What do I need a Dremel© tool for?

[malibu101]

First off it's not a Dremel© tool it's a Milwaukee M12 rotary tool (reference link- http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/.../m12-cordless-lithium-ion-rotary-tool/2460-21 ) but it has the same size arbor as a Dremel. I have never owned a Dremel tool.
I got this free with a mail-in promotion for buying another Milwaukee M12 tool.
I have a fine compliment of air tools including a cutoff tool (wizzer wheel) along with a straight and right angle die grinder as well I have an electric bench and hand-held grinder. I can't even say I've ever been doing something and said "Self, I wish a had a Dremel tool for this."

But anyway, I have one now.
I was browsing the Dremel bit selection at the local hardware store last night and they had a LARGE selection of Dremel brand bits. Looking at them had me thinking "Gee, these things are very small in size and I'm not working on things like jewelery." I did not purchase any bits, yet.

Here is my question....
The Milwaukee site shows some uses and of course I know what a rotary tool (die grinder) can do.
But I ask this- For what job(s) do you grab for the Dremel tool first? What task(s) does a Dremel make easy as compared to air power or another tool?

I see alot of Dremel tools around peoples garages but usually they are tucked away in their boxes collecting dust.

Thanks for any input on how to make a new tool useful to me!

 

[so2315]

I use mine for trimming the dogs toe nails.

 

[Hootbro]

All I can say is when you actually need one, you will wish you had one. I have maybe used my Dremel 2-3 times in the 5 years I have owned it.

The small sand drums on a few detailed woodcraft jobs came in handy. Also used a small ball end grinder bit on some Gunsmith projects I had.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

I use mine for cutting drywall, trimming plastic stuff, finish sharpening of my lawnmower blades (after I grind with the grinder to leave a smooth surface)

 

[MD11]

I use my dremel when I need grinding where it's too awkward or dangerous to use my Baldor 1/2 hp bench grinder.

I don't polish with the Dremel as I find it's impossible to do a fine job.

 

[cderalow]

honestly, with a cutoff tool or die grinder... i don't think i'd use a dremel.

i haven't used any of mine in 3-4 years, so I might sell mine off soon.

 

[thooks]

Cheap dental work

 

[Trucky]

I used my old 400 XPR for everything I could. I did a lot of custom parts for paintball guns and it's great for polishing little areas or roughing out small sections before actual milling. Those little cutting wheels like to explode though, so don't go too hard on them. Always wear safety glasses. Learned that the hard way! The buffing wheels are fantastic though. I found Mothers metal polish to work the absolute best. Don't push too hard or you'll distort the metal a bit. Other than parts and the occasional house-work, I didn't use it too much. But considering that's all I usually did, I used it a lot. Sold it though, I wish I had it back. Worked great for small plastic parts as well... the cutters aren't cheap, but they're good quality and work for a long time.

 

[Outlawmws]

My most used Dremel "bit" is the abrasive cutting wheel arbor. this can be VERY hand at times for small cutting/grinding jobs (need a screw driver slot brute forced? this will do it) BUT wear eye protection of a face shield as these will break and shatter easily, especially if you get it cocked in a slot!

I'd guess the next one is the plastic "wire' wheel.

A Dremel is at it's best for models jewelry, and other small detail work but I have used it on vehicles before.

ps: we have at least three in the house, mine, my son's and one for SWMBO.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

I bought mine because when I was a kid building model cars I really wanted one, which was far out of my reach in the '50's and '60's, and they now cost like nothing...
I wish I could find the much-classier old type!
As above, the only real job involved the cutoff discs...I chose the Dremel ones because they could cut a much finer slit than the ones in my die grinder. I had to slit a wad of brazing that someone had used to immobilize the turning function on a classic 1940's engine stand...
The Dremel allowed an almost unbelievably thin slice with no threat to the underlying steel.
The thin discs will, of course, instantly turn into a shower of fragments and dust when you microscopically deviate from chose path, so cover your favorite eyeballs and buy a stack of the discs.

