I'm thinking of getting a Dremel or Dremel-like rotary tool for taking
stubborn things apart, improvising spare parts, making a mess, etc.

Among other things, I've seen some sets at Maplin in the £25 to £32
price range (their codes N52FX, N14BG, N60GR), but I don't recognise
the brands so I wonder if they're any good. A genuine Dremel 8200
from screwfix.com is £100.

Comments on brands & quality? Other recommendations?

Are the blades & such interchangeable between brands?

I see that the Dremel 8200 only comes with one battery, but it's a
Li-Ion, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?

On Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:38 +0000, Adam Funk wrote:

I'm thinking of getting a Dremel or Dremel-like rotary tool for taking
stubborn things apart, improvising spare parts, making a mess, etc.

Among other things, I've seen some sets at Maplin in the £25 to £32
price range (their codes N52FX, N14BG, N60GR), but I don't recognise
the brands so I wonder if they're any good. A genuine Dremel 8200
from screwfix.com is £100.

Comments on brands & quality? Other recommendations?

Are the blades & such interchangeable between brands?

I see that the Dremel 8200 only comes with one battery, but it's a
Li-Ion, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?

I like the Proxxon IB/E mains drill - a bit heavier than the 12V ones but no messing with external
PSUs. Only disadvantage is it won't take a 3-jaw chuck (shaft is too recessed) so you're stuck using
collets

In article ,
Adam Funk wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a Dremel or Dremel-like rotary tool for taking
stubborn things apart, improvising spare parts, making a mess, etc.

Among other things, I've seen some sets at Maplin in the £25 to £32
price range (their codes N52FX, N14BG, N60GR), but I don't recognise
the brands so I wonder if they're any good. A genuine Dremel 8200
from screwfix.com is £100.

Comments on brands & quality? Other recommendations?

Are the blades & such interchangeable between brands?

I see that the Dremel 8200 only comes with one battery, but it's a
Li-Ion, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?

If you dash down to Lidl, you might find one of their own brand ones left,
for under 20 quid. Low voltage with transformer, rather than battery - but
given it will usually be used at the bench, not a problem. It's excellent
value for money - unlike Dremel where you're paying for the name and
advertising.

--
*Time is what keeps everything from happening at once.

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

On 02/02/2012 16:05, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

If you dash down to Lidl, you might find one of their own brand ones left,
for under 20 quid. Low voltage with transformer, rather than battery - but
given it will usually be used at the bench, not a problem. It's excellent
value for money - unlike Dremel where you're paying for the name and
advertising.

The Aldi version of this http://goo.gl/1dsgl Machine Mart Clarke CRT40
only cost me £15 and is doing well. 140W motor on 230V mains, not battery.

In article ,
Part Timer wrote:
On 02/02/2012 16:05, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

If you dash down to Lidl, you might find one of their own brand ones
left, for under 20 quid. Low voltage with transformer, rather than
battery - but given it will usually be used at the bench, not a
problem. It's excellent value for money - unlike Dremel where you're
paying for the name and advertising.

The Aldi version of this http://goo.gl/1dsgl Machine Mart Clarke CRT40
only cost me £15 and is doing well. 140W motor on 230V mains, not
battery.

Is that direct mains? The Lidl one is low voltage fed from a discrete
mains transformer (by the weight).
It's difficult to tell by the picture, but I'd say it's also rather larger
than the Lidl one which fits the hand easily.

--
*I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you

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

On 03/02/2012 14:46, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In ,
Part wrote:

The Aldi version of this http://goo.gl/1dsgl Machine Mart Clarke CRT40
only cost me £15 and is doing well. 140W motor on 230V mains, not
battery.

Is that direct mains? The Lidl one is low voltage fed from a discrete
mains transformer (by the weight).
It's difficult to tell by the picture, but I'd say it's also rather larger
than the Lidl one which fits the hand easily.

Yes it is direct mains and a bit of a heavy beast. The flexible shaft is
therefore permanently fitted to mine. Couldn't argue for £15 when I was
never going to buy a real Dremel.

In article ,
Part Timer wrote:
On 03/02/2012 14:46, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In ,
Part wrote:

The Aldi version of this http://goo.gl/1dsgl Machine Mart Clarke CRT40
only cost me £15 and is doing well. 140W motor on 230V mains, not
battery.

Is that direct mains? The Lidl one is low voltage fed from a discrete
mains transformer (by the weight). It's difficult to tell by the
picture, but I'd say it's also rather larger than the Lidl one which
fits the hand easily.

Yes it is direct mains and a bit of a heavy beast. The flexible shaft is
therefore permanently fitted to mine. Couldn't argue for £15 when I was
never going to buy a real Dremel.

The Lidl one is a direct competitor to the similar Dremel one - but about
half the price. I bought one as a present - so will report later how it
does. But if it's like other Lidl power tools it'll be fine.

