Why do I need a Dremel Drill Press?

[CZ Eddie]

In a moment of weakness I bought this, thinking I'd use it for one particular project.
I've since decided I don't need it to do that one thing.
It's new in the box and I can just send it back to the seller for a full refund.

Talk me out of doing that. Keep in mind that I'm a guy who's always on a budget.


For reference, I've got the corded Dremel 4000 rotary tool.

I do not own a real drill press.
And when I do buy one, it'll need to be one that can go as slow as 300RPM for hard steel ($$).

 

[CZ Eddie]

I'm just having a hard time imagining what I'd ever use this for.
I don't think it'll accept a typical range of drill bits.

 

[CN Spots]

They sell a pack of micro bits for it. I have one. I shouldn't have bought mine either.

 

[CN Spots]

Bits look like this.


Thing is, you can fit these in a std drill press. Just gotta be reeeeeeal careful.

 

[racecougar]

Unless you're doing something super intricate, like jewelry, I can't see much use for that.

 

[CZ Eddie]

Wow those are tiny bits.

Yeah, no jewelry here.

The most intricate I get is once in awhile I might solder a circuit board but I'm not making my own.

I'm mostly working on my truck.
DIY'ing my house.
Working with wood (like home theater speakers and I'd like to do furniture someday).

 

[HAP]

Well the drill press is far better than the Dremel tool itself. I adapted one to fit my air turbine tool for better results...

R,
HAP

 

[Monza Harry]

Outside of the jewellery already mentioned, craft work, and RC/detailed model building, that is their entire marketing target I believe. If you wish to add a drill press down the line I suspect this will rarely get used after that and not that much before that. Harry

 

[Garcky]

In a moment of weakness I bought this, thinking I'd use it for one particular project.
I've since decided I don't need it to do that one thing.
It's new in the box and I can just send it back to the seller for a full refund.

Talk me out of doing that. Keep in mind that I'm a guy who's always on a budget.


For reference, I've got the corded Dremel 4000 rotary tool.

I do not own a real drill press.
And when I do buy one, it'll need to be one that can go as slow as 300RPM for hard steel ($$).

Ah, don't send it back. You might be surprised at how useful it can be. For example, a tiny buffing wheel or brush in it can be used for fine polishing jobs. You can also use it for things like doing engine turning decorations on small items. With a little ingenuity and some purpose made jigs, you can even use it as a micro milling machine or shaper for softer materials. Need a tiny groove in a piece of hardwood or non-ferrous metal. It's a breeze with that.

It's only $50, after all. I have had one for decades. I don't use it often, but more often than you might think. Because I know what it can do, I can do tiny jobs that would be impossible otherwise.

Your decision, of course.

 

[F-22]

I'd send it back, seems like it'll gather dust and probably isn't rigid enough for what most people need. If you get a full refund... Well, you can always buy it again if you ever need it.

 

[niget2002]

I considered getting one many many times in the past when I didn't have a more capable tool. In the end, I always found another way of doing whatever it was I needed to do.

I'd send it back.

 

[ez-duzit]

That is a useless tool. Get a real drill press.

 

[v6buick]

I had one, never used it, and I still don't have a real drill press. I sold it in a garage sale.

 

[Garcky]

I had one, never used it, and I still don't have a real drill press. I sold it in a garage sale.

Different strokes, I suppose.

 

[dougf]

Ive been the same way over the years. Sold a tool to fund another. I always regret selling a tool, eventually. So ive decided not to do that anymore. I'll store it and ill have it if I need it in 5, 10, 20+ years. If budget allows, keep it. You can pick up a nice vintage drill press for less than $100 with some hunting and have something much more usable. Couple things to consider, I suppose...

