Dremels are great. Your can do almost anything, except hammer with them. I am looking at getting a cordless one for ease in use around the layout. I bought it for railroading but have really used it more around the house.
Couldn’t get along without my Dremels. Keep one with a flexshaft above the bench and a second for use out on the layout. Both are variable speed models. No regrets![:D][tup]
wes454
I may be wrong, but I think the craftsman brand rotary tools are made by dremel.
We (the wife and I) went to Wal-Mart last night and after reading and making a post yesterday I walked over to the hardware section and low and behold they had a Dremel, with a short flex shaft and bits for only $59.95 ( those damn prices, why not call it $60.00?) I think that this would be a good first time buy.
I use mine all over the house ie: when the house first settled and the door wouldn’t latch - just work on the opening with the dremel. I can’t imagine how to get along with out one.
Bob
Thanks again guys! This is what I wanted to hear! I may wait a little while to see if one goes on sale somewhere, but I think I’ll definaty be picking one up!
dkelly, I noticed that there was a Craftsman tool that looked EXACTLY like the Dremel XPS. They didn’t have any other Dremel models to compare with the Craftsman ones, but I would have to say that the at least the top end Craftsman tool is made by Dremel.
What was that??!!! You can’t hammer with a Dremel?? Now you tell me!![:(]
The Craftsman rotary tools have been made by Dremel, Black and Decker, and Ryobi, over the course of time. Who is making it currently I don’t know, although the country of origin may give you a hint. IIRC, the Dremel XRP is Made in Mexico, don’t know about the B&D or Ryobis.
I have the drill press and I’m not too impressed with it. The problem is that under any kind of real load, such as drilling metal, the frame that holds the motor tends to flex to the left. If the job requires precision drilling, forget it, or go VERY slowly. If an error of a 1-2 hundredths is good enough, go for it. For precision drilling, I go with the 1/2" drill press.
I have a two-speed thats about 4 years old, and I’ve used the heck out of it in that amount of time. I’m really hoping for a variable speed sometime this year, as I’ve since had a few projects that required much more precise control of speed than I can get out of the two speed model.
Mine has seen work polishing metals, cutting track, removing rust, cutting screws, and plenty of other things that I never thought I could use it for, but have since. I’ve never really seen any of the other rotary tools advertised, and, as such, have only used Dremel accesories, although they are a tad bit expensive($5 for 20 heavy-duty cut-off wheels the last time I bought some, and $3 for a steel wire brush). Mine has not given me one bit of trouble, and, as I said, I’ve used it quite a bit.
Although the battery ones may work well, the higher speeds of a corded one are essential if you ever need to cut steel or other such metals, which I quite freqently have to when working with track and engines. Lower speeds will get the job done, but take a whole lot longer. The tool also has more of a tendency to catch, bind, or jump when turning at lower speeds doing these jobs, which, if accuracy is needed, can really throw off your work.