My Dremel *****

[DesertG]

Hi Guys, I use my dremel with only two attachments. The little cut off wheels and the little drum sanding heads. The little cut off wheels break easily and I curse profusely when trying to change out the little sanding head, the tiny screw and forcing it back on the rubber head.

I have tried the quick release dremel attachments and I broke them. Seemed fragile.

What tools do you use in place of a dremel.

Thanks!

 

[BarrelRoll]

Die grinder or cut off tool, both can be had in corded, pneumatic, or cordless. You can also get a cut off wheel to go into a drill/ die grinder.


https://www.harborfreight.com/media...32f9638515cd199dd0f9238da/i/m/image_19639.jpg



https://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-quarter-inch-rear-exhaust-air-die-grinder-52847.html



https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-cut-off-wheel-arbor-for-die-grinder-64674.html

 

[PelicanPines]

I own 5 dremels.. the cheap cutoff disks . are cheaply made. They make better quality more expensive cut off wheels. Sanding drums are great for light cleanup.

Sounds like you are trying to use your dremel for more than finish work.

For cutting things that you might be using a dremel for... I would use a Multi tool with a blade or an actual 3" cutoff wheel tool.

Save money on consumables... use them up faster. Better consumables last longer.

As far as using a screwdriver for changing the consumables... I have a dedicated one that fits perfectly. I also have the quick change setup on one of my dremels... I have never broken one ever. I buy consumables several times a year.

 

[Shiftless]

Different tools for different jobs. A pneumatic die grinder will of course do a bigger job much faster but a Dremel tool will get into tiny areas that a bigger one can’t touch. This is GJ. Get both. Like Pines, I own several Dremels. I think at least 3. ( I also have a Fein multi tool and a pneumatic die grinder, and 2 electric angle grinders.) I use a wide variety of attachments on the Dremel. The mini wire cup wheels are amazing.

 

[Maui]

My dremel has saved my a$$ countless times. It is one of the few tools I have that I would never want to do without.

 

[GeoBruin]

I use a dewalt rotary (drywall cutout?) tool instead of a dremel but same concept. The little stone cutoff wheels do ****, I much prefer the abrasive impregnated fiber versions.

I haven't had real problems with the quick change sanding drum or cut-of wheel holders but they are fiddly.

In general, and as discussed above, a 1/4" collet tool like a die grinder or cut-off tool will be better for larger jobs but sometimes the 1/8th inch tools are the appropriate fit for the job.

 

[dogdog]

Get the "fiber mesh reinforced dremel cutoff wheels". There is one from Ebay or Amazon that for $15 per 100, quality wise it looks *****, but still cut the cheapest per disc (I got from ebay lasted me for a while) or get the one from Dremel in pack of 10s... just google that.

 

[Kuma601]

Those cut off wheels are fragile, any off axis load and they fly apart. I use them for cutting screws or slotting when the adapter is put into the drill press with a cross vise. Haven't used the sanding drum though I have used the small buffing wheels for small parts polishing projects.

I buy these through a local supplier:

https://dental.keystoneindustries.com/product/keystone-cut-off-wheels/

 

[Half-fast eddie]

The dremel is a light duty tool. Work within its design capacity and it can't be beat.

 

[AirMech#406]

My milwaukee m12 dremel is heaven to use. As others have noted, when used on light duty and detail-oriented jobs its a pleasure to use and gets the job done every time.

 

[JradM]

It's been mentioned, but there are different grades of cut-off discs. I have some from a 500+ piece generic kit that snap if you look at them funny. I still use them occasionally when I want a very fine cut, but I have to be extremely delicate.

On the other hand, I have some Dremel-branded disks that are probably 4x thicker and not so prone to breaking (still happens, but not merely because I twitched).

The drum sanders are kind of a pain at times. You shouldn't have to take them apart to slip on a new drum. I don't know if there's a solution for that - perhaps try some silicone lube on the rubber?

 

[f121]

Buy a m12 die grinder.

I’ve always been very disappointed with dremels, never sure what the point of them is, maybe model making?

 

[finn]

I have to agree that the Dremel is a niche tool. Good at what it does, but it’s not a pneumatic die grinder, and not for heavy work.

I rarely use mine. I got my original for Christmas in 1966. Also have a later battery tool, and an early 2000s Craftsman clone.

They aren’t a must have tool, in my book.

