Dremel, worth it?

[Locut0s]

I want to get into electronics as a hobby. Will also tie in a little bit with comp sci I'll be taking later on at BCIT, well in some places anyway. I also have other hobbies like my arcade cabinet, and just plain fixing, modding and screwing around with electronics and similar projects. I know for this kind of thing a Dremel would be very useful, don't have any tools at all currently beyond some screw drivers and a soldering iron. I know they are very well respected. My question is how useful are they outside of the hobby world. How durable are they really? I mean I know you aren't going to be building a kitchen cabinet with one or anything. But let's say you tried to actually do that, how far into such a project would the thing die on you? My father bought some el cheapo throw away dremel clone and it lasted all of a few hours. Now of course I wouldn't be as stupid as to use it on some major project like building furniture, BUT some of the uses I can foresee using it for would require some extended use. Are these things build well enough to cut more than a few tiles without burning out for example?

Any owners of dremel sets want to chime in with good and bas uses for them? User reviews?

 

[arrfep]

I've had one for about 10 years, and it's still going strong. I use it for about anything you wouldn't want to use a full size tool on, and then some. Engraving, polishing, sanding, cutting, etc.

I used some of the new cut-off wheels to cut through the end of an old control-arm of my car (heavy, strong steel). The job would have been better done with a pneumatic grinder or a recip-saw, but I had neither of those at my disposal. Then threw a mini wire-wheel on, and used it to remove flaking paint over a rust spot on the fender of my mom's car that needs repainting.

It's probably the most versatile tool I own. If you tend do to a lot of random, odd jobs, I highly recommend it. Obviously, as you mention, it's not going to replace a proper drill or saw or any other full-sized power tool, but I think if you get one, you'll find plenty of uses for it. Oh, and FWIW, I have a plug-in version.

 

[Locut0s]

I've had one for about 10 years, and it's still going strong. I use it for about anything you wouldn't want to use a full size tool on, and then some. Engraving, polishing, sanding, cutting, etc.

I used some of the new cut-off wheels to cut through the end of an old control-arm of my car (heavy, strong steel). The job would have been better done with a pneumatic grinder or a recip-saw, but I had neither of those at my disposal. Then threw a mini wire-wheel on, and used it to remove flaking paint over a rust spot on the fender of my mom's car that needs repainting.

It's probably the most versatile tool I own. If you tend do to a lot of random, odd jobs, I highly recommend it. Obviously, as you mention, it's not going to replace a proper drill or saw or any other full-sized power tool, but I think if you get one, you'll find plenty of uses for it. Oh, and FWIW, I have a plug-in version.

Thanks! Yes I would be looking at getting a plug in version as well.

 

[grrl]

As arrfep described, Dremels are great.

 

[Fritzo]

Yes, but get a cordless one. The corded ones are a pain because the cord never seems long enough.

 

[stargazr]

Definitely worth it. They are on sale all the time. I used them at my old job as a toolmaker, mainly on metal. We had a larger one for heavy work though (different manufacturer). You just need to use common sense. Take your time. Don't force the cutting action to where you can hear it slow way down, overloading the motor. Trying to cut a 2 x 4 is beyond the tool's intended use.

They have a series of grinders of varying quality depending on what you're going to do with it..

Several years ago we had a break in and my Dremel kit was stolen from my home. I had a shitload of extra stones and accessories of all type. I have since replaced some of the stolen items but not the Dremel yet.

I have a larger Makita that's awesome but it's clumsy for smaller work like case modding.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

Yes, but get a cordless one. The corded ones are a pain because the cord never seems long enough.

I had the cordless one, and it was nice, but never had the horsepower for the case mods i was doing at the time. Switched over to a plug in and its been great. Extension cord is necessary most of the time though.
I mostly use it now a days for model train stuff. works like a champ.

 

[Jeff7]

Dremel is good.


If you use cutoff wheels for anything harder than water, spend the extra bit of money on them and get the fiberglass-reinforced ones. The others seem to dissolve away rather quickly during use.

 

[stargazr]

This guy demonstrates how to cut a circle, good example of what's possible. Notice how he doesn't push the tool too hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iMiH8wYTDY

Also the cordless models don't have enough balls.

