Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

or should I just buy a Dremel?

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

On 06/06/2010 00:28, Steve wrote:
or should I just buy a Dremel?


Probably depends on how much you expect to use it.

I bought one of Argos' offerings a few years ago, and supplemented it
with one of Maplin's accessory packs when that was on offer - and I've
found it perfectly ok.

However, I only use it occasionally - perhaps I should seek out more
things that it could so?!
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Steve" saying
something like:

or should I just buy a Dremel?

From what I gather, the best Dremels are the older models, from when
they had the market to themselves and produced good quality stuff - at a
price, of course. I was always impressed with them, but balked at
spending the cash on something that would only see very occasional use.
Fast forward many years and I bought a cheapy Lidl dremel-a-like and
it's been in regular use. It's surprising how much service it gets
pressed in to when it's part of my tool mindset. There's the irony - if
I'd actually splashed out on a real Dremel all those years ago, I'd have
found plenty of use for it.
Anyway, so far I've found the Lidl (Powercraft) dremel to be quite good
to use and reliable. Who knows how long it will last, but for 17quid I
don't care if it blows up next week. I would say, the cheapy tool sets
are mostly crap, but they're a good starting point to find out what ones
to replace with better quality as you use them to obliteration.

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

On 06/06/10 10:11, Roger Mills wrote:
On 06/06/2010 00:28, Steve wrote:
or should I just buy a Dremel?


Probably depends on how much you expect to use it.

I bought one of Argos' offerings a few years ago, and supplemented it
with one of Maplin's accessory packs when that was on offer - and I've
found it perfectly ok.

However, I only use it occasionally - perhaps I should seek out more
things that it could so?!

I've got one that came from Maplin in its entirety. Apart from the
useless case (everything is just loose) it is adequate. With an extra
stand it drills PCBs, and without it grinds, chops off nails and bolts,
bits of my thumb and most other jobs a Dremel would do.

--
Tim Watts

Hung parliament? Rather have a hanged parliament.

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

Steve wrote:
or should I just buy a Dremel?

Alternatives? Nail file, swiss army knife, electric tooth brush. All about
as good as a Dremel IMO.

Got one in a box at the back of the workshop if you want one.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

In article ,
Steve wrote:
or should I just buy a Dremel?

I've found them overpriced. Not in the same way as a Fein Multimaster is
compared to others - where you're paying for better build quality.

I've got a cordless Rohbi which I use mainly for PCB stuff and it's been
great. It uses AA cells so easy enough to change when they wear out. A
similar sized mains powered low voltage one from B&Q which is also ok but
doesn't get much use. And a much larger cordless from Lidl which is good
where size doesn't matter. All three cost less than one Dremel.

--
*Very funny Scotty, now beam down my clothes.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

On 06/06/2010 10:53, Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:

Fast forward many years and I bought a cheapy Lidl dremel-a-like and
it's been in regular use. It's surprising how much service it gets
pressed in to when it's part of my tool mindset.

Care to elaborate on what you use it for? It might give me some ideas!
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Roger Mills
saying something like:

On 06/06/2010 10:53, Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:

Fast forward many years and I bought a cheapy Lidl dremel-a-like and
it's been in regular use. It's surprising how much service it gets
pressed in to when it's part of my tool mindset.

Care to elaborate on what you use it for? It might give me some ideas!

Recently:

In a diy projector project; cutting ABS plastic shroud off a monitor and
leaving it as a holder/frame for the LCD - zipped through it like
butter, the small black wheels are fine for plastic cutting.

For cutting awkward and rusty nuts and bolts, diamond coated wheels are
magic - available via ebay for a fiver-ish a pack of six, and last for
ages. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/290324484672 I removed a rusty and broken
cast iron manifold off the back of an Italian boiler using these - it
would have been difficult and tedious otherwise.

For general small work, grinding and drilling etc, it's proved
invaluable and much more convenient than a drill.

It's just horses for courses really - the price they are now, you can't
afford to not try one.

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

On 06/06/2010 20:53, Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Roger
saying something like:

On 06/06/2010 10:53, Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:

Fast forward many years and I bought a cheapy Lidl dremel-a-like and
it's been in regular use. It's surprising how much service it gets
pressed in to when it's part of my tool mindset.

Care to elaborate on what you use it for? It might give me some ideas!

Recently:

In a diy projector project; cutting ABS plastic shroud off a monitor and
leaving it as a holder/frame for the LCD - zipped through it like
butter, the small black wheels are fine for plastic cutting.

For cutting awkward and rusty nuts and bolts, diamond coated wheels are
magic - available via ebay for a fiver-ish a pack of six, and last for
ages. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/290324484672 I removed a rusty and broken
cast iron manifold off the back of an Italian boiler using these - it
would have been difficult and tedious otherwise.

For general small work, grinding and drilling etc, it's proved
invaluable and much more convenient than a drill.

It's just horses for courses really - the price they are now, you can't
afford to not try one.


Useful - thanks. I've got one, but don't think to use it that often.
Must try harder!
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

On Jun 6, 10:53*am, Grimly Curmudgeon
wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Steve" saying
something like:

or should I just buy a Dremel?

From what I gather, the best Dremels are the older models, from when
they had the market to themselves and produced good quality stuff - at a
price, of course. I was always impressed with them, but balked at
spending the cash on something that would only see very occasional use.
Fast forward many years and I bought a cheapy Lidl dremel-a-like and
it's been in regular use. It's surprising how much service it gets
pressed in to when it's part of my tool mindset. There's the irony - if
I'd actually splashed out on a real Dremel all those years ago, I'd have
found plenty of use for it.
Anyway, so far I've found the Lidl (Powercraft) dremel to be quite good
to use and reliable. Who knows how long it will last, but for 17quid I
don't care if it blows up next week. I would say, the cheapy tool sets
are mostly crap, but they're a good starting point to find out what ones
to replace with better quality as you use them to obliteration.


The one thing I dont like about an old dremel die grinder is the on-
off switch. Instead of being a sanely designed press a finger to go,
let go to stop, its a tiny slide switch on the rump end, an
arrangement that surely borders on unsafe.


NT

Alternatives for a Dremel...
 

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember NT saying
something like:

The one thing I dont like about an old dremel die grinder is the on-
off switch. Instead of being a sanely designed press a finger to go,
let go to stop, its a tiny slide switch on the rump end, an
arrangement that surely borders on unsafe.

Yes, the Lidl one has that too, albeit a sliding toggle on the speed
control/off. I don't particularly like that feature of it; if the tool
falls it just keeps running.