 

[G-ManBart]

I can't imagine not having a Dremel. For what I do, they're nearly indispensable....have both corded and cordless.

The fiber reinforced cutting wheels are a huge step up in durability...night and day better.

Cutting Wheel 32mm Cutting | Dremel

The 32mm Cutting Wheel is a durable accessory for slicing, making straight cuts, and creating slots in metals. The package includes 5 pieces.

www.dremel.com

 

[flyingblind]

Another vote for the Milwaukie M12, Great with 1.5 inch wire wheels, 1 inch drum sander or rotary files. Haven't tried the cutting wheels yet.
I like the set speed controls

 

[Meursault74]

I have a Dremel and an angle grinder. They both have their uses.

yes some of the disks are fragile and yes it's a tiny screw to hold them in place. I broke those disks too when I first started using them. As my technique improved the frequency of breaking disks went down.

ps hope you're wearing face/eye protection.

 

[bluedog225]

Also, the diamond wheels are pretty good.

 

[RTM]

I have 2 Dremels and a Foredom, use one Dremel most, and keep it on the bench, plugged in. For a decade, it was my most abused tool, used way over its expected abilities. Cutting off toilet bolts to length, removing screws, slotting screws, scoring scraper blades, grinding blades, increasing hole sizes, even sanding occasionally. Now the OMT takes the worst abuse.

The skinny cut off wheels are fragile, and the off brand ones are worse. Buy Dremel or Foredom brand, not cheap off brands, and they will last a little longer. The fiber reinforced ones get called out for the tougher jobs, where it may take 3-4 thin ones. The larger OD of the reinforced can occasionally be a problem, but I keep used ones for smaller access areas.

As Meursault says, technique will make the discs last longer. Keeping your victim and your tools relatively square makes a huge differences, if either is out, you will bind and break the disk. Learning to hold the motor so it doesn't swing in confined cuts will help. I've seen the equivalent of a miter saw made for a dedicated purpose, blades last longer, but they upgraded to diamond now, cutting glass repeatedly.

 

[no704]

McMaster has the wheels in different diameters and thickness. Thicker ones tend to be slightly more explosion resistant.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Regular Dremel cutoff discs come in a couple thicknesses. The thin ones ar fragile and break easily with any twist or side pressure.
Stack 2 discs on the screw and they seem a lot tougher and wear slower.
The only fiber reinforced ones I found lately are the quick attach ones. They are larger in diameter and don't last as long. Most of the time the centers fell apart/rip out quicker than the standard wheels. Then they are so distorted the quick mount isn't quick.

 

[dwasifar]

Hi Guys, I use my dremel with only two attachments. The little cut off wheels and the little drum sanding heads. The little cut off wheels break easily and I curse profusely when trying to change out the little sanding head, the tiny screw and forcing it back on the rubber head.

Try doubling up the cutoff wheels.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Hi Guys, I use my dremel with only two attachments. The little cut off wheels and the little drum sanding heads. The little cut off wheels break easily and I curse profusely when trying to change out the little sanding head, the tiny screw and forcing it back on the rubber head.

I have tried the quick release dremel attachments and I broke them. Seemed fragile.

What tools do you use in place of a dremel.

Thanks!

I use the quick release and it makes swapping discs much easier. I use the grinding discs and the cutoff discs. The righf angle attachment also makes the dremel easier to control.

But, I don't hardly use it anymore after I bought a milwalkee 3" cutoff tool.

What task are you trying to do? That'll help with answering about substitute tools.

 

[11b30b4]

The Dremel attachments and the Dremel tool are two different issues. As far as the attachments, I agree the cutoff wheels will break if there is enough pressure placed on them. Almost all the attachments for the Dremel are designed for a specific task and you need to use them accordingly. That said, the Dremel tool is a nice light duty tool. I have owned more Dremels than I can count and every one of them has died within a few years. On occasion I have been able to replace brushes and get them up and running but I eventually went to the Foredom and I love it. I do a good bit of gun smithing so I use these tools quite a bit.

 

[dnschmidt]

Try doubling up the cutoff wheels.

McMaster-Carr has third party cutoff wheels far superior to Dremel's: https://www.mcmaster.com/cutoff-wheels/diameter~1-3-16/diameter~1-1-4/

 

[dwasifar]

McMaster-Carr has third party cutoff wheels far superior to Dremel's: https://www.mcmaster.com/cutoff-wheels/diameter~1-3-16/diameter~1-1-4/

Thanks, I'll check those out. In the meantime OP and I can double up the cheap ones to use them up.