 

[mike93lx]

Return it but make sure you buy something else with the "free" money. Once allocated to a tool, money is permanently allocated to tools

 

[slidehammer]

I could imagine using it not as a drill press but as a stand. Basically a third hand supporting the Dremel. Then you could hold the workpeice with both hands.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I don't have that tool, but I've got an adapter that lets me mount my dremel in the tool holder on my metal lathe. Originally I used it to mount a grinding stone to precision grind valve buckets to the right thickness...but it can also be used with drill bits with the lathe being used like a rotary indexer (lathe doesn't turn while drill is being run into project with cross slide) I have used that as a drill to cross drill projects, most recently a rifle-style pen project. Pic below.

 

[HAP]

As I mentioned, I use it to hold my DOTCO Air Turbine. Lots of other potential as well...

 

[CZ Eddie]

Thanks, everyone! I'm sending it back and saving up a few more dollars for a 300-RPM capable drill press for a future purchase.

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks, everyone! I'm sending it back and saving up a few more dollars for a 300-RPM capable drill press for a future purchase.

How about 150rpm...

Nova Viking 16'' Benchtop DVR Drill Press

A ''smart drill press'' in a compact size for benchtop use—features digital controls, and a smooth, quiet direct-drive motor.

www.rockler.com

 

[HAP]

When considering using small bits and other small cutters, high RPM is where they target operation and performance. From my experience, the Dremel tool/motors is far from ideal. The vibration and poor speed control was always frustrating. And it seemed to only get worse as I attempted to upgrade older worn out Dremel motors.
R,
HAP

 

[ecotec]

I would return it.

 

[RoscoTom]

I'd bet it's great for polishing and cleaning small intricate parts.

Gun and small engine parts come to mind.

 

[Nutria]

If you want a small drill press for tiny, finicky stuff, another option is an older, used "sensitive" drill press. Google it up, and you'll see some nice examples.

 

[nadogail]

May the OP find the drill press of his dreams and enjoy it and good health for many years.

 

[DGersic]

I have the older version of this. I have used it for making printed circuit boards. For drilling hundreds of tiny holes, it’s a great way to break off the tiny little drill bits. I now just send the file to a prototyping company and get back a board with plated through holes, which are also a lot easier to work with.

I could see using it as a holder, making a tiny buffer for tiny parts, I guess. I’ve not found a need to do so.

As a replacement for a real drill press, no, you’re not going to be happy with it for that. Even the cheapest benchtop drill press will be a better choice as a drill press.

 

[wolfhawk73]

I bought an older version years ago just to hold the Dremel when I'm using the flex shaft attachment.

 

[inphx]

So you lightweights never used a special sharpie and etched your own circuit boards? That dremel drill press is exactly the ticket for the next step of drilling the IC / component pin holes. (pic is not mine - my work is more primitive) .

 

[Innovate1]

So you lightweights never used a special sharpie and etched your own circuit boards? That dremel drill press is exactly the ticket for the next step of drilling the IC / component pin holes. (pic is not mine - my work is more primitive) .

I used an older version of this drill press to drill all the holes in boards for a complete S100 computer that was a clone of an IMSAI. That was late 1970s. Tons of holes. Today you can avoid the pain of that by ordering boards on line. If you really want to drill small stuff yourself there are probably better tools. Not sure about this particular drill press but front bearings in dremels aren't very stiff.

Chucking the small drills in a bigger drill press is a really poor idea for bits this small. Hard to get the higher speed needed and the runout is likely an issue too.

 

[Mick56]

A while ago at a garage sale, there was a Dremel drill press for $3.00, and seperately there was a Dremel for $5.00. I debated spending $8.00 for the pair, but decided to pass.

 

[HAP]

The Dremel motor is the real junk part as mentioned above. The drill press rig is indeed useful.

 

[Garcky]

So you lightweights never used a special sharpie and etched your own circuit boards? That dremel drill press is exactly the ticket for the next step of drilling the IC / component pin holes. (pic is not mine - my work is more primitive) .

Yes. An ideal use of it. Drilling precisely through the copper and substrate of PC boards demands a high speed drill. The Dremel drill press does that very well, too. It's not supposed to be a substitute for a regular drill press in the first place. It's a more specialized tool.

 

[infinkc]

Had one of the older ones, bought like 20 years ago. Never used it still.