SteveB wrote:

"Randy" wrote in message
...
Anyone have any recommendations for a dremel tool or a non-Dremel
brand dremel like tool? I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

Non-Chinese preferred but that's most likely impossible. Last time I
was at Sears I noticed that ALL Craftsman power tools were Chinese.

Thank You,
Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.

I have a Foredom, and love it.

Steve

Second vote for the Foredom. Great tool. It will last for years of heavy
use.
Todd

On Oct 12, 9:47 am, Randy wrote:
Anyone have any recommendations for a dremel tool or a non-Dremel
brand dremel like tool? I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

Non-Chinese preferred but that's most likely impossible. Last time I
was at Sears I noticed that ALL Craftsman power tools were Chinese.

Thank You,
Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.

I 've used a Ryobi for a few years and it seems
to be a quality product, although a little more
bulky than a Dremel. A little more powerful
as well, though. Picked it up from one of the
traveling tool shows; Homier (sp) I think.

dennis
in nca

Anyone have any recommendations for a dremel tool or a non-Dremel
brand dremel like tool? I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

Non-Chinese preferred but that's most likely impossible. Last time I
was at Sears I noticed that ALL Craftsman power tools were Chinese.

Thank You,
Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.

"Randy" wrote in message
...
Anyone have any recommendations for a dremel tool or a non-Dremel
brand dremel like tool? I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

Non-Chinese preferred but that's most likely impossible. Last time I
was at Sears I noticed that ALL Craftsman power tools were Chinese.

Thank You,
Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.

I have a Foredom, and love it.

Steve

Randy wrote:
(snip)
Second vote for the Foredom. Great tool. It will last for years of heavy
use.
Todd

Is the Foredom air or electric?

Thank You,
Randy

Electric. Their models run between 1/10th HP and 1/3rd HP. Motor is
designed to hang from a hook with about a 6' flex shaft standard.

http://www.blackstoneind.com/foundations/store/home.asp

On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:19:09 +0000 (UTC), Todd Rich
wrote:

SteveB wrote:

"Randy" wrote in message
...
Anyone have any recommendations for a dremel tool or a non-Dremel
brand dremel like tool? I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

Non-Chinese preferred but that's most likely impossible. Last time I
was at Sears I noticed that ALL Craftsman power tools were Chinese.

Thank You,
Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.

I have a Foredom, and love it.

Steve

Second vote for the Foredom. Great tool. It will last for years of heavy
use.
Todd


I have both Foredoms and Ryobis, as one very elderly HandiGrinder

For heavy work..the Foredom rules. for fast quick easy handling..the
Ryobi I have has done good duty for at least 10 or more years.

Gunner

On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:19:09 +0000 (UTC), Todd Rich
wrote:

SteveB wrote:

"Randy" wrote in message
...
Anyone have any recommendations for a dremel tool or a non-Dremel
brand dremel like tool? I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

Non-Chinese preferred but that's most likely impossible. Last time I
was at Sears I noticed that ALL Craftsman power tools were Chinese.

Thank You,
Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.

I have a Foredom, and love it.

Steve

Second vote for the Foredom. Great tool. It will last for years of heavy
use.
Tod

Is the Foredom air or electric?

Thank You,
Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.

"Todd Rich" wrote in message
...
Randy wrote:
(snip)
Second vote for the Foredom. Great tool. It will last for years of
heavy
use.
Todd

Is the Foredom air or electric?

Thank You,
Randy

Electric. Their models run between 1/10th HP and 1/3rd HP. Motor is
designed to hang from a hook with about a 6' flex shaft standard.

http://www.blackstoneind.com/foundations/store/home.asp


Foredom has a huge line of models. Research them before buying, because
they have very different operating speeds and characteristics. Buy the one
that is most suited to your work. The standard size chucks will hold just
about any rotary device.

Steve

I much prefer my Proxxon to the Dremel. The Dremel requires an assortment
of collets, and it seems like the one in place is always wrong. Proxxon has
an adjustable chuck which allows me to go from the finest drill bit to a
reasonably large diameter quite easily. My first one was replaced under
warranty due to a fauy speed control, but I have had no other problems.

On my Dremel, the flex shaft broke, and I was able to pull out one of the
pieces very easily, but it was impossible to get the other piece out. If
your Dremel flex shaft starts to sound "different" pull the core out for
replacement before it breaks.

