Best Rotary Tool?

[SovereignZuul]

Not happy with Dremel right now, although I may just buy another.

I bought this thing in 2014 and it's dead now. Won't switch on any more at all, wow...

What kind of rotary tools do you guys use? What is best for the hobby?

Aside from the already dead Dremel it never seemed to "turn round" a/k/a seemed to have a slight wobble in the shaft.

[billpe]

I have a Draper which works pretty well.

[ALPHA]

Hey there Zuul... I use Dremel and Craftsman...basically the same thing ...I use them because they can be serviced...parts can be ordered from Sears or any Dremel outlet...had a Ryobi ...but the nylon collar that connects the motor to the shaft broke...also had one made by alltrade...got that one from Costco...but it died a horrible death ...almost caught on fire

ALPHA

[SovereignZuul]

Wow, guess I'll avoid the Ryobi!

Just checked Amazon. I ordered it July 23rd, 2014. Didn't even last me 6 months. Maybe I'll pull it apart and try and fix it myself before ordering another one. If I don't write back, don't worry, I probably zapped myself.

Contrary to that my cordless Dremel has been fine for years, just underpowered for heavy work. I can't even cut plastic with it but it's good for tiny little details that need care.

I checked the brushes and they were fine, plenty of life on them so it's something else, I suspect the switch. The two speed switch only ran at one speed no matter the setting, for the last couple of months.

Edit: Just read they fix a lot of units and may be under warranty since it's still so new. I wrote to Dremel, wish me luck.

[ALPHA]

Wow, guess I'll avoid the Ryobi!

Just checked Amazon. I ordered it July 23rd, 2014. Didn't even last me 6 months. Maybe I'll pull it apart and try and fix it myself before ordering another one. If I don't write back, don't worry, I probably zapped myself.

Contrary to that my cordless Dremel has been fine for years, just underpowered for heavy work. I can't even cut plastic with it but it's good for tiny little details that need care.

I checked the brushes and they were fine, plenty of life on them so it's something else, I suspect the switch. The two speed switch only ran at one speed no matter the setting, for the last couple of months.

That was an old model though Zuul... Craftsman used to use the same design...that nylon bushing broke on theirs too...but they changed...haven't seen the new Ryobi ...so it might have gone through similar improvements ....My ryobi was in a set with their electric chisel...the chisel is still going strong...so they do make good tools..I agree with you on the cordless tools...they are only good for minor things

ROTOZIPs are awesome for larger jobs...it's too bad they don't make small collets


ALPHA

[sassgrunt]

I've run through my share of Dremel tools. (I usually damage them by running them at the highest speed and really grinding out metal or something hard - I think it melts something inside and they crap out). I always liked them, but the cost of replacing one became excessive.. What I'm using now is the Black & Decker RTX. Uses the same collets, and is quite a bit cheaper. I've gotten them from big-box hardware stores, but they're on Amazon as well. http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywor ... 8e3t7e1r_b

[jarndice]

I was surprised to see B & D marketing a product called the "RTX"( I KNOW WHAT RDX IS!!) I had not until SOV mentioned it even heard it existed, First I/A go to B&Ds site, the UK site has no such product, so to GOOGLE and had a look at what it is, Think I will stay with my "DREMEL" shaun

[PainlessWolf]

Good Afternoon,
I have a Dremel that I've used for many years. It is a good, solid machine. Of late tho, I find myself reverting to hand tools like scribing blades and X-actos, files and the like. I think that this is due to the work becoming increasingly small and fiddly.
regards,
Painless

[jackalope]

I have a variable speed Dremel thats got to be 10 years old and still works great.

[ALPHA]

Like the look of that B&D Sass....single speed though right?....the life of a single speed is usually longer than a variable...but I like the flexibility of the variables ...to which I will try any brand...but have found the most reliable made by Sears or Dremel

ALPHA