--
*Most people have more than the average number of legs*

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

On 2012-02-04, Part Timer wrote:

On 03/02/2012 14:46, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In ,
Part wrote:

The Aldi version of this http://goo.gl/1dsgl Machine Mart Clarke CRT40
only cost me £15 and is doing well. 140W motor on 230V mains, not
battery.

Is that direct mains? The Lidl one is low voltage fed from a discrete
mains transformer (by the weight).
It's difficult to tell by the picture, but I'd say it's also rather larger
than the Lidl one which fits the hand easily.

Yes it is direct mains and a bit of a heavy beast. The flexible shaft is
therefore permanently fitted to mine. Couldn't argue for £15 when I was
never going to buy a real Dremel.

Are the bits/drills/whatever interchangeable between brands?

On 2012-02-03, Part Timer wrote:

On 02/02/2012 16:05, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

If you dash down to Lidl, you might find one of their own brand ones left,
for under 20 quid. Low voltage with transformer, rather than battery - but
given it will usually be used at the bench, not a problem. It's excellent
value for money - unlike Dremel where you're paying for the name and
advertising.

The Aldi version of this http://goo.gl/1dsgl Machine Mart Clarke CRT40
only cost me £15 and is doing well. 140W motor on 230V mains, not battery.

I missed the Aldi opportunity so I'm getting that one from Machine
Mart. Thanks for the pointer.

Thanks to Adam Aglionby & NT too, for the points about the flexible
drive shaft & long-term prospects of mains power over batteries.

On 2012-02-02, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

In article ,
Adam Funk wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a Dremel or Dremel-like rotary tool for taking
stubborn things apart, improvising spare parts, making a mess, etc.

Among other things, I've seen some sets at Maplin in the £25 to £32
price range (their codes N52FX, N14BG, N60GR), but I don't recognise
the brands so I wonder if they're any good. A genuine Dremel 8200
from screwfix.com is £100.

Comments on brands & quality? Other recommendations?

Are the blades & such interchangeable between brands?

I see that the Dremel 8200 only comes with one battery, but it's a
Li-Ion, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?

If you dash down to Lidl, you might find one of their own brand ones left,
for under 20 quid. Low voltage with transformer, rather than battery - but
given it will usually be used at the bench, not a problem. It's excellent
value for money - unlike Dremel where you're paying for the name and
advertising.

Interesting. I've been trying to buy quality rather than quantity
over the past few years; the Dremel name really isn't worth it?

On Feb 2, 3:00*pm, Adam Funk wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a Dremel or Dremel-like rotary tool for taking
stubborn things apart, improvising spare parts, making a mess, etc.

Among other things, I've seen some sets at Maplin in the £25 to £32
price range (their codes N52FX, N14BG, N60GR), but I don't recognise
the brands so I wonder if they're any good. *A genuine Dremel 8200
from screwfix.com is £100.

Comments on brands & quality? *Other recommendations?

Are the blades & such interchangeable between brands?

I see that the Dremel 8200 only comes with one battery, but it's a
Li-Ion, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?


Battery tools only last so long, a good brand mains one can last a
lifetime if youre lucky. Unless there's a specific need for it to be
cordless I'd stick with mains. This is especially the case with Li-
ion, which die during non-use, nicd/nimh only age from charges, so
last logner on tools that dont get much use.

I've not looked at Mapllin ones, but beware of the cheap light low
voltage things that have little power and little life expectancy.
Dremel is a good quality brand, but as someone said the price is also
loaded up by advertising etc.

They're called die grinders. The standard fitting is 1/8" shaft, so
there's no brand restriction on what fits what. Speed reduction
facility can be handy now and then - handy as in without it there are
the odd apps it won't do.

If you decide to look at old tools, I'd check it has a safe on/off
switch, ie it stops when you take your finger off, some have a less
satisfactory setup that means they cant be stopped promptly.


NT

On 2012-02-03, NT wrote:

Battery tools only last so long, a good brand mains one can last a
lifetime if youre lucky. Unless there's a specific need for it to be
cordless I'd stick with mains. This is especially the case with Li-
ion, which die during non-use, nicd/nimh only age from charges, so
last logner on tools that dont get much use.

I've not looked at Mapllin ones, but beware of the cheap light low
voltage things that have little power and little life expectancy.
Dremel is a good quality brand, but as someone said the price is also
loaded up by advertising etc.

They're called die grinders. The standard fitting is 1/8" shaft, so
there's no brand restriction on what fits what. Speed reduction
facility can be handy now and then - handy as in without it there are
the odd apps it won't do.

If you decide to look at old tools, I'd check it has a safe on/off
switch, ie it stops when you take your finger off, some have a less
satisfactory setup that means they cant be stopped promptly.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going for the Clarke one.