Keywords:
In article , Randy wrote:
Anyone have any recommendations for a dremel tool or a non-Dremel
brand dremel like tool? I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

Non-Chinese preferred but that's most likely impossible. Last time I
was at Sears I noticed that ALL Craftsman power tools were Chinese.

I actually really like my Dremel, but it's a fixed speed and I use a foot
pedal with it. Beats the pants off the variable speed on the tool
approach. They used to sell a good ball bearing fixed speed unit, but
for a while they only had bronze bearing cheapo single speeds. I don't
know if these are available anymore or not.

If mine dies (it's about 20 years old now), I've been thinking about
getting the ball bearing variable speed model & bypassing the
speed control. You can't use the variable speed models with the foot
pedal control, the two end up arguing. I've been following the thread on
bypassing the internal speed control to see how easy that might be, but
the thread rapidly veered off topic.

A Foredom is good for a lot of stuff, but I have a drill press & a router
base for my Dremel that work very nicely & that I don't want to part
with.

Doug White

I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

....odd, I have been using my dremel for metal work for 20 years and never
had problems with the speed control. I have broken the little plastic
connecter between the moter and the bit section twice now. At one time
Dremel and Craftsman were the same thing. Is that different now?

LLB

LLBrown wrote:
I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

...odd, I have been using my dremel for metal work for 20 years and
never had problems with the speed control. I have broken the little
plastic connecter between the moter and the bit section twice now. At one
time Dremel and Craftsman were the same thing. Is that
different now?
LLB

I don't know about the new ones , but my Craftsman is a rebranded Dremel .
It's at least 15 years old , and been used for everything from a Pinewood
Derby carver to a toolpost grinder . Last use was to do the finish grind on
a larger diameter live center for my lathe ...

--

Snag aka OSG #1
'90 Ultra , "Strider"
The road goes on forever ...
none to one to reply

On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:58:18 -0500, Snag wrote:

LLBrown wrote:
I have had really bad luck with dremel tools
as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

...odd, I have been using my dremel for metal work for 20 years and
never had problems with the speed control. I have broken the little
plastic connecter between the moter and the bit section twice now. At one
time Dremel and Craftsman were the same thing. Is that
different now?
LLB

I don't know about the new ones , but my Craftsman is a rebranded Dremel .
It's at least 15 years old , and been used for everything from a Pinewood
Derby carver to a toolpost grinder . Last use was to do the finish grind on
a larger diameter live center for my lathe ...


I use a Foredom, but also have a few Dremels and a Proxxon. The single
speed Dremel plugged into a solid state speed controller is good, but
rather noisy. The Proxxon has more torque and is very quiet, nearly
vibration-free and sturdy.

On Oct 12, 10:16 pm, "LLBrown" wrote:
I have had really bad luck with dremel tools as the variable speed control always dies within a few weeks of my
having it. Maybe they just aren't made for metal working.

...odd, I have been using my dremel for metal work for 20 years and never
had problems with the speed control. I have broken the little plastic
connecter between the moter and the bit section twice now. At one time
Dremel and Craftsman were the same thing. Is that different now?

LLB
I screwed up and broke the plastic connector on my Dremel variable
speed tool just last week. Where can I find this part? Or do I just
have to junk it and buy a new one? I'm not in the shop right now to
see what Model # mine is but I have had it for 15 years and it has the
variable speed. I messed mine up when I was trying to get a better
grip on the tool and I accidentally pushed the connector locking
button forward and it stripped the plastic connector.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

Dennis

Randy wrote:

Non-Chinese preferred but that's most likely impossible. Â*Last time I
was at Sears I noticed that ALL Craftsman power tools were Chinese.

Proxxon (www.proxxon.com) isn't that bad and has a wider selection.
Those who had the opportunity (or the bad luck) to compare, preferred the
Proxxon.


Nick
--
The lowcost-DRO:
http://www.yadro.de

On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:54:11 +0000 (UTC), Todd Rich
wrote:

Randy wrote:
(snip)
Second vote for the Foredom. Great tool. It will last for years of heavy
use.
Todd

Is the Foredom air or electric?

Thank You,
Randy

Electric. Their models run between 1/10th HP and 1/3rd HP. Motor is
designed to hang from a hook with about a 6' flex shaft standard.

http://www.blackstoneind.com/foundations/store/home.asp
IIRC B&D brought out a flex shaft unit in the early '80's (1983 ?)
that used the standard Dremel collets. I bought one and it is still
down in the shop. I found the flex shaft awkward to handle and the
hand piece was close in size to the dremel moto tool.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada