28 replies to this topic

[Jim Lange]

A while back I saw a thread or post on other brands of rotary tools that guys have had good luck with. My Dremel 800 (which I love) has bad bearings and I plan to fix it but meanwhile I need another. The one I'm interested in was yellow but it was not DeWalt. It was praised by many of you. Any clues?? Thanks

[Rick]

Prox something......................

[John Streisguth]

I have a Ryobi....much heavier in construction than a Dremel and has variable speed and a 3 jaw chuck.  I don't have to fumble with dfferent collets.

Unfortunately it seems to be discontinued, but they last had it in a combo set with one of the "vibratory" multi-tools.  They are listed on ebay for around $35-$45. 

[zipper]

Proxxon is green with yellow trim I think.

[dc-65x]

Hi Jim,

 

Here's a post I did....yikes .....at the start of the great recession back in 2008! Anywho, I replaced my tired old Dremel that served me well with a neato Foredom workbench unit. It's been terrific for the last 5 years and I love the quick change hand pieces. It's not cheap but it would probably be the last one you ever buy.

Rick
 

Two years, four months, and six days from now I plan on retiring (but who's counting ). Money is going to be tight for sure so I've decided to do my part now and buy at least one neato scratchbuilding tool per month while I can. This will also help pull our "sluggish" economy out of the current "slowdown".

Last month I got a Hudy comm lathe that most are familiar with:



This month I decided to upgrade my 20-year-old workhorse Dremel tool:



It still works but the sheath is all cracked and the two-wrench collet change system is a pain to use. There is also a ton of run-out in it. So after snooping around on woodworking and jewelry making forums I decided on a medium duty unit. If my cheapo Dremel has served me well for 20 years this new job should do me fine. It's a:



Here are the goodies:



I also bought the adjustable motor hanger and handpiece holder. It's all mounted to the workbench and I'm pretty happy with it:





I still need to trim the wire ties once I'm happy with the motor height adjustment. I also bought the optional $14 super flexible neoprene sheath for the flex shaft. This is probably the only time you'll want a limp shaft but believe me it makes controlling the hand piece a dream . There must be a dozen different style quick change handpieces available too.

Here's where I bought it:

Otto Frei

This place has some cool things. Check out their jewelers work benches .

Oh no, more bad news in the stock market. I'd better buy something else to help out! Bush doesn't have to worry about me not spending my credit from the stimulus package.

Where's the check? I need a mini lathe .

[PCH Parts Express]

This Dremel 4200 looks like a good choice.

 

http://www.dremel.co...l.aspx?pid=4200

[Chris Barnes]

Does it matter if it is corded or cordless?

[boxerdog]

The Proxxon is very smooth, and the cordless Milwaukee is a beast.

[Gary Adams]

I have had great success with my Black & Decker RTX-B three speed rotary tool. Lots of grunt for not a whole lot of bucks, and I love the locking mechanism!

[team burrito]

I have had great success with my Black & Decker RTX-B three speed rotary tool. Lots of grunt for not a whole lot of bucks, and I love the locking mechanism!

Yeah & it's under thirty bucks at Home Depot. I got mine a couple of years ago & never use it any higher than the "slow" setting. It's got enough power to cut through piano wire & brass. Check it here: http://www.homedepot...#specifications

[Steve Deiters]

I have a Proxxon variable speed.  Bought it from Amazon I think. 

 

I like the jacobs chuck.  You can change out from a cut off disc to to a sanding drum and back in no time.  Lots of umph.  I like the variable speed because you can turn it down for polishing shortened rod prior to soldering, low for use of a drum for grinding tire clearance on bodies, or high speed for chopping rod. Also the location of the ON/OFF switch lets you turn it on and off with your little finger when picking up and setting down in a single motion. 

 

When I use my two speed Dremel at the track it almost feels primitive.

[Phil Irvin]

I would like a cordless. I have a 4.2 V Dremel and a bigger one corded at home for the big stuff. Mostly I use a cordless and would like a better one. Any ideas?

 

                     OLPHRT

                       PHIL I.

[Chris Barnes]

The reason I asked about corded/cordless is I have the Milwaukee M12 and it is like boxerdog said - a beast.  The smoothest running unit I have ever found.  Long battery life.  I got used up at the R4 cutting through a lock to get cars out of the adjacent parking lot, where a dremel just died.  It is bigger than a portable dremel, but it is so reliable, I don't notice.