 

[dhally]

I have tried using a Dremel, and always lose patience fast. Several times I have read "just use a Dremel to grind/cut/smooth it", and after five minutes I get out my angle grinder with cut off wheel to finish the job. Or a file, or sandpaper.

 

[Newell33]

This is one area where I've always felt there needs to be a tool in between the size of a Dremel and a typical die grinder. Either a more robust Dremel, or a slightly smaller and more intricate die grinder. My M12 rotary tool is often slightly too small for the job, and my die grinder is often overkill, or it doesn't fit quite where I want it.

 

[Augus7us]

A foredom is the gold standard in dremel-like tools. Your issue is really more with the attachment though. Look into jewelers tools. Better quality than what youll get at big box stores.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

This is one area where I've always felt there needs to be a tool in between the size of a Dremel and a typical die grinder.

I used to have a rotozip that filled that slot.

 

[ItsNemo]

My dremel has saved my a$$ countless times. It is one of the few tools I have that I would never want to do without.

Which is funny, I have one, I use it once in a blue moon...they seem more like gimmicks than useful tools. I usually am reaching for a die grinder or body saw or something else first.

 

[Kuma601]

I primarily use mine to polish the 18-8, 0-80 to 2-56 screws I use.

 

[driftpin]

My first rotary tool was a die-cast Sears "L'il Crafty" I got for Christmas about 1962 for working on slot cars. It still works. Later I got a Dremel, and I think I'm on my 3rd now. I use the 3 ft remote chuck & flex-shaft almost exclusively. I resisted the E-Z mount collet but when I had difficulty buying at bricks & mortar stores the fiber-reinforced cutoff discs that mount on the screw collet, I bought a couple E-Z mount collets.

Like any tool, misuse can cause problems. I didn't read any comments about this, so I'll be the first: wear your eye (or whole-face!) protection. Even being aware of the possible breakage of the various bits, discs, and etc, you don't want to lose an eye to one.

Being in my 70's, I bet every vehicle, 2 or 4-wheeled I've owned, has been touched by a Dremel at one point or another. Defeating carburetor security screws or bollox'ed phillips heads (yes I know, JIS Japanese phillips heads) a Dremel makes short work of that.

 

[driftpin]

I primarily use mine to polish the 18-8, 0-80 to 2-56 screws I use.

 

[GTO]

I gave up on Dremel years ago, with their ****** switches.
I bought the M12 and have never looked back.

 

[PittsburghTim]

The local hardware store sells a Forney cut-off mandrel and fiberglass reinforced cut-off wheels. They work in a Dremel-tool are 1 1/2 inch diameter and are not brittle like the cheaper discs sold by Dremel.

 

[pcmeiners]

I know this about attachments but get one of these or a knock off , far better then an under powered, over heating Dremel (had 3 Dremels).....

flexible shaft machine,watch engraving burnishing grinding rotary tool | eBay

Foredom's 1/6 HP, universal, flexible shaft machine runs in forward and reverse rotation at speeds up to 18,000 RPM. Reverse makes it easier to back out stuck drill bits. Motor Details.

www.ebay.com

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I curse profusely when trying to change out the little sanding head, the tiny screw and forcing it back on the rubber head.

The trick to making this less frustrating is to run the rubber drum on some sandpaper to size it correctly to fit the sanding drums.

As made they are cylindrical in shape, you want to make it slightly barrel shaped and sized so that the sanding drums just go on with a little bit of a struggle.

 

[housewolf]

I don’t think I need a dremel, every time I’ve used mine I feel severely out-gunned. I have a pneumatic die grinder but not much of a selection of bits. Anyone know a good source for 1/4”?

 

[Kuma601]

One example of my uses of the 395 Dremel is to polish these 0-80 flat head Torx screw heads. A cordless version might be nice but since it isn't a daily use tool, the expense is not necessary.

 

[TailGunner3000]

Which is funny, I have one, I use it once in a blue moon...they seem more like gimmicks than useful tools. I usually am reaching for a die grinder or body saw or something else first.

If you next tool is a die grinder or body saw, then the Dremel was the wrong tool in the first place. As has been mentioned, the Dremel is a light duty tool. I have a few that don't get used much, but when needed, there's no better tool. I also have a dedicated Dremel for chain saw sharpening. I haven't yet found anything more efficient.