Looking at buying a Dremel to use whilst building my layout and for other jobs, are they worth the money or are there better ones out there?
Dremel tends to be the one to go for ... there are others, such as Lidl or Aldi specials, but both of my Dremels are pretty damn good.
Worth the money ? Well, I'd not have gone for the second (digital) one if I wasn't happy with the way the first (analogue) one worked ... The drill-press you can get is OK, as is the flexi-shaft. Sometimes, you can find a deal (as I did) with a number of these accessories thrown in.
But it's your call - are you happy with the price asked for the model you're considering ?
Thats pretty much what I thought, the better half is looking to buy me one for my birthday so price is up too her!
I contemplated getting one but didn't think it would cut the mustard :D
Taxi for NewportNobby please :doh:
I have Dremel and I find it very useful and does save me loads of time. Maplins often have a different make for sale as do the others mentioned in Mikes post, but I have never used any other than my Dremel so I cannot comment on their reliability or functionality.
I would not consider a rechargeable one of any make, unless it could be used by mains as well, as it is guaranteed when you go to use it, the battery will need charged up :thumbsdown:
cheers John.
I have a "no name" model which is fine, but Dremel is generally considered by many to be the Makita or Roller of that sort of tool.
One thing that is a pet issue with me and have gone on about before on the forum... no matter what brand you get, WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN USING IT - particularly with cutting discs attached.
I've always used Minicraft, on my second one in 40 years. Also always use one with a chuck, hate colletts.
I have the proxxon version as all the accessories fit both my proxxon milling machine and emco lathe.
One thing that i will say having used an unbranded cheaper version in the past is that regardless of the make of the main machine, the quality of your work and expense in consumables will be in line with the quality of your chuck, collets arbour bars and tools. Beware of brass colletes that are sold by numerous suppliers as these will wear rapidly. Hardened steel collets do not cost that much more.
I have no experience with dremel branded tooling but i do highly recommend the proxxon tools etc.
Elmo
I've had the Black & Decker version for about eight years now, never let me down :thumbsup:
Paul
Quote from: Dorsetmike on August 26, 2014, 12:16:27 AM
I've always used Minicraft, on my second one in 40 years. Also always use one with a chuck, hate colletts.
Totally agree, touch wood, I have been using my Minicraft one for around 25 years and it have never been an issue. I totally recommend having a mini drill around but not sure that should I need to replace it, I woyuld go to the expense of a Dremmel.
Don't forget that the accessories from Dremmel will fit other machines as well though.
Best wishes
Simon
I have most of the mini craft tools I had a bit of a problem with the drill after many many years the rubber block that couples the motor to the drill shaft perished but I repaired it about 4 years ago no problem since. My brother in law bought me a Rolson drill kit just after the Mini craft broke , it just didn't have the torque and even when cutting track it would stall I now only use it for light drilling etc in the end you get what you pay for. I haven't tried a Dremel but I have been told they are the Rolls Royce in the drill market.
Bob
I bought the Lidl battery powered version just over a year ago and find it superb. I also have a Proxxon but mains powered version, both accept each other's arbours and tools and the tools made by Dremel.
I have a mains Dremel which has just failed after 15 odd years, and also a battery version which is ok but doesn't have the oomph of the mains powered one. Went to Maplin over the weekend and they have a mains powered one with some accessories for just 32 quid. It's puke green in colour but looks body wise about the same as my Dremel. I know you get what you pay for but I will get one anyway and give it a go as I am commencing track laying soon for my layout.
Will keep people posted in due course.
A second, strong recommendation for the Proxxon IB/E. It's much better made than modern dremels and only costs slightly more money (mine was £50). It's got a better motor, well mounted bearings and a metal housing at the end that matters.
More grunt, more accuracy and about 1/2 the noise of my dremel.
Thanks for the help guys, I'll pop out on Saturday and have look at what I can get my hands on! :thankyousign:
I got my cordless Dremel a decade or so back...
I don't use it intensively, but it has never let me down. I did have a battery conk out but that was replaced under warranty.
With the Lithium Ion battery it holds charge for donkeys too...
