Poll

Which brand manufactures quality rotary tools in support of electronics work?

Dremel
44 (40.7%)
Proxxon
46 (42.6%)
Craftsman
0 (0%)
Foredom
5 (4.6%)
Black and Decker
2 (1.9%)
Other flexible shaft rotary tool
1 (0.9%)
Other high speed rotary tool
5 (4.6%)
Repurposed drill intended for dental work
1 (0.9%)
Kress
4 (3.7%)
Milwaukee
0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 102

Author Topic: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..  (Read 41426 times)

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Offline robrenz

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #50 on: December 29, 2013, 06:00:10 pm »
I have no interest in a brand war but If you compare a higher end Dremel models that cost as much as the Proxon you will see why. The #398 industrial Dremel I have and mentioned in this thread is much heavier duty in design and construction than the Proxon.

Offline Kryoclasm

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #51 on: December 29, 2013, 06:21:30 pm »
I would recommend Foredom flexshaft.

I have used these for plastic model building, jewelry and electronics.

The key factor about a Foredom tool is that you can purchase the hand piece, the motor type, the collet system and the foot or hand speed control; a la carte or in a complete kit.

Above that, you can have a system that works at extreme slow speeds with high torque and high speeds with fine precision.

The only down side is that it is a fixed location device. You need to mount is on a hanger or retractable cable, whatever. It is not very portable.

Yes, you can use a drill press attachment as well.

Now, I do own and have always owned a Dremel, I like that tool too, but not if I need precision control.  Ok, that's my opinion.  :-+
« Last Edit: December 29, 2013, 06:29:58 pm by Kryoclasm »
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Offline Carrington

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #52 on: December 29, 2013, 06:52:32 pm »
I have no interest in a brand war but If you compare a higher end Dremel models that cost as much as the Proxon you will see why. The #398 industrial Dremel I have and mentioned in this thread is much heavier duty in design and construction than the Proxon.
A war of brands, no please. Just look online to see the public perceptions. I will not say anything more.
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Offline robrenz

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #53 on: December 29, 2013, 07:05:28 pm »
I would recommend Foredom flexshaft.

Above that, you can have a system that works at extreme slow speeds with high torque and high speeds with fine precision.

The only down side is that it is a fixed location device. You need to mount is on a hanger or retractable cable, whatever. It is not very portable.

Now, I do own and have always owned a Dremel, I like that tool too, but not if I need precision control.  Ok, that's my opinion.  :-+


+1 on all those points.  Many operations are performed much better well below the typical 5000 rpm minimum of the dremel style units.

Offline nanofrog

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #54 on: December 29, 2013, 07:48:27 pm »
Above that, you can have a system that works at extreme slow speeds with high torque and high speeds with fine precision.
+1  :-+

FWIW, Dremel actually makes an equivalent model (9100 Fortiflex). Not cheap either (~$250 through 3rd party seller on Amazon), but is a little less expensive than Foredom. No idea how it stacks up though.
 

Offline armandine2

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #55 on: September 03, 2023, 04:20:52 pm »
... have recently got a Foredom SR series pendant motor with 39-inch key drive flex-shaft and H.20 and H.30 handpieces :-\ need a trip to IKEA to find something to hang it on  :palm:

nothing much found on YouTube regarding its use for electronics applications - though someone has adapted a China copy to run off a cordless Makita router  ::)
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Offline armandine2

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #56 on: September 03, 2023, 05:07:56 pm »
some further Foredom options:- drill press and motor bench stand

+quite a good (dentist's) overview on rotary tools:

« Last Edit: September 03, 2023, 05:27:14 pm by armandine2 »
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Offline armandine2

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #57 on: September 05, 2023, 08:38:15 pm »
example video of an electronics bench with rotary tool - plenty of noise - not so jarring with the Foredom  :phew:


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Offline tom66

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #58 on: September 05, 2023, 08:51:19 pm »
I use a very cheap £25 rotary drill kit, mains powered - it's never given me any trouble and always been "perfectly adequate".
 

