Are Dremel’s worth the money

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Well, not a Dremel, but I bought an old tool complete with variable speed power supply, called Como, has a small chuck, must be pretty ancient by now but works well. Cost a fiver at a car-boot sale. I don't use it much except to sharpen chainsaw with a diamond file. Yes I know I shouldn't. This has no bearings, just a couple of brass bushes, but doesn't have much wear.

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Well, not a Dremel, but I bought an old tool complete with variable speed power supply, called Como, has a small chuck, must be pretty ancient by now but works well. Cost a fiver at a car-boot sale. I don't use it much except to sharpen chainsaw with a diamond file. Yes I know I shouldn't. This has no bearings, just a couple of brass bushes, but doesn't have much wear.

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

I modified a cheap router to accept a flexi drive and found this does all i need and with more grunt than i will ever need but not the same rpm as a dremel .

Cost about the same a dremel and you get a router as well !

Ian

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

I modified a cheap router to accept a flexi drive and found this does all i need and with more grunt than i will ever need but not the same rpm as a dremel .

Cost about the same a dremel and you get a router as well !

Ian

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

I modified a cheap router to accept a flexi drive and found this does all i need and with more grunt than i will ever need but not the same rpm as a dremel .

Cost about the same a dremel and you get a router as well !

Ian

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Forget the Dremel. For a flexible drive I have made an adaptor for the spindle end of the off-hand grinder, this takes a power drill type chuck, keyed or keyless, a cheap flexible drive from Axminster has a plain shank that fits in the chuck, and the other end, which comes with a hand-tightened chuck will also accept the same type of drill chuck., up to 3/8" capacity..

Plenty of power, but obviously limited to the fixed speed of the grinder.

My scrollsaw, a Delta of ancient lineage, has a thread in the end of the motor spindle specifically for a flexible, giving the advantage of two speeds, and the Axminster flexible end can be threaded down to fit this.

But I do also have two versions of a Dremel type, plus a small dental drill which is just like the device the nail bars use (and have one of those as well). These are only used on light delicate jobs. Variety is the spice etc.

Phil

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Forget the Dremel. For a flexible drive I have made an adaptor for the spindle end of the off-hand grinder, this takes a power drill type chuck, keyed or keyless, a cheap flexible drive from Axminster has a plain shank that fits in the chuck, and the other end, which comes with a hand-tightened chuck will also accept the same type of drill chuck., up to 3/8" capacity..

Plenty of power, but obviously limited to the fixed speed of the grinder.

My scrollsaw, a Delta of ancient lineage, has a thread in the end of the motor spindle specifically for a flexible, giving the advantage of two speeds, and the Axminster flexible end can be threaded down to fit this.

But I do also have two versions of a Dremel type, plus a small dental drill which is just like the device the nail bars use (and have one of those as well). These are only used on light delicate jobs. Variety is the spice etc.

Phil

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Forget the Dremel. For a flexible drive I have made an adaptor for the spindle end of the off-hand grinder, this takes a power drill type chuck, keyed or keyless, a cheap flexible drive from Axminster has a plain shank that fits in the chuck, and the other end, which comes with a hand-tightened chuck will also accept the same type of drill chuck., up to 3/8" capacity..

Plenty of power, but obviously limited to the fixed speed of the grinder.

My scrollsaw, a Delta of ancient lineage, has a thread in the end of the motor spindle specifically for a flexible, giving the advantage of two speeds, and the Axminster flexible end can be threaded down to fit this.

But I do also have two versions of a Dremel type, plus a small dental drill which is just like the device the nail bars use (and have one of those as well). These are only used on light delicate jobs. Variety is the spice etc.

Phil

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Origionally bought a Black & Decker mini drill, after a year it died, got another under guarantee, that lasted 6 months, got another one, that lasted a year, so I decided to have a look inside, the drive is via a small spring about 10 mm long, 5 mm od wound with about 1 mm wire, with a loop at each end to take the drive, one of the loops had broken, 5 minuites in my spring collection, and back in action, it worked ok for about 5 years until the motor gave up. In the mean time I bought a second hand Dremel that had been well used, its still going after more than 10 years.

I think that you can get a little chuck for the Dremel, but I'v never bothered. Ian S C

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Origionally bought a Black & Decker mini drill, after a year it died, got another under guarantee, that lasted 6 months, got another one, that lasted a year, so I decided to have a look inside, the drive is via a small spring about 10 mm long, 5 mm od wound with about 1 mm wire, with a loop at each end to take the drive, one of the loops had broken, 5 minuites in my spring collection, and back in action, it worked ok for about 5 years until the motor gave up. In the mean time I bought a second hand Dremel that had been well used, its still going after more than 10 years.

