Recommendations on buying a Dremel.

Corded, battery powered, a certain kit/model to buy, variable speeds, or other suggestions? I can't picture me doing large jobs with it.

Thanks!

But more than you think you will need!!!!

Definitely a cordless multi-speed with the rechargeable 12 volt battery pack. Mine has done anything & everything I've asked of it.

Dremel 3000 for me.
Think it was maybe $60 at a local "farm store" 5 or 6 years ago.
I bought it cause I had one little job I thought it'd be handy for.
Use it more often than I expected.

For me, the cord is plenty long and there's more than enough power. In fact, be careful you don't take away too much of whatever you're working on. I start slow and work my way up. Just like getting out of bed in the mornings.

Cordless, variable speed, and buy extra batteries. As the battery wears down you'll have to keep adjusting the speed till the battery dies.

Remember it's for light / medium intermittent applications if you plan on long usage times, double the spare battery cache and / or get a corded model.

Oh, and get lots of bits.

I got a cheap one years ago corded one works well it does everything I want it to do dremel brand

Get a corded model, I was never really happy with a cordless models, just not enough umpf when I needed it. I have several, so I can pick the one that will do what I need. My main one is a heavier duty one and I put a long flexible shaft on it. It hangs above my workbench so I can hold it with my fingers for better dexterity and it's out of the way. You probably won't need something that size, but I wouldn't go real light, otherwise you'll probably be looking for a different one pretty quickly, trust me, been there, done that .

Corded Dremel with the Flex Shaft.

I have two, both 110v. The first one is 40 years old and still works fine, even after surviving complete immersion in a flood. The newer one, 20 years old, works fine also.

I use these Dremel tools often.

I have two electric Dremel's, I also like my Ryobi too.

dannyd said:

I have two electric Dremel's, I also like my Ryobi too.

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Nice! I didn't know they made such a thing. Does this take regular Dremel bits?

I have one, but find they are VERY hard to control and do anything requiring precision.

And they are extremely loud! What an annoying high pitched whine!!!

@Cholo just curious, but what project made you think of a dremel?

Kevin said:

@Cholo just curious, but what project made you think of a dremel?

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When I was about 18 years old I was on my own. If I needed any tool I bought it. This went on for decades, and I still have, and use, almost all of those tools.

A week or so ago I broke the belt clip off an Otterbox phone case. In waiting for a new case I've had to carry it in my back pocket, or a front shirt pocket if it was cool outside. I wanted to remove the rest of the belt clip that was just in the way. I thought a Dremel would be just the tool. No, I can't just break it off without ruining the entire back cover. So here we are!

Ok,, I own a couple of Dremels,, and I fully feel the corded ones are better. And a flex shaft is a sweet accessory.

I also own a couple of the Fordom gunsmith ones,, with the foot control. Love those things.

BUT,, here's a different thought.
Contact OtterBox. They have a lifetime warranty on their stuff. I bet you'll get a new phone case.

I'd go with a corded Dremel name brand. I've used mine for many jobs over about 10 years and it's still as good as new.

contender said:

Contact OtterBox. They have a lifetime warranty on their stuff. I bet you'll get a new phone case.

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I did. They're sending me a new complete case for the handling fee of $11.76

Ok, good on getting the case.

Now, back to a tool.

I like top quality stuff when I think I'll use it for a fair amount of use. I look at it as buying quality once,, and not having worries later. I had a Dremel long ago that had to be replaced due to it quit working. I had gotten good use out of it,, and didn't hesitate in buying my next one. And,, I even bought an older one, and a separate foot control for it in a bundle at an auction.

But the Fordom tool,, the cats meow. The flex shaft,,the variable speed control foot operation, and easily does all I need. I just happened to luck into a pair of them at a different auction about 15-18 years ago. Cheaply too! If I had to replace the (4) tools due to a disaster,, I'd go with Fordom!

I have a corded model from way back when they were made in Wisconsin. It's gotta be over 20 years old now and still works like a champ. I have never used one of the cordless models.

I still have my original multi speed Dremel. I've used it mostly in hobby related activities (no, not gunsmithing). So the strain on it has never been too much. For anything heavier than model trains I use a MIlwaukee M12 unit. Small enough to be handy yet powerful enough to do some fairly heavy chores.

One suggestion, think about all of the attachments you will need. Buy those, then go back and buy the rest cuz you will "need" them sooner than you think. It's sort of like a router. Buy a small box of cheap bits then buy the a really, really big box of premium ones.

I have an old corded Dremel and two cordless multi speed ones I bought at Walmart. One for the house and one for the garage. They were pretty cheap as I recall, I think around $40. They do everything I need a tool of that type to do, and I haven't used the corded model since I bought the two cordless ones.

Dremel tools are MUCH easier to control when used at lower speeds.

I don't know what the life expectancy of a cordless is but the corded one I have is over 35 years old and used quite often.