Wow! Thank you all for the tremendous response to my query... I received
messages from at least 35 different people. Dremel should be very proud!
The general consensus was...
- Get the corded version. [ That's what I thought, too. ] If you have spare
change (or a birthday coming up) get a cordless version for other fun
stuff...!
- Rheostat: use a lamp dimmer or (my favorite) a sewing machine foot pedal!
I DO know how to use a sewing machine pedal! And about the lamp dimmer -- I
probably wouldn't have thought of using a dimmer on a motorized tool but
did buy one to use with my soldering iron on stained glass. If the iron's
too hot, the solder won't "mound" properly... it sort of gets flat and
looks awful. Sounds like it's safe to use the rheostat on the tool, too.
Good deal!!
- Slide switch for variable speed. My mistake. Thanks for the
clarification. I've never used or seen the rotary tool in use, and didn't
notice the positions in the photos on the boxes. Tonight I saw the multiple
positions when I was circling for "the kill."
-Sears. Mentioned this elsewhere. I do appreciate the info on the sale.
Warranty is only one year, and an extra year costs another $7. Of course
that could be San Antonio Sears' policy. We get the rotary, monetary shaft
here in this burg more than you know... And there was no flex shaft
included for the $59 sale price.
-Ryobi. Had one in my hand along with the Dremel. I was going to take them
both home for "analysis" and return one of the two... but....
-Flex shaft. Got favorable reviews from all who mentioned it.
-Whiz bangs. Consensus was to buy the "tool" and get the accessories that
you will use. My deal was too good to pass up.
-Other makes. Several people mentioned using air tools and Foredom and some
other brands that I probably can't afford, but they sure sound neat...
-Many comments that "I don't know how I did without it...." I'm sitting
here with my purchase beside me, but feel it was unfair to open it up
before I posted my findings...
Thanks for all your inputs... very valuable...
Carol
At 11:19 AM 10/23/97 -0500, Carol wrote:
>{Repeat of message... sorry forgot to mention that the Ryobi tool has all
>the whiz-bangs of the $79 Dremel, including the flexible shaft, a case and
>losta' little tools...)
>
>I wish I'd known about Dremel tools when the Dremel King, Ray Gibbons, was
>here to advise me, but... I defer my question to the rest of the info pool
>on this list...
>
>I am going to get a MotoTool (aka Dremel). Period. I'm getting one. You
>can't talk me out of it! ;-)
>
>Now...
>
>I will use it with car stuff, and with redoing a couple of antiques I have
>around here. (No, not him!!!) I also just realized that it will aid in
>making odd parts fit into computer systems that I put together for odd
>clients. (use a 286 case for a pentium system --- talk about a security
>system!)
>
>I can spend about $38. I can spend $59. I can spend $79. They come cordless
>and corded. The rpms are variable or fixed or 2-speed. The rpms vary from
>10,000 to 30,000. They come with few tools to having a complete set-up that
>includes the flexible dealie, 105 tools, a nice case, and a booklet
>entitled "175 Ways to Use Your Dremel Tool".
>
>Ryobi also has their model (2-year guarantee vs. 5 years) and Black and
>Decker has one now, too. I'm not sure all three brands share the same
>tools... probably do...
>
>Obviously, the simple decision to "buy" has become clouded. I'm confused.
>
>Do I really need a 105-piece tool set? Can I put the thing in a shoe box
>for a case? Won't the cordless version be less powerful in the long run?
>
>I've never used one of these things, but I can see the possibilities. The
>little tools are sort of expensive ($3 and up) on an individual basis, so
>maybe the extra tools are a plus. I dunno... The variable speed may not be
>all that great because you'd have to keep your finger on something to keep
>it going. My delicate, fat fingers are sorta' short. The tool is chunky.
>That's a consideration: hand-fatigue.
>
>Any ideas out there?? Remember: working on the un-bought MGA, getting
>grunge out of niches in antique hardware, remodeling computer cases... and,
>of course, other un-thought-of uses... Bang for the buck is the goal here.
>
>TIA
>
>Carol
>
>
>
>
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