I think that you can get a little chuck for the Dremel, but I'v never bothered. Ian S C

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Origionally bought a Black & Decker mini drill, after a year it died, got another under guarantee, that lasted 6 months, got another one, that lasted a year, so I decided to have a look inside, the drive is via a small spring about 10 mm long, 5 mm od wound with about 1 mm wire, with a loop at each end to take the drive, one of the loops had broken, 5 minuites in my spring collection, and back in action, it worked ok for about 5 years until the motor gave up. In the mean time I bought a second hand Dremel that had been well used, its still going after more than 10 years.

I think that you can get a little chuck for the Dremel, but I'v never bothered. Ian S C

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi All

For cleaning up welds. grinding rusted or mangled bolts heads or nuts off, and other heavy work I use a 240v Hitachi die grinder. more often than not with a 5mm shaft carbide burr of the right shape, If you are careful they will happily cut steel, even quite heavy stuff just make sure you keep the revs up. not hard to do it has lots of power. it has a 5mm and a 2.5mm collet so will take most burrs and grinding wheels. Grinding wheels are fine but the small sizes do not last long Carbide burs are a lot cheaper now so for heavy work I prefer them. Grinding wheels on the other hand with finer grits will give a fine finish.

The Hitachi has a round body, I made a holder for it to clamp in the tool post on the lathe. Although it is a lot of work to protect the lathe before grinding and the huge cleanup after but it works well.

I also have an old Atlas Copco air hand piece, the one with the turbine bulge on the end of the handle it is also quite powerful and east to use in one hand. for delicate work I use an air pencil very nice to use and extremely light, also sourced at a market.

I have seen air pencils on the Internet for around 20 to 50 dollars. I do have an old Dremel, quite old. it is round and black. unfortunately the windings shorted out. However I prefer the other grinders

Cheers
John

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi All

For cleaning up welds. grinding rusted or mangled bolts heads or nuts off, and other heavy work I use a 240v Hitachi die grinder. more often than not with a 5mm shaft carbide burr of the right shape, If you are careful they will happily cut steel, even quite heavy stuff just make sure you keep the revs up. not hard to do it has lots of power. it has a 5mm and a 2.5mm collet so will take most burrs and grinding wheels. Grinding wheels are fine but the small sizes do not last long Carbide burs are a lot cheaper now so for heavy work I prefer them. Grinding wheels on the other hand with finer grits will give a fine finish.

The Hitachi has a round body, I made a holder for it to clamp in the tool post on the lathe. Although it is a lot of work to protect the lathe before grinding and the huge cleanup after but it works well.

I also have an old Atlas Copco air hand piece, the one with the turbine bulge on the end of the handle it is also quite powerful and east to use in one hand. for delicate work I use an air pencil very nice to use and extremely light, also sourced at a market.

I have seen air pencils on the Internet for around 20 to 50 dollars. I do have an old Dremel, quite old. it is round and black. unfortunately the windings shorted out. However I prefer the other grinders

Cheers
John

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi All

For cleaning up welds. grinding rusted or mangled bolts heads or nuts off, and other heavy work I use a 240v Hitachi die grinder. more often than not with a 5mm shaft carbide burr of the right shape, If you are careful they will happily cut steel, even quite heavy stuff just make sure you keep the revs up. not hard to do it has lots of power. it has a 5mm and a 2.5mm collet so will take most burrs and grinding wheels. Grinding wheels are fine but the small sizes do not last long Carbide burs are a lot cheaper now so for heavy work I prefer them. Grinding wheels on the other hand with finer grits will give a fine finish.

The Hitachi has a round body, I made a holder for it to clamp in the tool post on the lathe. Although it is a lot of work to protect the lathe before grinding and the huge cleanup after but it works well.

I also have an old Atlas Copco air hand piece, the one with the turbine bulge on the end of the handle it is also quite powerful and east to use in one hand. for delicate work I use an air pencil very nice to use and extremely light, also sourced at a market.

I have seen air pencils on the Internet for around 20 to 50 dollars. I do have an old Dremel, quite old. it is round and black. unfortunately the windings shorted out. However I prefer the other grinders

Cheers
John

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