multi tools

[marcros]

I want to buy a replacement for my old dremel. I hear good things about the Proxxon alternatives, and see that they are on offer at Chronos. http://www.germantools.co.uk/tools/Prox ... Tools.html

Can anybody recommend a specific model, and any comments on Dremel vs Proxxon?

I want it primarily for precision drilling jobs, small grinding, cutting and shaping of metal, possibly mounting on a lathe at a later date.

 

[RickN]

Proxx on is good kit. They have better spindles which have great accuracy. Dremel has gone down hill over the years. To the point when I once had exclusively bought dremel kit to now where I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. I Replaced my ancient dremel with a newer version some time ago this subsequently caught fire during operation and this prompted my purchase of the proxxon fbs that you have linked.
Which I have used for quite some time now and cannot fault it.

 

[blackrodd]

I have a Dremel for 3 years or more, and had good service from it, A friend for whatever reason I'm not sure, bought a proxxon Which he's more than happy with and had for some time too!
I hear that the Dremel's are not as good as they used to be, so the Proxxon are more popular now, it seems,
Better chuck as standard.
Regards Rodders

 

[marcros]

i dont know whether to go for the one with the quick chuck, or the collet based one. The collet one is claimed to be the more industrial one and is £30 more. But I only really want to buy one- I dont want to wish I had gone for the other in a few months time. That is the main reason that I am likely to avoide the dremel. I was given a couple- a simple cordless which had been used a lot, but is knackered after a couple of years of (hard) use before it came to me, and a battery one, which is brand new and useless.

 

[RickN]

Over the years I have used Dremel and other muti tools I have found that I rarely used the collets, the quick chuck was / is a god send for changing bits as invariably you put the spanner down in a safe place ....... only to be found several weeks later.
The FBS 240/E with the quick chuck is more than up to the task for most jobs that would require this type of tool, I mainly use it with HSS dental burrs and with diamond cut off discs, ( which don't tend to explode as much as the carborundum ones).

Edit, I just noticed you linked the fbs 12, that requires a separate transformer, I have this one FBS 240/E, which is mains powered

 

[marcros]

thanks rick. it is the 240v one that i was looking at, regardless of the link!

 

[jdeacon]

I don't know about the newer models, but I used a Dremmel for work (usually grinding with carbide burr) for a couple of years; then someone recommended a Proxxon which I got and found to be much better, particularly the collets. I also preferred its on/off switch and the rotary speed dial over the Dremel's multi-position switch.

 

[marcros]

i vote for collets, 1 vote for quick chuck...

 

[RickN]

Nice thing about that model is that a collet option is available as an accessory so you can have best of both worlds.http://www.germantools.co.uk/tools/Prox ... llets.html

 

[RogerS]

My Dremel as been relegated to chain-saw blade sharpening duties. I much prefer the Proxxon and use different collets. A simple small plastic box with compartments takes care of keeping them and the spanner safe and sound and accessible.

 

[Eric The Viking]

I have this kit:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/proxxon-fbs-240-e-precision-drill-grinder-multi-tool

I've had it a while and paid nearly 80 for it some years back.

It is very good indeed. The chuck is very well machined and runs true, and the machine is powerful for non-drilling jobs. It seems to be quite resistant to filings etc damaging the motor (the last one, a B+D, caught fire while I was using it). There's a good range of speed control too.

There's only three caveats: The on/off switch is in the wrong place. If you have clumsy hands as I now do it's easy to catch it by accident. Secondly, there's a sprung locking pin for the shaft, near the front. It's right where you want to hold the thing sometimes, and if you get a sharp buzzing noise, you're rubbing it against the rotating shaft when it's on! Both these would be no problem to anyone with normal hands, I'd guess. Finally, the blown plastic case is entirely useless (but then they always are).

The smallest drill in the kit is 0.5mm and it really will chuck it properly and it's useful like that, although you need the drill running flat out, obviously. The ring just behind the chuck is so it fits in Proxxon accessories (wot I haven't got).

If it ever gives up I'll get another, most probably the heavy duty version, with a metal-clad gearbox.

Really excellent little tool, and the accessories provided are actually good too.

 

[custard]

Collets are more precise than chucks.

If you use the Proxxon (in a router style holder, like the StuMac one) for cutting 0.6mm wide inlay or stringing lines, then the collet is the one to go for. If you use the Proxxon for hand held engraving or as a general multi-tool then the convenience of the chuck makes more sense.

Good luck!

 

[chaoticbob]

I bought the Proxxon IBS/E Professional Mini Drill/Grinder - 240V to replace a Dremel and it's a far better tool - sweet running and accurate with minimal vibration. Proxxon also make a a holder to attach the machine to a (metal cutting) lathe toolpost, so it can be used as a toolpost grinder if that's what you have in mind forthe future. This works OK, but it's tedious because the setup lacks rigidity so you can only really take tickling cuts. But it gets you there!
Robin.

 

[marcros]

i think that i will go for the slightly cheaper tool, with the additional collet set. If I wear it out, it may warrant upgrading to the top model next time!