 

[TexasSpartan]

I used one with a circular cutting attachment for the hole in the laundry room door for the cat door. Paid for itself right there.

Bought the M12 version... put it in the bag with cutoff wheels and such for out on the trail in the Jeep.

 

[Acosi151]

I use mine for trimming the dogs toe nails.

X 2.. with the little sanding drum.

I've got a Craftsman version that I make home-made rag balls on a long bolt to clean between fins on air cooled engines. The variable speed is nice.

I've also used mine with the rediculously small cut-off wheels they come with to cut the outer race of an axle bearing during removal once I realized that the puller I had wouldn't be able to engage it from behind.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

My Dremel and Cman rotary pull all my grinding duties in the garage or other shop. Since I can only use one hand I can't safely control a 4.5" grinder when I do metal work. So I use the right angle attachment and the grinding wheels. I have used the cut off wheels but with the addition of my new metal saw and new circ saw blades, the cut off wheels don't get used much. I use grinding stones but those are very particular jobs since getting the grinding discs. Stones take a while and go away fast. Carbide bits would be better of removing a lot of material.

The Dremel in my other shop is used for evening edges similar to a belt sander job. I also use it as a mini bench top grinder.

Anyway, neat tool. Will come in handy especially in tight spaces or smaller jobs.

 

[malibu101]

Great ideas! PLEASE keep them coming!

In post #4 it is mentioned about cutting drywall. I often need to cut holes in drywall for electrical boxes and such.
What kind of bit does a guy use for that?

 

[willyk57]

I will agree that mine only gets used 4 or 5 times a year, but when I need it, I am glad I have. Most of what mine gets used for is cutting or grinding mettle in tight spaces.

I recently used mine with the mini router head to cut tread in to a smooth soled pair of boots.

Best,
Willyk57

 

[JASTECH]

I have 2 Dremel's, one is the standard size but LCD display, the other is a heavy duty version that I have a carbide bit on for grinding my welds smooth on custom swivels I make for A.P.B.T.'s chains. The std I use for stereo installs, guage work on dash ect.

 

[ZRX61]

Had one for about 15 years, used it maybe 3 times, not even sure where it is....most useless tool I own. Not even sure WTF I bought it for...

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Had one for about 15 years, used it maybe 3 times, not even sure where it is....most useless tool I own. Not even sure WTF I bought it for...

Because you're a tool afflictionardo and you can never have too many tools?

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Great ideas! PLEASE keep them coming!

In post #4 it is mentioned about cutting drywall. I often need to cut holes in drywall for electrical boxes and such.
What kind of bit does a guy use for that?

I just use a tile cutting bit like this

but they make a drywall specific cutting bit too.

 

[Toolman Taylor]

I've used mine for cutting small bolts, trimming plastic, polishing knives, derusting old tools... I used my cheapo one so much it wore out...time for a high quality piece!

 

[MichMan517]

I use mine mostly for engraving nicknames into homemade wooden bats used in our vintage baseball games.

 

[crewchief888]

i keep mine in my basement reloading/hobby room.

comes in handy for gun work.
used to today to cut out a hole for a light switch, cutting holes in drywall,

modified/ shortened an old brass headboard.

cut some BC cable

cutting out plastic dash panels for heater ducts in a golf cart

i could probably live without it, but mine gets used once in a while.

 

[greasemonkey44]

a friend of mine uses his alot; usually for trimming fenders to fit or hard to access parts
i cant say i have really needed one, although a few times it would have come in handy for cutting bolts in very tight quarters

 

[PECVD2]

Bought my DREMEL tool in 1988 and use it about 5 times a month. Love it, but may buy a new/lighter version.

 

[shannonw]

I never found it useful for anything myself as everything i tried to use it on the attachments did'nt last long, i guess i was overly optimistic. seems like it would be really good for detail stuff though.

until I broke off 5 bolts in an outboard including an ez out in one. I read somewhere a suggestion to get a dremel tungsten carbide bit. With that and a little drilling, took out all the bolts and the ez out and i only needed to chase the threads. I keep it around now just in case

 

[PassnThru]

The last thing it came in handy for was on some baseboard trim. Pulled the trim to install a floor - several rooms worth. Rather than drive the nails out I cut them off flush with a cut off wheel to the back of the trim. Saved me from having to refill those holes when I reinstalled the trim. A bigger deal than it seems since it was stained wood trim - not painted.