Offline armandine2

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #59 on: September 06, 2023, 06:47:16 am »
I use a very cheap £25 rotary drill kit, mains powered - it's never given me any trouble and always been "perfectly adequate".

My hunch (and the poll supports this) is that the majority of electronics people will agree with you - I expect hobbyists may be more inclined to think about buying CNC milling or Laser cutting platforms (than expensive handheld tools).
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Offline Veteran68

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #60 on: September 06, 2023, 02:28:41 pm »
I have a few different rotary tools, including two Dremels (one mains powered and one Li-Ion powered) with a flex shaft attachment.

I also have a small, cheap ($10) Harbor Freight rotary tool that I've used for delicate 3D print finishing work, because it's small and light (unlike the Dremels). Very little torque but for that use it doesn't need much.

My most recent acquisition was one of these small rechargeable rotary tools mainly for electronics work (like grinding solder mask away in repairing tracks/pads). Again, for more delicate work that doesn't require much power. I'll break out the big Dremels when I need to really do some damage.
 

Offline SmallCog

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #61 on: September 06, 2023, 09:41:41 pm »
I have an older Dremel at work with a manual speed control, it does the job.

I had a dremel a newer digital control Dremel at home, one day it just stopped working. Had a fiddle and couldn't fix it which was really quite annoying as it was quite expensive, hadn't been used a lot, but was well out of warranty.

I bought an Ozito (cheap brand at Bunnings in Australia) to replace it and can't faulty it.

 

Offline thermistor-guy

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #62 on: September 07, 2023, 04:33:19 am »
One accessory that can make life easy when modifying cases, physical components in housings or parts, hacking PCBs, dead bug construction and more, is a rotary tool.  In the USA, and maybe elsewhere, the market is dominated by Dremel.

However, the years have shown a reduction in quality and materials used to build Dremel rotary tools, and many competitors either can meet or exceed its performance at a lower price, or far exceed it, at a higher price.

What models do you recommend?

Are the original accessories still better than clones or competitors?  That is bits, wheels, cutters?


I have two Dremels, plus several Dremel and no-name accessory kits. All bought many years ago.

Recently I needed to made a prototype housing out of stainless steel (specifically), and needed to grind apertures to fit other mechanical parts.

The no-name grinding bits did nothing. The Dremel bits did the job, although with a lot of wear.
 

Offline EPAIII

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #63 on: September 07, 2023, 02:37:45 pm »
Stupid poll!

I have an extensive home shop with stuff you don't even imagine. I have had good and bad luck with over half your list - both with the SAME brands.
Paul A.  -   SE Texas
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Offline RoGeorge

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Re: Rotary tools in support of electronics, Dremel and more ..
« Reply #64 on: September 10, 2023, 07:52:59 am »
In my experience Dremel is low quality for high price.  Some of their accessories are unusable flimsy plastic (e.g. the drill stand).  Any no name will work at least the same if not better, and for only a fraction of the cost.

As about which brand is better, most consecrated ones (not Dremel) usually have two product lines:  one for hobby use, the other for professional use.

The hobby ones are loaded with gimmicks, not very productive, and designed for the cheap.  Usually made to last from tens of minutes to a couple of hours top (at an  intense use).  No replacement parts, no international service, no extended guarantee, and again:  hobby tools are not meant for intensive use.

The professional ones are exactly the opposite:  designed to be reliable and productive, to do one thing and do it well.  The professional tools cost about 10 times or more than the hobby ones, so unless you drill holes all day long for your entire life, it only makes sense to rent a professional tool for occasional work, never to buy.

I have a Dremel that was about $200 and a no-name high speed rotary of $30.  Dremel came with almost no accessories, only had a few bits.  The no name one came with hundreds of bits.

In practice I'm using (and abusing) the no name tool, while the Dremel is sitting on a shelf gathering dust.
« Last Edit: September 10, 2023, 08:02:35 am by RoGeorge »
 


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