19 replies to this topic

[TantumBull]

Right now I have a "Chicago Tools" rotary tool, and it sucks balls. It needs constant charging, and slows down after about 5 minutes. I already had this model replaced once because a piece broke off. Now it has fucking problems spinning! I bought it for 30 bucks at Fred Meyer, worst idea EVER.
Now, obviously, I'm looking to return this one and get a new one, one actually made by DREMEL. I wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what to get for a good price. I'm looking to buy a corded one, and one that has a highest speed of at least 25,000 RPM. I looked on the DREMEL website, and the 300 series looks like a pretty good fit for me. Resellers have extremely varied pricing. I'm just wondering where you guys bought yours for good deals.
Oh, if this should be in off topic, my bad. I just thought it should probably go here since it does pertain to nerf. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Edited by TantumBull, 02 October 2008 - 07:59 PM.

[Blue]

Get the $20 Blue dremel with a battery unless you do more than 45 minutes of dremeling a day, Cuts metal mandrel saws and a quick changing mandrel (Another $20)
and a sanding set ($15) You should be set if you buy all that, I got them at walmart.

Edited by Blue, 02 October 2008 - 08:19 PM.

[Coop]

I just got the a Dremel for my birthday last week. It says Dremel 300 series on the box, but I don't know if that's one out of many, or it's THE 300. It is corded, and works very well for me. This is my first Dremel, but I don't think I'll need another one. I really don't see a need for cordless for me, I'm always sitting when I work on my blasters. Mine also came with quite a few little tips, all in a convenience little tackle box type thing. It's great! It also has a 5 year warranty, so I'm confident it was a good buy.

Oh, it was about $50 I think. I got it from Home Depot. I also got a 150 piece kit for about $20 for back up tips, which I am already burning into...

And I would suggest a corded over a cordless quite a bit unless you have a good reason to walk around to cut stuff. The warranty is 5 years on a corded, and only 2 or 3 with a cordless (for the Dremels I was looking at) and the RPM and other stats were not as good for the cordless. I don't see any advantage to a cordless if you sit still and have a table you always mod your blasters at.

Edited by Coop, 02 October 2008 - 08:34 PM.

[TantumBull]

Blue, on Oct 2 2008, 06:18 PM, said:

TantumBull, on Oct 2 2008, 05:53 PM, said:

Right now I have a "Chicago Tools" rotary tool, and it sucks balls. It needs constant charging, and slows down after about 5 minutes. I already had this model replaced once because a piece broke off. Now it has fucking problems spinning! I bought it for 30 bucks at Fred Meyer, worst idea EVER.
Now, obviously, I'm looking to return this one and get a new one, one actually made by DREMEL. I wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what to get for a good price. I'm looking to buy a corded one, and one that has a highest speed of at least 25,000 RPM. I looked on the DREMEL website, and the 300 series looks like a pretty good fit for me. Resellers have extremely varied pricing. I'm just wondering where you guys bought yours for good deals.
Oh, if this should be in off topic, my bad. I just thought it should probably go here since it does pertain to nerf. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Get the $20 Blue dremel with a battery, Cuts metal mandrel saws and a quich changing mandrel (Another $20)
and a sanding set ($15) You should be set if you buy all that, I got them at walmart.

Thanks for the advise, but I far prefer a corded one. I have an outlet right next to where I mod, so I don't need a battery. I also am bad about overcharging batteries.

[TantumBull]

Coop, on Oct 2 2008, 06:19 PM, said:

I just got the a Dremel for my birthday last week. It says Dremel 300 series on the box, but I don't know if that's one out of many, or it's THE 300. It is corded, and works very well for me. This is my first Dremel, but I don't think I'll need another one. I really don't see a need for cordless for me, I'm always sitting when I work on my blasters. Mine also came with quite a few little tips, all in a convenience little tackle box type thing. It's great! It also has a 5 year warranty, so I'm confident it was a good buy.

Oh, it was about $50 I think. I got it from Home Depot. I also got a 120 piece kit for about $20 for back up tips, which I am already burning into...

Alright, thanks a ton Coop. I'll consider buying one at Home Depot.

Just Some Bob: Alright, thanks. I appreciate it.

Edited by TantumBull, 02 October 2008 - 08:23 PM.

[keef]

Just Some Bob, on Oct 2 2008, 09:21 PM, said:

I got my first 300-series Dremel at a hobby shop. Where I was a long time established customer, and treated very well by the owners. Years later I was in a Sears Catalog Surplus store, and bought several more which were a more modern edition of the 300 series, though with the Craftsman name on them.