 

Link to see it:

http://www.cpomilwau...min=75&pmax=100

[Tim Neja]

Check Amazon for ANY of these tools---they've got great pricing--and a LOT of selection!
FYI
T

[havlicek]

I've been using the Proxxon for quite a while now and have been completely satisfied.  The Dremel (any model) is, unfortunately a total piece of doo-doo, and they've pretty much run their good name into the dirt.  The electronics (speed control) of the Dremel's routinely fail and, between the speed control failures, the bearings go.  The Dremel's run rough and loud, so rough and loud that the Proxxon seems to barely be "on" in comparison.   If my Proxxon goes, I'll definitely get another.

 

-john

[Jim Lange]

Proxxon is the name I was looking for. The Dremel Model 800 (which I presently have) is the original version of the 8000 series and I've been very happy with it. With 10.2 volts it has lots of power and the lithium-ion battery lasts a long time. I also was looking at the Milwaukee M12, glad to hear it has good reviews. I'm waiting to hear back from dremel customer service about getting some bearings for it. Thanks for the input guys.

[Tim Neja]

I just ordered an M 12--Check it out at the track next time Jim!! Came with a FREE  bonus battery for $99.00 and free shipping.

FYI
Tim

[Jim Lange]

Cool! Let me know how long the battery lasts and how good the power is.

[Elite Racing Products]

i am looking to get a proxxon and was just today looking for reviews .. i do alote of honing out cobalt mags and i do not like how much wobble there is in my dremels ... i have the stylus dremel and then the dremel 8200 .. they just are not the quality of my old dremel 395 which is about 11 years old but is wobbling way to much to hone mags with ... i picked up a milwaukee M12 about 5 months ago and its very very nice but to large for honing IMO

 

i am selling the M12 if someone wants one .. comes with battery and charger that does the 12 & 18 volt batteries

 

can i run the proxxon off my power supplie ? i have kopriwa power supplies .. or do i need to buy one of the proxxon power supplies ?

 

thanks

[havlicek]

Hi Carl,

 

     I still have my first Proxxon and it has been a real workhorse...cutting heavy brass, tool steel, even heavy cutting of ceramic magnets.  I use the 110V tool though, so I have no experience with the low-voltage (DC) models.  Still, the literature says that the power supply must supply at least 1 amp (no problem at all there) and the tool runs at anywhere from 12-18V...so your power supply may not put out enough voltage while easily supplying enough current.  The neat thing about their DC models is that they're very slim, almost a "pen" design, which should make them very nice to work with.  They're also cheap...IF...you don't have to buy the power supply.  I'd be interested to see how you like the DC model if you get one.

 

-john

[boxerdog]

I have one, and I really like it when I don't need a portable tool.

[Chris Dadds]

Prox something......................

 

Maybe Proxon?

 

Should have read the whole thread before I replied.

Edited by Chris Dadds, 30 June 2013 - 07:09 PM.

[Craig]

Hey Jim,

 

I'll throw in my two cent worth on this thread.  I use more than one dremel for building....I have a 4000, 800, minimite (4.8 volt) and an older flex shaft model with foot pedal.  I like them all for different operations.  I use the flex shaft when cutting a lot of brass such as when I hand cut nose pieces.  I find the corded 4000 model gets quite hot when continually running it for long preiods of time.  When I'm building I prefer to use the cordless 800 for cutting wire, tubing and other small items.  I use the minimite for doing all the counter boring, counter sinks and general tubing ID clean up.  The 4000 is typically only used when the battery on the 800 dies however, it's a very smooth running tool and when I purchased it Sears made an error and only charged me $60.00 for the kit.

 

Build on my padawan.....

[Kehlo]

Hi Carl,

I use the Proxxon with a Kopriva since 2007 without any problems.

Christian

[GearBear]

I love my Proxxon's! BUT I would NEVER use one to hone my magnets! For that task I use my Makita 18v Cordless drill on the slow setting while under the running faucet being careful to keep the drill chuck dry. The rotary tools just don't have enough grunt to hone magents IMHO, plus they turn too fast even at the slowest setting.

 

I have the Micromot 50 and the IBE and love both of them. They are so smoooth! The Micromot is powered with my power supply.