Best value Dremel / Rotary Tool

[Fergie 307]

I've got a bunch ( is 3 a bunch ) of "full size" die grinders..and various tungsten bits for them, at least 6 "Dremel clones" ( they are noisier than actual Dremels ), they are so as to avoid keep having to stop to swap bits during powered sculpture, some ( 4 I think ) air powered micro tools ( they go up to over 100k rpm )the vented air makes them noisy. Picked up a couple of Dremel "all in" kits at xmas ( I already had a couple of dremels, but couldn't access them in the atelier, too much stuff in nthe way as this year I'm doubling the atelier surface area. New Dremels are ultra smooth , will be buying some proxons too ( for the same reason as sideways "steel collar" ) ..I could use some chucks for my die grinders ( 6mm ), I have some tools with hex shafts that I cannot use in them. If I were buying my first Dremel type tool now, I'd buy Dremel or Proxon.but for most of the "bits" and sanding rolls etc..Middle aisle of Lidl is good quality and way cheaper than Dremel bits.

I have also found the accessories from Lidl very good.
One thing I do love about the Dremel is the quick fit discs, very handy.

 

[benitod]

I had four Dremel, a basic model, and three model 3000. They were excellent at woodwork. seldom used for metalwork.

 

[sihollies]

Thanks everyone.
I have taken the plunge and ordered the Dremel 4250 with accessories.
I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers!

 

[joshvegas]

It's about value, and Dremel is value for money as you can rely on it to work and keep working..
You know what they say - Buy cheap, Buy twice.

Hmmm. I have had three dremels they have all failed at the switch, which you can't fix. One was a warranty replacement. The final one was a different model and it did the same bloody thing. This was an occasional use tool, i really wouldn't rate Dremel as a quality brand in my experience. Although for things like the more sketchy tools like cut of disks i would be inclined to buy a name.

Replaces with a foot operated thing on a flex, its ace and has an actual chuck aswell. The pen like nature of the tool is much nicer than a fist full of dremel too.

 

[Chief Sawdust Maker]

I had a cordless Dremel for years really good piece of kit
The chuck ceased up and i couldn't move it i wanted to replace the Dremel and they were just launching a new version but there were none in stock.
I brought a draper storm force as i had a storm force polisher with a couple of batteries.
The storm force was going to be a stop gap for a couple of months whilst i waited for the Dremel to hit the shops.
Well that was about 2 1/2 years ago and its been great it spends a lot of its time mounted in a Dremel drill stand (that has been a useful investment)
I am not sure i would go back to Dremel if the draper bit the dust

 

[Doris]

Probably a Dremel is the answer to that question.

It's about value, and Dremel is value for money as you can rely on it to work and keep working..
You know what they say - Buy cheap, Buy twice.

I've had both and dremel wins every time. Simply because you can get all the parts for it. Since buying mine over 10 years ago I've replaced the brushes and flexi shaft (got that wound up in my glove and the spring snapped) and I use it almost everyday.

If you buy a cheap no name one then finding parts that fit your model is a bit more trickier to do

I'm still using the basic original model, and I've run it continuously till it was too hot to hold.

A few years ago I found my Granddad's Dremel which must have been one of the earlier models as he died in the early 80's. It looked pretty basic, black, no flexible shaft but still ran. I think the collets were a different size though to the more modern equivalents otherwise I probably would have taken it.

Cant have both. Dremel is your best bet because its been used extensively and tested to near destruction and just kept going.
There are others, obviously there are others. The system gets used in professional jewellery making but those you will be paying £250-£350 and are the hanging type with the flexishaft. But if you want one thats going to do what it says on the tin, then Dremel is your best bet.

Those professional ones are made buy a company called Foredom. Again can't fault Foredom because of the range of spare replacement parts available. Dremel do do a version now which a fellow carver friend let me have a go on but doesn't really have the guts in it.

 

[mwinfrance]

Replaces with a foot operated thing on a flex, its ace and has an actual chuck aswell. The pen like nature of the tool is much nicer than a fist full of dremel too.

What was the brand ? Was it a Foredom ?

For Europeans , ( and Brits ) Bordet in France now do some similar to Foredom..
https://www.bordet.fr/moteur-movix-moviluty-avec-variateur-moviluty-c2x29665746?PGFLngID=0
Plently of "grunt" there at 900 Watts.
They also do a powered vibrating carver , scroll to the bottom of that page.
Flexidrives and tool holders are similar in price to Foredom , but Bordet's stuff works on 220/240 "out of the box".

Similar available out of China too, or you could make one using a Dremel, Foredom, or others flexidrive with a little imagination.If I was going that way, I'd look at using a servo motor of the type sold for industrial sewing machines with a control box and a pedal.Motors with the box etc can be got for around £125.00 in the UK , Jack are probably the best, I have a few here ( or around $50.00 From China ), they won't spin as fast, but the speed that you need depends on what you are doing.Servo motors have all the power at slow revs too.You can also use "micro-motors" and make your own devices which go much faster than Dremels etc, and have a more slim, easier to hold "pen" feel to them, like the air powered versions.

Lidl also do a double wheel grinding / polishing system with a flex-drive included ( made for them by Sheppach ) , I have two , these work well and accept all the same bits that Dremels do, Tungsten burrs etc, Motor is I think a bit more powerful than a Dremel, designed to be bench mounted, cost about €30.00 or so here.

There used to be a guy in Oz, can't remember his name ATM, and I seem to remember his website was down the last time I looked, he did very nice powered carving work with a bunch of tools that dropped down from the ceiling ( so as to not be cluttered when working ) he had a mix of tools, some Dremels in there. It is much easier to work when you have a bunch of each of the different tools and so don't have to keep stopping to change the bits. Similar with angle grinders with their various attachments and discs, and chainsaws in different sizes.

You can use a domestic sewing machine foot pedal* to make a Dremel or something of a similar wattage have variable foot pedal control. Domestic sewing machine motors ( the old "potted" type that bolted on the back of the machine, and the newer internal motors were / are all around 90 to 110 watts , Dremels and similar are around 130 to 150, .Putting the pedals in line between them and the mains ( set it up safely ) will give you a variable control foot pedal, leaving both hands free, or you could rig it to be pressed by elbows, knees, whatever.

*other variable foot pedals are available.