Leveling up from a Dremel

[NoahG]

We keep killing Dremel rotary tools at work. I can sway a purchasing decision to get something new, but I'm not exactly sure what.

I need something that is the next step up from a Dremel, and the ability to use Dremel bits is a must. Ideally it wouldn't be a drastic jump in price. Corded is preferred.

Is the answer Proxxon? If so what model? Are there other brands to consider?


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[franzdom]

I have a really great Ryobi but it's old, I am not sure what they still make.

 

[Davefr]

Foredom

 

[ritestuff]

Foredom. Hands down. I use 4 of them daily professionally. Once you use a Foredom tool you will throw any Dremel tools that you own in the trash. A Dremel is a toy compared to a Foredom, a really ****** toy at that.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

I'm trying to figure out how to used a formica trimer on a triac.

 

[Shop Dad]

+1 on Foredom

 

[Muggzy]

+2 on the Foredom Rotary Tools

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[nes999]

I absolutely love my foredom.

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[larry_g]

What are you doing that is killing them? And if shank size is what is holding you to Dremel bits be advised that there are other brands out there both cheaper and better.

Is this one specific job your doing or just general purpose work. If a specific job then there might be a better tool.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[L5wolvesf]

What are you doing that is killing them?

You read my mind . . . scary huh?

 

[Davefr]

Once you use a Foredom tool you will throw any Dremel tools that you own in the trash. A Dremel is a toy compared to a Foredom, a really ****** toy at that.

^^B.S. A Dremel is a perfectly fine tool for small precision tasks. If the OP is killing Dremels then he's using the wrong tool for the job.

A Foredom is more capable but lacks the agility of a small portable Dremel.

They all have their place.

 

[davethorik]

I'm gonna go against the grain of gj, I absolutely hate using Foredoms. The cable is always in the way, casters always get hung up on something, etc.

Do you have a compressed air source? Pneumatic pencil grinders are the bees knees. You don't have to get a pricy one either, the pink units at hf last decently long if they arent doa in the box and are kept oiled.

 

[sberry]

Dremel is too small for me, don't think I have ever used one.

 

[jacob_coulter]

I have a Proxxon that I've had for a while that I like. Definitely feels higher quality than Dremel.

 

[Cope]

Dremel is too small for me, don't think I have ever used one.

Cary, the Dremel is one of those tolls that everyone needs even though they don't often use it. Years ago on a woodworking forum someone asked the question=what is a tool you need even though it's not often used. I said Dremel and suddenly the Dremel users came out of the closet. My first one is 45 years old and my second 25 years. They are just neat to have.

 

[notlob]

I'm gonna go against the grain of gj, I absolutely hate using Foredoms. The cable is always in the way, casters always get hung up on something, etc.

Do you have a compressed air source? Pneumatic pencil grinders are the bees knees. You don't have to get a pricy one either, the pink units at hf last decently long if they arent doa in the box and are kept oiled.

I really like my foredom, but a pencil grinder looks useful, especially because its reach isn't limited by the length of the flex shaft like the foredom. I'm going to pick one up - so should I buy the HF ($29.99 - 20%, + a free crappy flashlight) or the Astro Pneumatic ($38.24 on Amazon)? I don't have a large air compressor, so CFM consumption is a concern.

Horrible Fright:

https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-air-micro-die-grinder-kit-69745.html


Astro Nu:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RH36WU/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

 

[Cope]

I really like my foredom, but a pencil grinder looks useful, especially because its reach isn't limited by the length of the flex shaft like the foredom. I'm going to pick one up - so should I buy the HF ($29.99 - 20%, + a free crappy flashlight) or the Astro Pneumatic ($38.24 on Amazon)? I don't have a large air compressor, so CFM consumption is a concern.

Horrible Fright:

https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-air-micro-die-grinder-kit-69745.html


Astro Nu:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RH36WU/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

Get the Astro.

 

[sberry]

Cope, I got one, just never used it. My tech used one here a couple times. I don't work on a lot of dinky stuff, my full sized tools work. I am so used to it.
Same for tig, I can weld a BB to a tie wire with a mig.

 

[NoahG]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

We're just using it for normal operations, usually with a sanding drum in model making or cutting of small aluminum or steel parts. The kind of fiddly stuff a Dremel is meant for. The kind of stuff a grinder with cut off wheel would be much too large for. I'm not sure if it's the switches dying or dust getting into the motors but we usually don't get more than 6 months out of a tool.

Foredom looks great, I'll have to see if my boss is open to those price points.

Didn't know about pencil grinders, even if the shop doesn't get one I might for myself.

Any recommendations for electric die grinders?


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[Cope]

Cope, I got one, just never used it. My tech used one here a couple times. I don't work on a lot of dinky stuff, my full sized tools work. I am so used to it.
Same for tig, I can weld a BB to a tie wire with a mig.

i hear you different stokes....

I got into Tig because I won an $1800 shopping spree at Longevity. Picked up a plasma cutter and 200 amp Tig. I started out in 1970 using O/A, and got pretty good. Figured Ti would be a snap to pick up but I'm 47 years older than I was back then.

 

[sberry]

I can tig. It would take me a bit to come up to speed. I am kind of a speed demon, this isn't really a hobby and I am usually wanting to get on with it. At the point I usually got a problem.
Here is my no practice bead.

 

[mbshop]

Seems by your description that you need need a small cutoff air tool. Mine fits in the palm of my hand. I put a swivel connector on the tool and an air regulator. So hose is not working against you and the speed can be regulated to an efficient speed.

 

[nine4gmc]

The standard Dremel is like 1.7a or something and the Dremel Advantage is like 4.5a and comes with a whip and router base attachment. Foredom's are great too but usually more expensive.

 

[CR888]

Foredom

This ^^^ is the correct answer......or Mastercarver. Get a foot pedal with it.

 

[knobby]

The big wear item is the brushes and dremel does sell replacement parts
That being said it helps if the user pays attention to hand placement when using the grinder for extended times and does not block the ventilation holes.
Hold the thing right and it runs very noticeably cooler.

 

[cbracer]

For me I've gone through 3 Dremels. I use them for what they are designed for, and for things they really aren't. I've never gone through the brushes even with lots of use. I did replace the brushes in my very first dremel years ago but they last so long I get vibrational problems from bearings and out of balance issues before brushes. Waiting to try a foredom or compressed air one..... just haven't gotten around to it. The dremel is for sure the most portable.

 

[MushCreek]

We use pneumatic pencil grinders at work. You have to have compressed air, and a tolerance for noise. I have a Sioux; spendy, but more powerful and half the noise of the cheap ones. Been using it for 15 years now.