Who uses Dremels?

[Rick B.]

After God knows how many years my Dremel Multi Pro finally gave up the ghost. After searching around it seems that model no longer exists. Too bad, it was GREAT. With all the different models now available I can't figure out which one would be comparable to the Multi Pro. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've had mine for years and not sure which one it is. I don't use it all the time but when you need it, it comes in handy and worth having around.

 

[AmericanMechanic]

Look up Proxxon. I recently switched and so far have been pleased.

 

[MrSurly]

I love my Dremels. I use them only occasionally but thoroughly. I have a "standard" Craftsman branded (it's a Dremel) and also a Dremel flex cable model. Both are well over twenty years old.
I even have a Dremel table saw.
I bought my daughter one a few years back and I think it called a '4000'. It was the nearest thing to my standard model that I could find.

 

[Dozerhand]

Dremels make great retirement gifts.

 

[bob from indiana]

I have a model 395 and use it a lot. At work we have several model 4000s. They are much more powerful but not as nimble in tight places.

 

[Davefr]

For me, I use Dremel Micro. Nothing better for precision tasks. However match the tool to the task:

Dremel Micro, Dremel 395, Dremel 4000, Foredom, Die Grinder.

 

[JAYoung]

What do you mean by "gave up the ghost"?
Replacement brushes are available and if the motor is still spinning it may just be the 25-cent plastic coupling on the shaft.

 

[ZRX61]

I got one at least 20 years ago. I think I've used it maybe 6 or 7 times.

 

[oldwino]

Don’t use it often but when needed it’s tough to beat, especially the small cutoff wheels with the flex shaft.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I don't use it much lately but love my foredom rotary tool. If you're looking for a wired dremel, and you have a few hundred dollars to spend on a pro-level tool, go foredom.

I am interested in a cordless dremel eventually to do things like cut into shear bolts. Unless anyone knows of a high end cordless tool

 

[nieuport17]

I have Dremel 3000 works just like the old versions.

I also have Milwaukee M12 version of Dremel. I used that the most. Its nice to lose the cord.

 

[Rick B.]

What do you mean by "gave up the ghost"?
Replacement brushes are available and if the motor is still spinning it may just be the 25-cent plastic coupling on the shaft.

It stopped running during use and wouldn't start up. I let it cool and it started, ran for about 15 sec. then shut off wouldn't start. I checked brushes, they looked good, put them back, unit started but wouldn't go full speed then shut off. Now it won't start at all.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I put brushes in mine a couple times in 20 years.

My Milwaukee M12 got sent in for service within a year.

I will keep the corded around.

 

[Parrothead]

I've got an old Dremel 395, and if it gave up the ghost today I'd be on eBay buying the exact same one.

 

[gungatim]

I don't use it much lately but love my foredom rotary tool. If you're looking for a wired dremel, and you have a few hundred dollars to spend on a pro-level tool, go foredom.

I am interested in a cordless dremel eventually to do things like cut into shear bolts. Unless anyone knows of a high end cordless tool

I have a bunch of dremels, the cordless dremel is junk. underpowered and battery did not last long.

my issues have been with the shaft retainer for loosing the collett, they eventually jam/break making it difficult to change bits.

I also have a Dremel drill press, in which you clamp a dremel for a small drill. it's well made, aluminum, and similar to the old "clamp your hand drill" type contraptions of the 60's and 70's, except made by and specifically for fitting a dremel.

the new dremels aren't as nice as the older ones, and the blue HF dremel clone is nearly identical to my 90's era craftsman badged dremel.

my oldest is from early 70's, grey, almost bakelite type body. much heavier and smoother at high speeds.

so yeah, I use them all the time for various things, two are dedicated for chainsaw sharpening tasks.

 

[driftpin]

I have a Sears "L'il Crafty" corded rotary tool I got for Christmas probably nearly 60 years-ago, it's still working. I asked for it to work on my slot-car set-up, and after that, it earned its place in my tool collection many-times over as it got me out of one jam or another. It's great for using the small-diameter cut-off wheels in confined spaces to remove stuck hardware.