Quote from: Luke Piewalker on August 26, 2014, 09:08:32 PM
With the Lithium Ion battery it holds charge for donkeys too...
You have electric donkeys in Edinburgh? :o
Quote from: newportnobby on August 26, 2014, 09:27:09 PM
Quote from: Luke Piewalker on August 26, 2014, 09:08:32 PM
With the Lithium Ion battery it holds charge for donkeys too...
You have electric donkeys in Edinburgh? :o
It's usually referred to optimistically as the Edinburgh Tram System :D
Paul
We'll have no insulting of our lovely trams. which are lovely. and trams.
Quote from: Luke Piewalker on August 26, 2014, 09:55:13 PM
We'll have no insulting of our lovely trams. which are lovely. and trams.
My mother-in-law who has has to put up with the disruption and mess on a daily basis to build the damn thing would beg to differ! :laugh:
Paul
I have a Dremel but find the flexible drive shaft is very useful especifally for cutting track etc.
Yeah, I'd thought about cutting track with it but figured I would need the flexi shaft or the right angle attachment to get a vertical cut due to the bulk of the handle.
Yes cutting track with it can be tricky, best to practice first on odd bits before, say, putting an insulating gap in already laid trackwork. If you don't cut at perfect right angles, you can easily knock the track out of gauge, or worse still, break the cutting disc and cause injury. SAFETY FIRST!
I cut the track approximately to length from each side inwards, then can square it using the same disc in the flexishaft very simple job but yes care is needed not to shatter the disc but I find the discs more susceptible to breakage by being knocked not while using.
I posted on another Dremel thread earlier this year about a guy I know here who was showing me how "easy" it was to cut track with a Dremel. I've never forgotten that to this day and am quite paranoid about it.
He didn't wear safety glasses, the disk broke, flew off and embedded itself in his nose. He's lucky he still has two eyes.
Anyway, off me soapbox. They are a very useful tool, no matter what the brand. :angel:
I've found the diamond metal disks are the best for cutting track and with the battery powered Lidl one you can easily get into most places as it is not as bulky as mains powered versions and their trailing cables etc. I have found it even better than using the flexible drive in my mains powered version for cutting track etc.
Quote from: Only Me on August 27, 2014, 08:53:02 AM
I did more damage to my hands with a razor saw then I have done with my dremel ....
I'll get my coat
(http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-sick013.gif)
I reckon the dreaded fishplates (sorry... rail joiners) are worse.
In 2002 when I started in earnest with this N gauge lark (early retirement) I bought a mains Dremel at B & Q - Multipro 285 2 speed . Not cheap but well made & handily soon found a good chuck to fit also . Used it on my layout for a while for track cutting , until I discovered Xuron track cutters . No going back then ! Still used the Dremel on & off though .
A couple of years ago , after enjoying what are (to me) the big benefits of using a no-mainswire gas Solderpro soldering iron on the layout (usuually underneath it !) for ages , I decided to start looking seriously for a cordless/rechargeable drill , & eventually settled on a Rota Craft 9.6 volt variable speed RC09 which I discovered at a very reasonable price (sorry , can't remember how much) on either Ebay or Amazon . Yes , it sometimes needs recharging when you want to use it BUT to me the extra convenience of being able to use it ANYWHERE far outway the disadvantages !! Cheers , Ric PS the Dremel still works fine .
Quote from: Bealman on August 27, 2014, 07:31:59 AM
He didn't wear safety glasses, the disk broke, flew off and embedded itself in his nose. He's lucky he still has two eyes.
I'm assuming your day job isn't in the healthcare profession.
Hello!
