Might buy a Dremel tool, need some guidance

Over the years I have acquired several Dremel tools. My newest one, a 398, is long discontinued.

I don't use it every day, but when its called for, there is nothing like it.

I just used mine earlier this week with a small sanding drum to clean the corrosion out of a postwar light socket.

I guess I use wire wheels and cut off wheels most frequently.

I have a mini circular saw attachment I used to cut nice neat openings in the back of a server to convert it into a stereo cabinet.

I also have a right angle attachment and an attachment to use the Dremel to remove grout. (Never happened, the project was canceled) 

As I write this, I remembered that I specifically purchased the 395 so I could get the attachments, which did not fit my other units.

I've had one for over 25 years. Bought it when I was working in construction as an electrician. One of the best tools I ever bought and one that is always on my bench. Money well spent. Dremel makes quality stuff for sure.

Bob

You can by factory refurbished ones direct from Dremel

Maker sure you buy the cordless. Buy the larger one.

I have a few of the older ones with the cords. The variable rheostat switch is the first to go and then the brushes. but these had 30 years of service.

Again - get the cordless for the layout, that way you will not have to wrestle with the cords.

I  bought the 8220 with a bonus smaller cordless Dremel... but I only use the large one. Its been servicing the layout for  the last 10 years no problems.

Can't live without a Dremel.  The cutoff wheels can do just about ANYTHING. 

HINT: Do NOT waste your money on the ridiculously overpriced Dremel-brand wheels, grinders or brushes. Buy them at Harbor Freight for a small fraction of the price. They are at least as good--some are even better. Dremel seems to play the "give away the razor and sell the blades" game.

I have mixed feelings about the cordless vs corded. It is a tradeoff between convenience in use vs. inconvenience and expense in long-term ownership. I use mine on the bench 90% of the time, so I tend to prefer corded. I guess it all depends on usage pattern.

Rich,

   Got to agree with JDaddy on this one, the 8220 is the way to go.  I use my Portable X2 Table saw to cut exacting custom close out FasTrack Pieces, however I was using the cordless 8220 for final touch ups track side while building.  Real nice larger cordless with a good powerful motor.

It was so nice it seems to have walked off into my ladies craft building world.

Pete is right also, pick up your supplies for the dermal at Harbor Freight for 1/3rd the cost.

PCRR/Dave

"It was so nice it seems to have walked off into my ladies craft building world."

Ha! Yes, many a times I have found my tools and scenery supplies on the kitchen table for various school projects.

JDaddy,

   Those days are over for me, my Girl in now in her 40's, the wife now seem to have discovered my good tools however.   I have started to compile a small set of what I call, craft tools for her, including a pair of good Electrical wire cutting dykes, that also seem to graduate to her kitchen junk drawer all the time.  The ones I have are seriously expensive professional grade and I want them for the Train Room and house wiring work, not the ladies sewing circle, craft and music room agenda. So the craft tools set has been growing as of late.

PCRR/Dave

There is a right angle attachment that I use with the larger cutting wheels.

I have been through 3 Dremel tools, 2 of the large cordless ones & 1 with cord. I agree a rotary tool is a must have tool. However, poor durability of the Dremel led me to the higher quality cordless Milwaukee which has now been in use about 15 years. It is a rugged tool with precision speed adjustment and will accept Dremel accessories. As I recall it was not a lot more expensive than the Dremel and was well worth it. Extra batteries are available from Amazon.    

Dave Drake posted:

I have been through 3 Dremel tools, 2 of the large cordless ones & 1 with cord. I agree a rotary tool is a must have tool. However, poor durability of the Dremel led me to the higher quality cordless Milwaukee which has now been in use about 15 years. It is a rugged tool with precision speed adjustment and will accept Dremel accessories. As I recall it was not a lot more expensive than the Dremel and was well worth it. Extra batteries are available from Amazon.    

Yes! me too.

I have the cordless 8220, it's a great tool.  Tons of power, good battery life, and I've worked the crap out of it.  I also have a corded model 4000, it's nice because it has speed control.  I don't use it nearly as much as the 8220, the cordless convenience wins most days.

I also have an old Dremel 395 that I've had for probably 25 years.  A few years ago it finally broke a drive coupling, but I was able to get the part and keep the old girl running.

I confess, I had one Dremel clinker, the 400 XPR.  That went up in smoke after a couple of months, and apparently I was not the only guy that happened to!  Turns out that was a lemon from the word go, tons of stories about them going up in smoke!  Of course, that's how I got the model 4000, Dremel replaced my smoked 400 XPR with the 4000, so I was happy again.

I use my Dremels infrequently.  Therefore, I prefer the corded drills.  They are always ready to go.  

My portables are never charged when I want to use them.  Also, I am having trouble finding batteries for some of my older Dremels.  I have a 770 sitting on my work table with a dead battery right now.  I should probably try Amazon.

NH Joe

Make your own battery, pretty simple and cheap.

Dremel MultiPro Cordless Model 770 Type 1 - Battery Pack Repair

Google is your friend.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Make your own battery, pretty simple and cheap.

Dremel MultiPro Cordless Model 770 Type 1 - Battery Pack Repair

Google is your friend.

Gunrunnerjohn,

Thanks for the link,  It is most helpful.  NH Joe

Did the Dremel 770 cordless tool come with one battery pack or two?

I picked one up at an estate sale. The case has room for two packs, but it only came with one.

