Which Dremel

[rfisher]

Dunno where this goes - is there a tools bit?

I need a Dremel to play with.

I want one with all the bits and pieces that I'm ever likely to need.

What set should I go for?

Ta.

[Simpo Two]

Before you rush out and buy Dremel, have a look at the wonderful toys by Proxxon:

www.amazon.co.uk/proxxon-micromot-DIY-Tools/s?ie=U...

[mgtony]

Tooled-up often has deals on them, I often look at buying one but having full size drills, grinders etc I don't think I'd get much use out of it.
Their website has lots of kits and accessories.

http://www.tooled-up.com/ManCategory.asp?MID=RBAD&...

[thinfourth2]

What actually can you use a dremel for?

They just seem like a particularly weedy die grinder

[P924]

Used a friends on Saturday to cut the inner race, off the stub axle, allowing me to change the rear wheel bearing.

I'd spent 20 minutes using my angle grinder to cut a 4MM wide change, the Dremel cut a tiny groove straight throught in less than 2 minutes.

Edited by P924 on Monday 23 April 10:09

[monthefish]

thinfourth2 said:

What actually can you use a dremel for?

LOTS of things.

It's one of these tools that, if you have one, you'll always be finding plenty of uses for. Very versatile.

[bucksmanuk]

I bought a Ryobi version.
It’s a tool I didn't think I really needed, but decided to treat myself. As above, it’s a tool you wouldn't want to be without.
I had a Mk2 Golf wheel bearing nut put back and locked on, not with Loctite, but with exhaust assembly paste, by some VW specialists. 3 months later, I could not shift it, 3/4" bar and 400 Lb.ft. = nothing – seized solid. Just ground through the nut with the little grinder tool, with 3 or 4 tips gone, off it came.
I would get the Dremel though, much better tool.

[Simpo Two]

I used a Dremel-ish device only yesterday when I encountered a small screw on a laptop that needed a special type of allen key to undo. I have a set of 'security' bits but even they didn't work.

So I ground a nice little slot across the top of the offending screwhead and removed the screw with a normal flat-bladed screwdriver. Bingo.

[voicey]

I have Silverline rotary tool - only about £16 from Amazon and the tools are very reasonable.

[anonymous-user]

i bought the bullet and bought this about 2 years ago... has been brill ever since for my car and RC car and sharpening chisels and all sorts of random stuff that i never knew you could use a power tool for!!

http://www.dremeleurope.com/dremelocs-za/product/2...

Superseded now so might bag bargain off fleabay

[thinfourth2]

Cutting off a bearing race = I would use a 4inch grinder with a 1mm thick disc which would take minutes followed be a good smack with a chisel

Getting of stuck nuts = Gas axe

Sharpening chisels = Bench grinder or oil stone

I don't see a use for one if you already have a well equipped workshop but i will admit i'd be unable to grind tiny slots in a laptop case screw. So i would use a unimog to open it.

[Accelebrate]

I bought a B&Q own brand Dremmel for about £40 years ago with lots of accessories, including a long flexi attachment which is very useful.

I used it recently to swap my kitchen sockets for recessed versions, the tiles covered the back boxes slightly, the dremmel was great for grinding off a small amount of tile so the new sockets fitted without worrying about cracking the tiles.

The last time I used it was to fit a plastic drain cover to stop a drain from constantly clogging up with leaves. The flexi attachment made it easy to neatly cut out a couple of slots to accommodate pipes that run into the drain.

Not saying they're the best invention ever, but they don't cost much and do come in very useful from time to time, especially if you're working in a confined space or doing something fiddly.

[freecar]

thinfourth2 said:

Cutting off a bearing race = I would use a 4inch grinder with a 1mm thick disc which would take minutes followed be a good smack with a chisel

Getting of stuck nuts = Gas axe

Sharpening chisels = Bench grinder or oil stone

I don't see a use for one if you already have a well equipped workshop but i will admit i'd be unable to grind tiny slots in a laptop case screw. So i would use a unimog to open it.

I'd pay good money to see you try to squeeze a grinder, any grinder into some of the places I've had my Dremel.

You'd not get anything else bar a chisel in there which would cut the metal but not particularly neatly.

Bearing in mind I've used grinders in situations where you have to drop the grinder down first and then find everything by feel as there isn't the room for a hand and a grinder at the same time, I've done jobs with less access painlessly with a (mains) dremel.

So OP my recommendation is for a mains one whichever brand you choose and one of those universal spanners that has a cam tighten on it, my Dremel chuck lost its tiny flats after a few uses, a cam-lock spanner does the job nicely!

http://blog.blagman.co.uk/2007/05/dad-of-blagman-j...

[rfisher]

Really helpful replies - thanks.

I know I need one now after reading this.

I do a lot of repairs to small items and being able to cut, polish and grind at a mm level would make things easier for me.

Like the sound of the cheaper B&Q version.

[VinceFox]

My old one bit the dust this weekend qfter years of abuse, non dremel copy type thing. I'm in the middle of building a cafe racer bike and i muat admit i had to down tools and go and buy another one instantly. There are so many things i use it for that i couldnt contemplate carrying on with the job without.

B&q do a ryobi multispeed with loads of kit with it for fifty quid. Has a 2 year guarantee.

[Simpo Two]

If it's for light work only, have a look at Minicraft - starting at £16:

http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipment/Miniatu...

I've had one for 20 years - not powerful at all but fine for modelmaking and opening laptops. To fit drills etc you just press the thingy on the side to lock the chuck.

More at http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipment/Hobby-d...
http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipment/Power-T...

[P924]

thinfourth2 said:

Cutting off a bearing race = I would use a 4inch grinder with a 1mm thick disc which would take minutes followed be a good smack with a chisel

Getting of stuck nuts = Gas axe

Sharpening chisels = Bench grinder or oil stone

I don't see a use for one if you already have a well equipped workshop but i will admit i'd be unable to grind tiny slots in a laptop case screw. So i would use a unimog to open it.

I see your man maths logic, why buy one tool, when you can get 3 or 4

I thought about a thinner disc, but really it would need to be about an inch in diameter, otherwise your cutting everything else as well. Or alternetively you'll be there ages with the chisel.

[Mave]

Someone bought me the rechargeable one for my birthday years ago - powerful enough for most jobs a normal dremel can do, and nice and convenient. Most non-dremel bits fit as well