I'm in the market for a new mini-drill as my old cordless one is now seriously lacking in welly. I initially dismissed Dremel as I didn't think I could afford one, but then I spotted this on their website http://www.dremel-direct.com/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_Dremel_7700_Cordless.html (http://www.dremel-direct.com/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_Dremel_7700_Cordless.html). Is it the bargain it seems, or too good to be true? I was originally going to go for a mains drill for the extra power, but I probably won't use it that often, or for anything very heavy-duty.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
Chris - not got this particular model BUT years ago bought a mains Dremel . Still using this , and the Dremel build quality is renowned , BUT I did buy a Rotacraft cordless 2 years ago & it is really handy having a cordless , usually it's all I use now . IMHO this looks like a really good deal & if I didn't already have a cordless , I'd buy this one . Take a gamble on this !! Ric
Quote from: newportnobby on August 25, 2014, 10:12:28 PM
I contemplated getting one but didn't think it would cut the mustard :D
Taxi for NewportNobby please :doh:
you obviously don't have the right cutter for it
I've got the Lidl Parkside cordless and my mains Dremel hasn't seen the light of day since, great little tool.
Love my Dremel and flexi shaft. Use it for just about everything. Cutting track, drilling holes for fencing, you name it, it's done it.
Even stir the paint with it. :)
Quote from: Only Me on March 23, 2015, 12:25:13 PM
Chris, keep looking in Lidl, every few moths they have a stock of parkside-multi-tool for about £25 ... They are excellent. Cordless rechargeable and have a multitude of tools to work with..
if it doesnt need to be cordless these are really good..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PARKSIDE-Precision-Multi-Grinder-PFBS-160-A1-DIY-Hobby-Tool-Arts-Crafts-/171718408497?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27fb36f931 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PARKSIDE-Precision-Multi-Grinder-PFBS-160-A1-DIY-Hobby-Tool-Arts-Crafts-/171718408497?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27fb36f931)
Finally got around to having a look round Lidl - nothing. Having checked online since, it appears these are no longer available. Ah well, back to the drawing board...
Chris
Thanks, I did spot that. However, the fact that the box has "some wear", even though the drill is advertised as new, and there's no photo of the contents, did rather set off a few flashing red lights.
Think I'll go for something genuinely new.
Cheers,
Chris
I have tried an assortment of Dremel, and Proxxon drills - I would buy Proxxon for the quality of build, quietness and most important the quality of their accessories.
I use a 10 year old B&Q rotary tool, it is heavy but it hangs on a stand and has a flexible drive permanently attached (Draper do a similar tool with flexi-drive).
I always buy Proxxon accessories - mostly sanding drums, small drills and diamond burrs, they work well, last for ages and work out cheaper in the long run.
Belated thanks for all the helpful replies.
I finally decided to go for one of these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Combitool-Rotary-Multitool-Combi-Multi-Tool-240v-Electric-Dremel-Compatible-/351192279292 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Combitool-Rotary-Multitool-Combi-Multi-Tool-240v-Electric-Dremel-Compatible-/351192279292)
Not a make I had heard of before, but it looked to be good value. The motor is more powerful than the equivalent Dremel, and it certainly appears to be a solid, well-made piece of kit. The accessories come in a paper envelope rather than a box, but that is the least of my concerns. I will post a progress report after I have tried a few things with it.
Cheers,
Chris
The only thing that would put me off that is collets, for me it has to be a chuck, I find collets too fiddly to use having to change the collet each time you want to use a different bit or tool; plus they are far too easy to loose.
Regarding collets, both Dremel and Proxxon sell a chuck to replace the collet - they do fit some other makes as well. I use a collet for attachments - they are mostly 3.2mm shaft, if I needed to use tools with different shafts, or drills I would want a chuck too.
Does the mains Dremel operate on 240v or is it, like my two from Focus (before they got taken over by B&Q), run through a 12v transformer? I am happy with the two I have, both collet types but keep them for track laying, one with a cutting disc and the other with a 0.5mm drill for pilot holes for the track pins. I have had them for donkeys years.
I have a Dremel 3000 which uses REAL mains.....
Worth checking out Maplins too - occasionally they have great bargains. I bought a cordless 'dremel' equivalent when it was 1/2 price.
I have a quite old mains powered Dremel. The cable is thick black and stiff, less than ideal for fine work, but perfectly acceptable when a bit of miniature grunt is required.
Quote from: newportnobby on August 25, 2014, 10:12:28 PM
I contemplated getting one but didn't think it would cut the mustard :D
Taxi for NewportNobby please :doh:
A bit late but the taxi is on it's way Mick. Get your hat & coat :D.