May seem an odd question, but here goes.
Years ago I wanted a dremel, but I couldn't afford one so I got a £15 cheap and nasty copy. It seemed OK-ish at the time, but nothing to write home about.
But now its go to the point that the 'bit' will always spin in the jaws, no matter how much I tighten the collet. Now the lightest pressure on the cutting tool stops it spinning but the tool wizzes round still.

So time for a replacement, but I wondered if the difference in tool grip was noticably better on the more expensive items? Is it really worth getting a Dremel, or just get another cheaper copy again?

I guess fitting a new collet in the old tool would make it better, but it was never great to begin with. And I have had it with cheap tools. I learned the hard way. I am almost to the point that all my tools are good ones and the old crappy ones have all died and gone away. Just the multi tool to replace now.

Any thoughts from you guys and gals?

Also to add to this, do you think the cordless ones are worthwhile? Usually end up using my crappy one in an awkward place and trail an extension to it, where as a battery one sounds good, but I guess they are limited. Any views on that too?

i have a 'dremel' and cant say i have ever had this problem, you can sometimes hear it slowing down when applying a bit to much force, but that just proved the strength of the chuck i guess. mines a good 4/5 years old.

cordless it depends what your using it for? mines not and never had an issue,

[Edited on 26/1/10 by 55ant]

I have had the cheap Aldi 240v one for over 5 years now and it's cut tiles and ground steel with no loss of grip. Boxes of attachments are cheap as are spare collets and you can get 4 for the price of a Dremel. Just to add, there are different size collets, they do not work like a drill chuck and have to be swapped for different size attachments.

[Edited on 26/1/10 by Peteff]

Yes - my old trusty Black and Decker Dremel copy-a-likey does that.

I just wrap some masking tape around the shank of the tool bit I want to use. ..... but quite recently the collet jammed and I used a pair of pliers to remove it , crushing it a bit in the process - uncrushing it has meant that it now grips like it used to.

Try replacing the collet and see how you go.

There is now Swedish store chain - Clas Ohlsen - a kind of Argos but with useful hardware bits - recently invaded UK, well Watford anyway, that sells a packet of 4 collets .8, 1.6, 2.4 and 3.2 mm for £ 9 (sell the sanding cylinders cheaply too) or you could try B&Q.

I did use tape on some bits for a while, but didn't really work. I even tried 'roughing up' the surface of one shank to give it more bite, but no luck with that.

I think if I get one thats NOT a Dremel it will be a nearly branded item such as Draper or Black and Decker rather than another supermarket item.

If you have room for tape you should go to the next size collet down, they only nip the tool not like a drill chuck.

i've had a dremel for many years now, it's been used for RC car racing, loads of jobs at my brotheres lockup, and now the build of my car and it's still going well, for me a well worth investmeant and i'll get another one if it does eventualy die

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Originally posted by balidey
May seem an odd question, but here goes.
Years ago I wanted a dremel, but I couldn't afford one so I got a £15 cheap and nasty copy. It seemed OK-ish at the time, but nothing to write home about.
But now its go to the point that the 'bit' will always spin in the jaws, no matter how much I tighten the collet. Now the lightest pressure on the cutting tool stops it spinning but the tool wizzes round still.

So time for a replacement, but I wondered if the difference in tool grip was noticably better on the more expensive items? Is it really worth getting a Dremel, or just get another cheaper copy again?

I guess fitting a new collet in the old tool would make it better, but it was never great to begin with. And I have had it with cheap tools. I learned the hard way. I am almost to the point that all my tools are good ones and the old crappy ones have all died and gone away. Just the multi tool to replace now.

Any thoughts from you guys and gals?

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Thanks guys.
Now who is up for convincing my wife I need to spend the extra?

Ive got a minicraft and that seams to work ok, at school we had a number of maxicraft which also seamed ok, they only last a year or two (i remember them being replace a few times) but there where hammered and put the hours in cutting out vacformings and drilling pcbs etc.


Daniel

I've got a B+Q special and it's great. I've had this one for five years and it's still going strong despite my best efforts....

There are different sized collets and bits, it sounds like you haven't got the right collet for the bits. I have an old B&D Wizard dremel-type thing, and provided the right collet is fitted it grips very strongly, never had any bits slip

The bits and collets are what came with the kit. Its was poor to start with, but has got the point now of being almost unusable.

I think I'm going to treat myself to a Dremel branded one at some point. Just not sure if a cordless one is man enough (not that I have a job in particular, but cutting nuts off studs on a rusted exhaust is quite common)

Whats the wife go to do with buying a tool......does she ask if she can buy 59 quid shampoo......from boots..
Just buy the right thing and sod the cost as a crap tool is more likely to give you an injury......tell her its a health and saftey matter.

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Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
Whats the wife go to do with buying a tool......does she ask if she can buy 59 quid shampoo......from boots..
Just buy the right thing and sod the cost as a crap tool is more likely to give you an injury......tell her its a health and saftey matter.

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quote:

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Originally posted by balidey
May seem an odd question, but here goes.
Years ago I wanted a dremel, but I couldn't afford one so I got a £15 cheap and nasty copy. It seemed OK-ish at the time, but nothing to write home about.
But now its go to the point that the 'bit' will always spin in the jaws, no matter how much I tighten the collet. Now the lightest pressure on the cutting tool stops it spinning but the tool wizzes round still.

So time for a replacement, but I wondered if the difference in tool grip was noticably better on the more expensive items? Is it really worth getting a Dremel, or just get another cheaper copy again?

I guess fitting a new collet in the old tool would make it better, but it was never great to begin with. And I have had it with cheap tools. I learned the hard way. I am almost to the point that all my tools are good ones and the old crappy ones have all died and gone away. Just the multi tool to replace now.

Any thoughts from you guys and gals?

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