By the way, there are packs available on EBay, but I imagine that rebuilding your pack, as shown in the link provided by GunrunnerJohn would be much less expensive.

I look these over every time I go to HD or Lowes: Dremel 8050 Micro, but for some reason always think I should go with the larger battery one or a corded model. This one really looks like it would be easy to handle and also has a head light I think. I will probably break down and get one someday, just to try it out.  Any comments on these?

Rich,  I use two Dremel tools.

A battery variable speed with a sanding drum is helpful in grinding down the rear ends of the Preiser Seated Figures I put in my Lionel and Atlas O passenger cars.  This tool is good for getting rid of rough cut edges on plywood and contouring the plywood bevel for track beds.

The corded Dremel with right angle is good for cutting my Atlas O track and creating insulated rails for my Atlas O signals.  I also use this tool for cutting plastic when I moved the interior of my Atlas O 10-6 Sleepers into the correct position inside the car. Every Atlas O 10-6 sleeper has the interior out of position with three wall edges showing through the state room windows. Moving the floor was easy with the Dremel tool.

Each tool has its advantages. when I am up on the layout, the battery Dremel is convenient for cleaning up plaster spikes and edges. There is no cord to worry about snagging on buildings and trees.

Whichever one you choose, always wear eye protection when using it. Stuff you are cutting through flies off the cut off wheels and can easily cause a nasty eye injury. It is a great tool, but respect its potential to cause injury.

I have a Dremel with a single lithium battery pack. It has to be one of my best tools. The battery lasts forever without a charge. It charges relatively quickly. I buy the metal cut off wheels. I use those the most, but grinders and wire brushes are very useful too. I have also used it on drywall and tile projects.

I originally had a corded Black and Decker. (It may still be around. Need to give it to my wife for one of her garage sales.) It was fine, but this one is so much better!

George

Hi,  You may want to check out Micromark's website for a holder that turns your dremel tool into a drill press and can be used to hold the dremel at any angle for sanding and polishing.  TLh

   The variable speed versions are worth it, the "snake" is likely worth it. My only flex shaft was on a large Craftsman, not a Dremel, but it lasted many years before I lost track of who borrowed it   

J Daddy posted:

"It was so nice it seems to have walked off into my ladies craft building world."

Ha! Yes, many a times I have found my tools and scenery supplies on the kitchen table for various school projects.

You guys have that problem too!  Just means I need multiples of those tools!!

I used to work for the company that makes Dremel brand rotary tool products, back in the 1990's. At that time, Ryobi came out with a competing corded tool. Instead of a universal motor with replaceable brushes (similar to a Pullmor) it has a PMDC (can motor) and electronics. The electronics included a feedback mechanism such that as the tool worked harder, it supplies more current (phase?) to the motor. The upshot is you could put it at the lowest speed setting so it doesn't throw sparks, then start cutting. It had a dial near the cord to select speed.

Dremel decided not to add speed control to their product, but out maneuver them in marketing.

Fast forward to 2018. I see Ryobi still makes it, the HT20VSK. Dremel might have changed. Dremel might make a PMDC motor tool, might have one with feedback, and there are other competitors. Also back in the 1990's NiCAD batteries were only good for about five years. Can't speak for NiMH or Lithium. I would venture to guess if you are going to use it alot, go for with batteries, and if you want to be able to use it in twenty years, go with corded.

I have both that Ryobi and the Dremel  rotary tool from 1990's, both still work, so no need for me to go shopping or looking.

We were taught that the word "Dremel" is like "Dumpster" or "Kleenex", it is a brand name, and employees had to make sure not to use it in a generic way.

Another thing I learned was the markup on accessories was way more than the tool. I remember being in a meeting with the president of the company that could be summarized as "If you are in the way of our company not getting enough accessories to our retailers, you might as well pack your bags right now." Became the #1 priority that day.

I have had a variable speed model 3000 for several years now.  I can't believe how much I use it.  I like it a lot.  I briefly had a Harbor Freight POS.  Great accessories but a single speed motor does not get the job done.  Live and learn.

  Not to be used in a generic way?   That contradicts everything I was taught on the goal of branding; to make the brand name for a product become the first thing you think of , eventually replacing the generic name with the branded one. E.g. you dont ask for a tissue, ask for a Kleenex..... forget cotton swaps, you need a Q-tip...  or my favorite success; I about choked when I heard about the third person down south say "Give me "...'an orange Pepsi' or a 'root beer Coke',  'grape Coke', etc..

Extra tools, that's me. I seldom own just one of anything.   I'm down to two tools from four (or more?). A 280 Dremel and an adjustable Dayton industrial. I use the adjustable speed unit most for drilling to avoid the speed cooking the bit's sharpness away.

..

   My last few tools had electronic boards controlling speed vs a heavy potentiometer. The boards all died of meltdowns, not the motors. I'll shop garage sales for my next "new" one.     There are likely half a dozen newer ones dead while these two survived decades of constant use. 

   A real drill press's work quality far exceeds the motor tool presses. The press?; I might skip it and go for a good bench or micro drill press.

illinoiscentral posted:

Another thing I learned was the markup on accessories was way more than the tool. I remember being in a meeting with the president of the company that could be summarized as "If you are in the way of our company not getting enough accessories to our retailers, you might as well pack your bags right now." Became the #1 priority that day.

Widget Supply is where I get a lot of Dremel accessories like cutting disks, sanding drums, etc.  Much cheaper than the Dremel brand, and I've had no issues using their stuff.