Dremel?

[Luke Piewalker]

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...

[Newportnobby]

With the Lithium Ion battery it holds charge for donkeys too...

You have electric donkeys in Edinburgh?

[Sprintex]

With the Lithium Ion battery it holds charge for donkeys too...

You have electric donkeys in Edinburgh?

It's usually referred to optimistically as the Edinburgh Tram System


Paul

[Luke Piewalker]

We'll have no insulting of our lovely trams. which are lovely. and trams.

[Sprintex]

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! 


Paul

[georgehgv]

I have a Dremel but find the flexible drive shaft is very useful especifally for cutting track etc.

[Luke Piewalker]

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.

[Bealman]

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!

[georgehgv]

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.

[Bealman]

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. 

[Caz]

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.

[Bealman]

I did more damage to my hands with a razor saw then I have done with my dremel ....

I'll get my coat

I reckon the dreaded fishplates (sorry... rail joiners) are worse.

[Bigric]

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 .

[dndidnidn]

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.

[Papyrus]

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. 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