then it had a melt down. I called Dremel and requested warranty service. They said to send it in to them. So, for $10, I shipped it to them

A week later, I received a brand new Dremel 4000 for zero cost. The 4000 is a much better tool that the 400 XPS.

I suggest that you box up the fried 400 XPS and ship it off to Dremel with a very nice letter explaining that it is under 5 years old, you have loved it and you hope that they can repair it under warranty.

Then, sit back and wait for your 4000 to arrive.

Sincerely, Indexmill

 

[B_Bimmer]

Wow, nice of them to stand behind their product for you. Dremel has always seemed to me a great idea in theory, that everyone expects too much out of in practice. I thought they were so cool when it was model trains and electronics in the evening after school, but the bigger the projects became the less it was able to deliver. Still though, that small size has got me out of some tight spots over the years as well. The first house I rebuilt we used a Dremel with the router attachment to do the cutouts in the drywall. It did it, but after the first time I used a rotozip I would never attempt that again. The rotozips are a lot bigger body though, so you kinda lose the small size advantage over a die grinder unless you can find a flex shaft.

 

[JohnJL]

I made a trip down to Atlas tools in Toronto today and picked up a DeWalt drywall rotary too. It has 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8 collets and 5.5amps. Will report how it does.

They had and recommended a Makita, but only had the display model which had lived a hard life. I was a little annoyed when I heard the 2 stock clerks talking:

#1" The guy is looking for the Makita, but we only have the display. Stock says we have 3 but I cant find any."

#2"Why wont he take the display?"

#1 "He says its scratched."

#2 "What" guffaw, snort, chortle..." are you kidding me?"

Me, standing 1 foot away behind them: "Yeah, its been dropped a ton. Look at the depth gauge, its all dented. Yeah, I wil scratch it up in my shop but then its mine."

 

[FJ 432]

Im trying to justify a Foredom.

 

[the gypsy]

If you have any m12 tools and batteries then my suggestion to you is the Milwaukee m12 rotary tool. It runs cool in comparison to my Dremel.

 

[Ajwcotton]

Foredom for the win.

 

[Moose364]

If you have any m12 tools and batteries then my suggestion to you is the Milwaukee m12 rotary tool. It runs cool in comparison to my Dremel.

X10 Ive been through 2 dremel tools and with very light use (working on RC cars) they both had melt downs I went with the Milwaukee M12 runs forever on a Battery and runs cool.

 

[Monte]