Yup, I have a Craftsman 300 clone too.

Think it was 30 bucks, comes with everything you'll pretty much need.

Invest in QUALITY pipe cutters too, very nice tool...

Edit:

Echnalaid, on Oct 2 2008, 09:33 PM, said:

keef, on Oct 2 2008, 05:31 PM, said:

Invest in QUALITY pipe cutters too, very nice tool...

I suggest Brass Craft. 10 bucks.

NOT what I mean by quality.

Edited by keef, 02 October 2008 - 08:40 PM.

[Echnalaid]

keef, on Oct 2 2008, 05:31 PM, said:

Invest in QUALITY pipe cutters too, very nice tool...

I suggest Brass Craft. 10 bucks.

[TantumBull]

I already have decent enough pipe cutters.

[Maeric]

Get the 400 XPR series. Its amazing. 32,000 RPM, I've had mine for a year, still has all the torque it had when I bought it. (Its wired.)

It cost about $70-80 when I bought it, not sure what it costs now.

[TantumBull]

Maeric, on Oct 2 2008, 06:56 PM, said:

Get the 400 XPR series. Its amazing. 32,000 RPM, I've had mine for a year, still has all the torque it had when I bought it. (Its wired.)

It cost about $70-80 when I bought it, not sure what it costs now.

I looked into the 400 series, but they are out of my price range.

[jackster57]

I have THE 300 series. I would recommend it. It comes with a bunch of attachments in a little box. It came with about 10 cutting wheels and 3 heavy duty ones. It also came with a couple sanders. It came with a SUPER heavy duty case. Its a great little thing. I do a LOT of dremling and it has help up well. I have had it for 3/4 of a year so far and have had NO problems.

[Blasphemy]

I don't use a dremel anymore for anything, except light sanding. Honestly, my scroll saw and drill press allow me to do everything so much faster and cleaner than when I use my dremel for pretty much all my jobs. But, if you're going to use a dremel, I suggest using the name brand which is its namesake: Dremel. I've had one since the beginning of my Nerf modding career and it has held up very well.

[rork]

Black & Decker makes a completely ecceptable 10,000-30,000 RPM model that goes for $25.

[TantumBull]

rork, on Oct 2 2008, 07:49 PM, said:

Black & Decker makes a completely ecceptable 10,000-30,000 RPM model that goes for $25.

Is it acceptable from personal experience?

[rork]

It's what I use. I think Imaseoulman uses one as well, but don't quote me on that.

[TantumBull]

rork, on Oct 2 2008, 07:55 PM, said:

It's what I use. I think Imaseoulman uses one as well, but don't quote me on that.

Do you have a lot of control over the speed, or does it just have a switch for toggling 10k and 30k RPM? Also, have you had any problems with it thus far.

[hereticorp]

I run a 300 series variable speed Dremel with the precision extension. I looked at the 400, but it wasn't worth the price to me, too much that I would never use.

I got it at ACE Hardware for $50 with a bunch of addons in the package.

The precision extension cost $30 and was worth it without question.

[Split]

I have an XPS 400 and a Li-Ion Cordless model 800. I use the 800 almost exclusively. I've been using dremels for years, and I can now make the 45 minute battery last 1.5-2 hours. You shouldn't be flying through bits. Go slow. Very slow. Let the speed cut it, not the pressure. That's the point of a high speed rotary tool.

I got both at Home Depot. No real reason. Came with warranties though. I get my bits from a retailer at the flea market (Columbus Flea Market for anyone in NJ). They're great guys who know me by name at this point. $.25 for a reinforced cutting disk with bulk discounts. $1 etching bits and $4 carbide cutting wheels. They have everything you'll ever need except the really specialized things like the flexible attachments (rarely useful) and the vertical stand (I would enjoy messing around with this thing).

[slowguitarman]

Even if it is out of your price range, I have to put in my two cents for the 400XPR. It is amazing compared to the other dremel tools I have used. It has great speed and torque. Last I checked they were $90, but they may have come down since then. I don't know what model it is, but my dad's dremel is a cheaper one, and it sucks hard. Might want to try looking around the net for a 400XPR for a good price.

[TantumBull]

Alright, thank you everyone for all your help. I'm going to get the 300 series on Amazon that Bob pointed me towards.