Is my dremel dying

[afreegreek]

The harbor freight version is a one day tool

If the HF version (of anything) lasts long enough for me to finish the project, then I think it was worth it.

that maybe true but after three projects you've spent the money you would have spent on a real tool and got nothing to show for it... there's nothing more expensive that a cheap tool..

I buy good tools and use them to put bread on the table.. sure they cost a little more but I've still got them and they still work well.. some with over 30 years of use with nothing more than a set of new brushes..

That is true if I'm going to use it again, but for a one time use, HF does fine. Either I pay less and throw it away (it could actually survive) or pay a lot more for a "quality" tool, to clutter up my small place and gather dust. I haven't used the HF biscuit joiner and electric sheetmetal shears since I built my trailer 6 yrs ago. They still work fine, but if they broke or got lost tomorrow, I wouldn't be heart broken.

I used to be a tool snob Snap-On Matco but decided that unless I use them everyday as a professional it isn't worth the expense. Craftsman hand tools are fine for homeowner use. My other tools that I use again and again are Bosch. For one time use, I go to HF.

On the flip side back to the OP, the Dremel is supposed to be one of these "quality" tools I've had a few and they all die eventually. In that case, the cheapy ones work fine also.

Snap-on tools are very good.. they're also very expensive and for what reason I'm not so sure.. Craftsman is 1/2 the price and still a very good tool.. it also has a lifetime, on the spot no questions asked return policy.. but many cheap tools at 1/4 of the price of Snap-on are crap and have a "you bought it, you live with it" policy..

the way I see it is there's a limit to how low to go and how high to go.. you don't need to spend $200 on a Bridge City Tools combination square when a Starrett is 1/2 the price and just as good (if not better) nor is it a good value to buy a $12 Empire at the local hardware store that won't last and isn't square..

a good tool can be bought on sale, used, then sold on Craigslist for more than you paid for it.. (I've done it several times) you'd be lucky to sell a used HF tool, never mind making a buck on it...this is something people should keep in mind when they're looking for a one or two project tool.. Craigslist is also a great place to find a deal.

as to Dremel being a quality tool? I've never used one and haven't seen one in the hands of a tradesman so I can't say.. the tool is basically and 1.6 amp electric die grinder for about $75.. I have a 6.6 amp Makita I paid $130 for.. not only is it several years old, Its seen it's share of 8 hour days grinding fibre glass, and blending welds in stainless and aluminum.. I'm pretty sure that alone would kill off a box of $75 Dremels.. in the end it's not really a question of whether Dremel is a quality tool, it's more along the lines of.. is it the right tool?.. at 1.6 amps I'd have to say it's not.. no matter how high the quality is, it's just too under powered to last..

[CarlLaFong]

I would not pull over to the side of the road to pick up a Harbor Fright power tool that fell off of someone's truck. Sorry, but they are that bad. Some of their hand tools aren't too bad for casual use.
A Dremel is a hobby tool. It is not a shop tool. They're great for wood carving, model making and other light tasks. One of mine came from my wife when she quit the manicure business. It was great for grinding down acrylic nails. They're not for smoothing welds, porting cylinder heads or other heavy usage. You wouldn't frame a house with a tack hammer

[Forrest747]

Well the dremel finally died and not like I thought it would. While son was drilling pilot holes for the front end all of a sudden arcs and sparks and son screaming like a little girl. Well he drilled through the dremel power cord while it was plugged in. Here is the burn marks in the upper right hand corner. good that none one was hurt. A valuable lesson for all.

[bobhenry]

Well here I go flying off topic again.... Never owned a Dremel anything but I have given last rights to many a tool. I spent this weekend looking out the window at the snow flakes flying by left to right in our 35 MPH breeze. Unable to play outside I draped the kitchen counter with newspaper and went outside only long enough to collect all the fatalities of this years trailer building efforts. My poor dead dewalt drill my [GOD forbid] Harbor Freight 4" grinder and my Dewalt 7 1/4 circular saw. I was determined to revive them if I could or place them out for the trash collection. First the drill It's poor frayed cord was the suspect for if you wiggled it just right you could get it to run for a moment. Finding a nice power cord from a junked computer I disassembled the drill and removed the old cord and reinstalled the replacement. While it was open I added a bit of grease to the wormdrive and a few drops of 3 in 1 oil to the 4 bearings. A quick test and it lives. Moving on to the grinder ,The day it died I was lying in the green grass of my shop floor and while trying to reposition to a better angle of attack on my target it was working fine until I severed the power cord with a deft swing of a running cut off wheel. Now with a 8 foot cord now reduced to 4' I decided to simply put the previously replaced drill plug in onto the now shorter cord of the grinder. My thinking was a shorter cord may make less of a target and I usually am working with an extention cord anyway. A quick test and the grinder is now working and ready to put back in service. Turning to my circular saw I remover the power cord as it was also frayed and in very poor condition. I inspected it and decided the damaged portion of the cord was limited to the last 18" closest to the tool and it was in good shape otherwise. So I cut away the damaged area and reinstalled the cord. I was so proud as I plugged it in and it ran, also I was 3 for 3.Just then it quit. If I wiggled the plug a bit it would hit and miss. I unplugged the
plug in and sanded and straightened the badly mistreated prongs and reinserted the plug in into the outlet it ran and I smiled, and it quit. Now I am at a loss. I smell smoke well the motor is fried??? or a wire is shorted on the newly installed cord? or the plug is junk?? So I am now even more determined. Out, once again, into the cold and blowing snow to my garage from hell to hunt for a replacement plug in I can steal off of something. As I open the door, there on the floor is a very nice replacement plug in on an extention cord. As I reach for it and ready to tug and fight for this end I find it is installed on about 2 1/2 feet or heavy 10 gage cord. I happily take it back into the house to my "workbench" kitchen counter and with the skill of a surgeon cut and strip the newly installed saw cord end an prepare it for the transplant of the new plug in. A few moments later with the new heavy duty plug in installed I plug the tool in for a test and it runs without interuption. I am now officially 3 for 3. I now have all my favorite tools fully resurrected and once again ready for action. Beaming with delight I suddenly hear myself saying "Yes Dear" as I respond to the instrustions of " Get your damn greasy tools out of my kitchen and take the paper and trash with you so I can have my kitchen counter back!

[pjsauls]

Bought a plug-in Dremel tool in 1977 and used it (heavy at times) for gunmaking, cabinetmaking, metalwork and other jobs pretty often -- still going strong. A little lubrication every now and then. I still haven't needed to change out the brushes with the extra's I bought when I bought the tool. Guess it just depends.

John

[Chef_Stan]

Bought a plug-in Dremel tool in 1977 and used it (heavy at times) for gunmaking, cabinetmaking, metalwork and other jobs pretty often -- still going strong. A little lubrication every now and then. I still haven't needed to change out the brushes with the extra's I bought when I bought the tool. Guess it just depends. Thinking

I think anything made over 30 years ago is better than the same version of the one they make today. Not surprised by your results. Some of my dad's and grandfathers tools Black and Decker and like are much better then the plastic crap from today.

I am into chainsaw carving and I quickly noticed that a Dremmel was not up to the task of finishing carvings and it took forever. I invested in a Makita die grinder with the 1/4" shank, I am not sure of the amp rating. The only think I have had to do with it is occasionally blow out the saw dust from the vent grill. The thing is very stout, I bet it will last a long time.

Stan