Since that time, I've also purchased a couple Dremels, and I've yet-to have one burn-up. I don't abuse them. I have the flexible shaft for one of them, I use it on my #395 Dremel. I have the drill press attachment too, and the sharpening attachment for lawnmower blades. It's a great way to sharpen your chainsaw blades, little in life is as-satisfying as the use of a newly-sharpened chainsaw.

Here are some of my Aurora 'Model Motoring' HO cars I modded using my rotary tool, about 55 years-ago. I don't have the track set-up, but maybe one of these days, the 6 y.o. grandson might like to try it.

 

[mikebaker1129]

I use mine, 2at the house and 1 at work. I mainly use them with cut off wheels, but occasionally use it with small burr bits.

 

[Mick56]

A while ago I was using mine, and it would run but the chuck quit turning. The flexible connector had crumbled apart. Took an inch long piece of vacuum line and shoved it onto both pieces. Been working fine ever since.

 

[CJM8515]

I have an older 400xpr, got lucky and my maternal grandfather used to build flying model airplanes and had one he gave to me. I dont use it all to often but its been indispensable over the years

 

[Ilikeike]

I have corded and cordless Dremel at home, I bought the Milwaukee M12 for use in the shop at work.
I'd go with the M12 over Dremel since there are so many other great M12 tools to add to your collection.

The Dremel and M12 batteries are very similar, slightly different latching/lock.

 

[GTO]

F*ck Dremel,I wasted my hard earned money on two with the multi speed switches......POS
I have a M12 rotary tool now.

 

[Parrothead]

F*ck Dremel,I wasted my hard earned money on two with the multi speed switches......POS
I have a M12 rotary tool now.

You do know you’re not supposed to use them as a hammer, right?

Seriously, I know the newer imports weren’t as good as the old ones, but wow. I’d guess I’ve had mine for 20 years and it’s still going strong. And I use it...a lot!

 

[SweetD]

I use my old corded Multi-Pro unit for the odd here-and-there job, but mostly use it to sand our dog's nails down.

Works awesome.

 

[Motorman55]

I burned my old Dremel up some time ago. I needed another one to do some cleanup of my motorcycle wheel. Checked Walmart (because I was there with the wife anyway) and the prices for the Dremel were more then I wanted to pay just now. So I settled for this Hyper Tough 1.5 amp rotary tool. At $16.84 I figured if it lasted past what I need it for it'll be a bonus.


ps. It did the job today. Worked perfectly. Looks like I got a bonus.

 

[67CarGuy]

Pretty sure we have the 4000 as well. Just used it a few weekends ago to cut some irregular / non-circular holes in some sheetmetal, then sand/file the edges.

 

[Aaron_W]

I have a Dremel 3000 with a drill press attachment. I don't use it a lot but it has been handy. I usually use it for models, so very light duty use. I also have a Black & Decker rotary tool, no idea where it came from, it looks well used so probably something my Dad picked up at a garage sale and gave to me at some point because he didn't need it. He has a bunch of Dremels.


I've been looking at a Gyro tools rotary tool. They are supposed to be built to a good standard at least equal to Dremel and I like that the speed control is separate from the on / off control. Not that turning the knob back to the same spot each time is a huge hardship, but the separate control seems like a nice feature.

The main reason I haven't bought one is I really don't "need" another rotary tool since the one I have only gets used a few times a year.

https://gyrostools.com/rotary-tool.html

 

[Thirdyfivepickup]

My Dremel has been with me since highschool (30 years) built dozens of plastic models then moved on to helping with small parts on big cars. Probably burned up 10,000 of those quarter sized cutoff wheels. Then moved on to customizing HotWheels cars.

Never skipped a beat.

 

[JJ99SS]

Dusted mine off today. Saved me a bit of manual filing. I used a small grinding wheel and a sanding disk to remove a bit of material.

 

[PugetDude]

Dremel *****, IMO
I've gone through four in the last ten years.
Two of them have stripped out collet locks, the lock button is right on the grip, and inadvertently gets bumped when the tool is running- a couple of times and it's almost impossible to change tooling .
The other two have sloppy collet locks and mostly inoperable on/off/ variable speed switches. If you bump them and shake them around they may or may not come on. Usually have better luck during a full moon if you are wearing green and holding your mouth just right and shake it counterclockwise while you cycle the on/of switch at random intervals.
Never again, it was another $50 down the drain every tine I replaced one.
Overpriced junk.
I'm using an M12 rotary tool now for 90% of what I used to do with a Dremel. The other 10% I use a corded Wen that I bought for $10 on Amazon- which I believe is better quality than a corded Dremel, anyway.