 

[Monte]

....for example....:

the thread of a "Roloc" fibre disc broke off in the backing pad and was stuck there....:



...so i took the Dremel© tool (in this case a Dremel© tool from Proxxon© ) and a mini burr...:



...and "milled" out the plastic thread as far as i could. The rest could be removed with a x-acto© knife. So thanks to the Proxxon© Dremel© the backing pad could be saved.

 

[stripped]

I find that a dremel type tool is great when a file is too much work and a saw would take off too much. I've used mine to take just enough off of a piece of ceramic tile as well. If you always have air available a die grinder is great but you can use a dremel any place that you have electrical power. I have a die grinders and some extra collets that allow me to use the smaller dremel size bits also. Once you have one with a good inventory of bits you can find uses for it.

 

[slob]

I bought mine for model railroading. I think once I also used it to clean the remains of an old nut out of one of my guitars. But mostly it sits silent under the workbench.

 

[WheelsNT]

I used mine with a carbide cutting/shaping wheel to cope the joints in the wood trim when I re-trimmed the house. Much easier and faster than using an actual coping saw, for me at least.

 

[KEH]

I use one to sharpen chain saw chain with. It's best if the saw has chain with a groove cut in the teeth showing the proper angle to keep the teeth sharpened.

KEH

 

[SINISTER]

I use mine almost every day. Cutting spots for switches in cars, polishing out small items and polishing in hard to reach places. (most recently restored a vintage brass blow torch), Cutting holes in drywall(just finished cutting 6" holes in my ceiling for recessed lighting using the circle cutter attachment.) I use it for sharpening my lawnmower blades, I have used it for cutting small pieces of tile. I also have the workstation which allows it to be used as a drill press, grinder, and angled drill press...The list goes on its one of my most used tools at home.

I have never needed to use it in the shop though.

 

[garboui]

My personal one at home might get one use per year. At work I get more use but not much. I really like the rosebud burr bit for taking down plastic on thick walls where a switch or connector has to be mounted but needs more thread purchase. I hear the other guys using it all the time for things but it always seems unnecessary. Maybe its just my like for manual files and saws for some things.

EDIT: it just seems quicker many times to use the hand saw or file for one or two things. Using the dremel usually involves, unpacking, setting up, possibly finding an extension cord, then the reverse in addition cleaning up the cloud of mess you just made.

 

[JimDon]

Use the dremel all the time. For cutting off rusted exhaust system bolts and hangers. Get the discs (cutoff) made by Forney. They are fiberglas reinforced and will explode if pushed, but not as easily as the OE thin ones. Learn to not push the tool. It is little, take your time, but it is a super performer with aforementioned discs in tight spots.
Cheers,
JimDon

 

[54FordPanel]

I use mine all the time. I mostly use the cut off wheels, for small stuff, then the sanding drums.

I wouldn't want to be without it. I bought a bigger one, with a flexible shaft, but I still always go back to my original little one. Great tool.

And +1 for sharpening the chainsaw. It's the best for that.

 

[Doctor_Ink]

I use my engraving bit for engraving my tools. I often bring my own tools to work and don't want them mixed in with the rest of 'em.

 

[MD11]

forgot about the engraving ... that's where Dremel shines..

Wish they made a higher quality US made version of it ..

 

[Sick Puppy]

Or you could go with a higher quality European version and go with Proxxon

 

[Beaumont67]

a) Hardwood Flooring install:
- cut of the cleat nail head, if it didn't seat all the way, in the tongue & groove

b) dobes toe nail trimming

 

[Mike_C]

I almost always have my carbide burr bit in my dremel. I use it all the time for grinding down welds, enlarging holes, and to clearance metal when needed.