I'm looking to buy a rotary tool to sand and detail small parts (dense
foam and plastic). I've seen some cheaper rotary tools and am
considering them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Here's one I've seen at Target. It has a lot of the grinding bits I
would use and a flex shaft and its only $25. Would I be throwing away
my money if I bought something like this? Should I go for the Dremel
instead? (similar Dremel set would cost $75).

Thanks

In article om, beee
wrote:

Here's one I've seen at Target. It has a lot of the grinding bits I
would use and a flex shaft and its only $25. Would I be throwing away
my money if I bought something like this? Should I go for the Dremel
instead? (similar Dremel set would cost $75).

From the pic it looks a lot like the one I got as a gift a view years
back, branded "Clarke" here in Canuckistan. I've only used it casually
but have no complaints.

I also have the Dremel kit, and while I'm sure there are internal
quality differences they both work the same.

--
"The thing about saying the wrong words is that A, I don't notice it, and B,
sometimes orange water gibbon bucket and plastic." -- Mr. Burrows

On 20 Mar 2005 14:17:59 -0800, the inscrutable "beee"
spake:

I'm looking to buy a rotary tool to sand and detail small parts (dense
foam and plastic). I've seen some cheaper rotary tools and am
considering them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Here's one I've seen at Target. It has a lot of the grinding bits I
would use and a flex shaft and its only $25. Would I be throwing away
my money if I bought something like this? Should I go for the Dremel
instead? (similar Dremel set would cost $75).

I picked up one of the $7.95 kits (on sale) at Harbor Freight last
month and was surprised at how beefy the teeny little motor was. If
you have one local to you, go look.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=41695


---
After they make styrofoam, what do they ship it in? --Steven Wright
http://diversify.com Comprehensive Website Development

Dave Balderstone wrote:

In article om, beee
wrote:

Here's one I've seen at Target. It has a lot of the grinding bits I
would use and a flex shaft and its only $25. Would I be throwing away
my money if I bought something like this? Should I go for the Dremel
instead? (similar Dremel set would cost $75).

From the pic it looks a lot like the one I got as a gift a view years
back, branded "Clarke" here in Canuckistan. I've only used it casually
but have no complaints.

I also have the Dremel kit, and while I'm sure there are internal
quality differences they both work the same.

I'm curious--some of the Dremel accessories screw onto the front--do they
also fit the other brand tool?


--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 17:36:57 -0800, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On 20 Mar 2005 14:17:59 -0800, the inscrutable "beee"
spake:

I'm looking to buy a rotary tool to sand and detail small parts (dense
foam and plastic). I've seen some cheaper rotary tools and am
considering them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Here's one I've seen at Target. It has a lot of the grinding bits I
would use and a flex shaft and its only $25. Would I be throwing away
my money if I bought something like this? Should I go for the Dremel
instead? (similar Dremel set would cost $75).

I picked up one of the $7.95 kits (on sale) at Harbor Freight last
month and was surprised at how beefy the teeny little motor was. If
you have one local to you, go look.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=41695


hmm... I got the same one, knowing it would be crap... (which it was, IMO)
Main reason for ordering it was that I was running out of cheap bits and the
ones that come with the 12V kit are pretty good for the price..

Maybe you got the turbo model, Larry, the one I got bogs down if you lean the
little sanding drum against anything tougher than air.. lol

OTOH, I've heard that the HF 110v 4 speed one is a pretty good tool....


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:25:57 -0800, the inscrutable mac davis
spake:

hmm... I got the same one, knowing it would be crap... (which it was, IMO)
Main reason for ordering it was that I was running out of cheap bits and the
ones that come with the 12V kit are pretty good for the price..

Maybe you got the turbo model, Larry, the one I got bogs down if you lean the
little sanding drum against anything tougher than air.. lol

You need to remember that it's not a 3hp router. They're meant for
minimal material removal with very light pressure. That said, I
feel that it still works even if it slows down to half speed: a full
10k RPM. YMMV.

He's doing foam, fer chrissake. That ought to cut quick and clean.


OTOH, I've heard that the HF 110v 4 speed one is a pretty good tool....

I haven't seen them. Or try the $90 Griz trim router or the other mfgr
who makes those zip tools. But all of those are triple the price or
better.


--

People will occasionally stumble over the truth, but
most of the time they'll pick themselves up and carry on.
--anon

In article , J. Clarke
wrote:

I'm curious--some of the Dremel accessories screw onto the front--do they
also fit the other brand tool?

I just went and checked.

I've got the flex shaft and the right angle attachements for the
Dremel. While the threads on the body fit, the hex nut from the Dremel
(that replaces the collet when you add the attachment) does not fit on
the Clarke.

--
"The thing about saying the wrong words is that A, I don't notice it, and B,
sometimes orange water gibbon bucket and plastic." -- Mr. Burrows

On 20 Mar 2005 14:17:59 -0800, "beee" wrote:

I'm looking to buy a rotary tool to sand and detail small parts (dense
foam and plastic). I've seen some cheaper rotary tools and am
considering them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Here's one I've seen at Target. It has a lot of the grinding bits I
would use and a flex shaft and its only $25. Would I be throwing away
my money if I bought something like this? Should I go for the Dremel
instead? (similar Dremel set would cost $75).

Thanks

If you are not going to use it very much, you probably won't notice
the difference. But if you plan to use it 15-20 hours a week, I
suspect you would be happier with the Dremel. I have a three different
units, including one Dremel. For a quick job, any will work. But when
I get ready to sit down for a big job, I only pull out the Dremel.

Bob McConnell
N2SPP

"Bob McConnell" wrote in message

If you are not going to use it very much, you probably won't notice
the difference. But if you plan to use it 15-20 hours a week, I
suspect you would be happier with the Dremel. I have a three different
units, including one Dremel. For a quick job, any will work. But when
I get ready to sit down for a big job, I only pull out the Dremel.

Have you ever considered anything else? For big projects, I was thinking of
Foredom.
www.foredom.com

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:53:56 -0800, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:25:57 -0800, the inscrutable mac davis
spake:

hmm... I got the same one, knowing it would be crap... (which it was, IMO)
Main reason for ordering it was that I was running out of cheap bits and the
ones that come with the 12V kit are pretty good for the price..

Maybe you got the turbo model, Larry, the one I got bogs down if you lean the
little sanding drum against anything tougher than air.. lol

You need to remember that it's not a 3hp router. They're meant for
minimal material removal with very light pressure. That said, I
feel that it still works even if it slows down to half speed: a full
10k RPM. YMMV.

He's doing foam, fer chrissake. That ought to cut quick and clean.


OTOH, I've heard that the HF 110v 4 speed one is a pretty good tool....

I haven't seen them. Or try the $90 Griz trim router or the other mfgr
who makes those zip tools. But all of those are triple the price or
better.

I sort of compare them all to my old (30 years?) Sears "lil' crafty", their
dremel knockoff... it drills holes in whatever I put in front of it, sands,
buffs, etc...
I think the HF multispeed goes on sale for around $20 to $30 and comes with a
pretty good assortment of accessories..



mac

Please remove splinters before emailing