 

[Lhorn]

I bought the black and decker version. Cheaper than Dremel and uses all of the Dremel accessories (as far as I can tell). Don't use it much but it's been a life saver on a few occasions.

 

[xjfish]

I had the Black and Decker version, it didn't last long, I suspect I just got a bad one. Attempted to repair with no luck. I have a cordless Dremel, its weak and the battery life is poor. I also have some cheap, no name variable speed corded version now. It works great! If that one ever takes a dump, going for an m12.

 

[CoogarXR]

I have one of the corded HF rotary tools (I still call it a Dremel, lol). I used the hell out of it when I was refinishing my staircase. Mostly with the tiny wire brushes to get paint out of the spindle detail, and the tiny drum sanders. I think I went through probably 100 of the drums. I will never strip another painted staircase...

Anyhow, I was kinda surprised that the HF model kept plugging along. I just used it the other day to cut flats into a seized pin in a turntable I was restoring. Did the job just fine.

 

[pstemari]

My problem with Dremels has been crappy bearings. No way to replace them that I could see.

After my last Dremel started to die, I picked up a Proxxon and was very impressed. Proxxon makes a fair amount of junk (eg their desktop mill), but the rotary tool is really, really good.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[gearhead1]

I use mine quite a bit. I like to get it in places with a small wirebrush and remove the remaining gasket material, like on a water pump install, stuff like that...

 

[pcmeiners]

My Dremel has gotten me out of some tough issues but I can not take the lack of power, heat, and shaft movement. Just yesterday I purchase a Foredom TX (1/3hp ), heavy duty shaft, and H25 handpiece as below.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FOREDOM-KI...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Just got it, this is Like a Porsche compare to a Fiat. Ball bearing hand pieces, no vibration, and tons of power, and no heat; this thing could carve up a V8 engine. Thank goodness for the Chinese accessories on Ebay, like 1/10th-1/20th the price of US suppliers (for the exact same product from China).

 

[UTRockhound]

Epic post! I saw the Can Am car and knew it was the Chaparral 2C. The other two are obvious but epic all time race cars.

I have a dremel kit and when you need it, you need it. If buying new I would go M12 as I am a fanboy. I recognize that some M12 tools will fail early but have never had one of mine fail.

Dunbar

I have a Sears "L'il Crafty" corded rotary tool I got for Christmas probably nearly 60 years-ago, it's still working. I asked for it to work on my slot-car set-up, and after that, it earned its place in my tool collection many-times over as it got me out of one jam or another. It's great for using the small-diameter cut-off wheels in confined spaces to remove stuck hardware.

Since that time, I've also purchased a couple Dremels, and I've yet-to have one burn-up. I don't abuse them. I have the flexible shaft for one of them, I use it on my #395 Dremel. I have the drill press attachment too, and the sharpening attachment for lawnmower blades. It's a great way to sharpen your chainsaw blades, little in life is as-satisfying as the use of a newly-sharpened chainsaw.

Here are some of my Aurora 'Model Motoring' HO cars I modded using my rotary tool, about 55 years-ago. I don't have the track set-up, but maybe one of these days, the 6 y.o. grandson might like to try it.

 

[seagull369]

The 3000 is a halfway decent performer with variable speed. The more expensive 4000 has a more advanced speed control that helps keep RPM's steady independent of load (I find that feature most useful when running it at low speeds). The 4000 is a little bit longer and has a slightly higher amp rating than the 3k, but I don't know if the latter spec equates to better motor performance.

When Black n Decker RTX model 1st came out, they were, believe it or not, superior to the Dremels in just about every respect. Although the look of them hasn't changed over the years, the ones they put out these days are a shadow of their former selves. I wouldn't use them for much more than trimming a dog's nails now.

I've never been much of a fan of Dremel, personally. Been using them since the 90's and I've consistently had issues with the speed control not working correctly or otherwise potential loose connections requiring me to smack them to get it to turn on,