 

[LookBehindYou]

A dremel is definitely worth it. I've used mine for everything from case modding to pumpkin carving to cutting notches out of an end table so my ps3 wheel could mount to it. Had it for about 7 years and is as good as new.

 

[Locut0s]

This guy demonstrates how to cut a circle, good example of what's possible. Notice how he doesn't push the tool too hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iMiH8wYTDY

Also the cordless models don't have enough balls.

Thanks for the vid!

 

[classy]

I like mine. Used it for various things. Had it for about two years now.

 

[gorcorps]

Very good tool, and has a lot of accessories to make certain jobs easier. Don't cheap out and get a single speed on/off one (if they even make them anymore). Make sure and at least get a multispeed one. I don't use mine terribly often, but when I do I'm always glad I have it and it's never given me trouble.

 

[TwiceOver]

There's times when nothing will do what a dremel can do, or at least not as fast. I don't know how good the new cordless ones are, but I'd love to not have a cord.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Good buy for sure. Have used it to mod a pc case, use it to grind my dogs nails down, various repairs on crap, etc.. Will not go without owning one again. They are that good.

 

[alkemyst]

Yes, but get a cordless one. The corded ones are a pain because the cord never seems long enough.

Depends on use. Both would be ideal.

OP, like any tool; it's useful if you have the need. If not it's just a trinket.

I use my dremel all the time. I have owned 3 now. I upgrade as they get better. Most I'd ever had to do was new brushes and occassionally on an older model use some cleaner on the variable speed lever.

Definitely use eye protection esp with cutting wheels...they WILL shatter and pieces have embedded in my cheek right below my glasses. Even the reinforced wheels can fail.

 

[IronWing]

Best burglary tool out there. We spent Saturday morning cutting bolts to take security bars off a house. We used the latest cordless model and it cut like butter. My wife uses it to cut designs out of steel sheet and to grind steel. As Jeff7 said, spend the money of the fiberglass reinforced wheels and also the new EZ mandrel which makes wheel changes a breeze. I use the cheapest cordless version at work and it has been cheerfully cutting paddle locks for ten+ years.

 

[waggy]

I LOVE my dremel set.

i have a pretty basic one. had something like 280 bits. Now the sets are amazing with different toolsets you can use. thinking of getting myself one for Christmas!

 

[Modelworks]

Dremel is okay but a better product is the black and decker RTX. Uses same tool sets and has a much more powerful motor for larger cutting jobs.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-R...9464053&sr=8-1

 

[WackyDan]

Yes, but get a cordless one. The corded ones are a pain because the cord never seems long enough.

Cordless ones are only worth using on small projects... You also have to replace the batteries after a couple of short years....

Extension cord is cheaper than batteries and corded Dremels have more power.

 

[Specop 007]

As useful as a cordless drill. Nearly a must have item. I use a B&D RTX aftr smoking my Dremel. Wanted to try something different to see if theres any better quality. Same idea, different color really.

 

[0roo0roo]

its worth it for general mods/home imrpovement, as for electronics/compsci, u are jumping the gun on that one. tons of theory before you can apply anything worth building something over.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I bought a Northern Industrial Dremel Knockoff ... quite a bit cheaper, and I don't need it very often so durabillity wasn't too big of a factor (though generally reviews look good) ...
I've had mine about a year or so, and have used it maybe a dozen or so times .... Have also loaned it to a friend too ...

Also used it to cut through steel just for the hell of it ...

 

[highland145]

I bought a Northern Industrial Dremel Knockoff ... quite a bit cheaper, and I don't need it very often so durabillity wasn't too big of a factor (though generally reviews look good) ...
I've had mine about a year or so, and have used it maybe a dozen or so times .... Have also loaned it to a friend too ...

Also used it to cut through steel just for the hell of it ...

And now have to buy another one.

 

[PottedMeat]

i've got one from ~15 years ago. still works fine, though the top bearing is starting to go - it's starting to whine a lot. i broke it a long time ago by pressing the button that holds the shaft still when it was on
...damn forgot how i fixed it.