Dremel advice

[merk1_99]

Need to buy a dremel for the house/reef....Any recommendations...looking to try and drill a couple of 10 gallon tanks for a breeding setup....

 

[Armando]

I do NOT recommend buying the cordless model. It's not as strong as the corded one and the battery charger (or the battery) didn't last a full year.

 

[RichConley]

I second that Armando. I've got a cordless and wish I bought a corded. Its totally useless for those long jobs, like drilling tanks. The battery seems to be dead in like 20 minutes of serious grinding, and I have to wait an hour while it charges.

 

[merk1_99]

Good to know...any brands, mfg's I should look into...

 

[repo]

Get a Dremel brand dremel. Ive taken advantage of the warranty a few times now.

 

[NateHanson]

Might be worth spending your money on a diamond hole saw instead, if you're going to be drilling a lot of tanks.

 

[Pat H.]

I have a Ryobi (can't remember the exact model) 110v, works great. I have used it to drill two 1 3/4" holes in 3/8" glass for my fuge, using the RotoZip tile bit. First hole took me 45 minutes, the second about 5 minutes(there's a trick to it )

Edit: I've had the Ryobi for about 5 years with lots of use, no problems.

 

[NateHanson]

I can't compare it with other models, but I have a 110V dremel that I inherited (from my grand-mother-in-law of all people) and it's really weak. It can't maintain speed under any load at all, and the collet loosens itself to the point where a bit will fall out during use!

It's possible the power issue is typical for this sort of tool, and I'm unfairly comparing it to my larger routers and grinders, but even my laminate trimmer, which isn't much larger, and cost only slightly more is much more substantial and powerful.

 

[repo]

It can't maintain speed under any load at all

May be your motor brushes need replacing.

As far as the collet issue, is it the right size collet for the bits?

Also- for the OP- Ace Hardware is running a sales circular with the Dremel Multipro kit for a decent price this week. 49.99 before a 15.00 rebate. The below link is probably wayyy to long- if someone wants to tinyurl it, feel free.

http://www.shoplocal.com/shoplocal/...&rapid=198340&pagenumber=3&pretailerid=-99385

 

[NateHanson]

It's the same sort of thing I notice with other cheap electric hand-tools. They run at high speed, but don't keep up under load. I don't think it's a problem with this tool in particular because I've seen it with other crap tools. Cheap tools/Consumer grade tools are too often a waste of money for more than the very occasional user.

 

[G.T]

You have far more control, and less chance of damaging the glass with a proper glass diamond core drill.

 

[nitrofish]

from what I hear drilling a 10 gallon wih a regular hole saw is very hard.

 

[willray]

Love my rotozip w/ all the attachments.It's a multispeed dremel an sooo much more. craftsman model is it's twin.

 

[rtc_reefer]

Huh? So is a RotoZip the same as a dremel?

Love my rotozip w/ all the attachments.It's a multispeed dremel an sooo much more. craftsman model is it's twin.

 

[Jill & Brian]

I have the dremel equivalent of the rotozip. I think it is the dremel advantage ? I would suggest getting the flexible shaft attachment for drilling the glass. It is a lot less bulky than holding the body of the dremel.

I agree with Nate that the standard dremels are weak ... The one I have is quite strong. It even comes with a plunge router attachment which worked very well when cutting the teeth into the baffles in my sump.

-Brian