Dremel of choice?

[bmilcs]

After taking a trip to Home Depot and Michael's Crafts, I realize I know nothing about dremel tools. However, everything available there was expensive or electric. Can someone here recommend a weaker dremel tool brand or place to look? I have no idea what I'm looking for other than a battery powered, adjustable dremel tool.

I've read that fitting half a q-tip inside works as well as cloth attachments.

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[Slash McCoy]

I like the heavy duty multi speed corded one that Harbor Freight sells for $20 or so. It's what I use for modding my Gold Dollars and I take off quite a lot of steel.

 

[bmilcs]

my main use would be polishing vintage razors.

 

[bmilcs]

http://www.harborfreight.com/80-piece-rotary-tool-kit-97626.html

This? or this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/variable-speed-rotary-tool-kit-68696.html

 

[Joezamboni]

Don't bother with the harbor freight ones. The bits are subpar (especially the polishing ones!) and I've personally run into nothing but issues regarding the power lead and open circuits.

That said, unless you are removing the finish I only polish by hand and lightly.

 

[bdcoffey]

Hi Bryan,
+1 on Joezamboni's thoughts. I work making gold and silver jewelry and use a variable speed hand piece for polishing if I am not at an actual buffer. I too would stick with the hand polishing, as it is very easy to remove too much metal in a small area and make a permanent wavy mark in your item, especially with something like a Dremel that you have set at one speed. Are you removing pitting, an old finish or just polishing?

 

[Chaloney]

I have the smaller, one-speed tool from harbor freight. It works fine but the chuck is so small a lot of the bits won't fit in it.

 

[Maxime D.]

Personal note: I find the Fatboy plating to be the weaker of all Gillettes : / I never removed nickel on a 40's style or a Slim, the Fatboy is particularly weak on the knob and dial areas.

 

[MixedMotives]

i think sears makes a cheaper version
if its to remove the plating why not use a nickel stripping solution

 

[AjaxLepinski]

Just in case Slash doesn't check back, I'm pretty sure he was referring to this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/variable-speed-rotary-tool-kit-68696.html
Harbor Freight is only the distributor - it's made by Chicago Electric Power Tools
You can use real Dremel bits if you aren't happy with the bits that come with the drill.

 

[Slash McCoy]

That's the one. I been trying to post and tmobile isn't playing nice. Well I am about 15 miles from the nearest cel tower after all. Anyway mine has got a lot of heavy use on it over the last couple uuears and is just now starting to act up a bit. I got my money's worth out of it and then some. Used it a couple of hours today as a matter of fact. Ground a full mm off the spines of some new Gd66s and removed the heels. And thinned and faired the shanks. Oh and polished the last one I did. I like it as much as a real Dremel.

I own no stock in either Chicago Tool or Harbor Freight.

 

[Teddyboy]

I bought one for polishing vintage razors and they are very good. But, the attachments get very dirty and need to be changed often; this means more money spent. All I can say is that I probably would not do it again. There is not much better polishing than by hand, unless you get an industrial strength polishing wheel.

 

[MaxP]

I have both a battery powered model and a corded model.

My advice: Buy a corded version. They're a much better value than the battery powered version, the power is constant and always there.

 

[jkingrph]

After having the bearings crap out on three over the years I went with a variable speed Proxxon. I have had it it about 3 years now and it seems to be a must better quality than the dremel.

 

[bmilcs]

I look at a lot of beautiful E-bay razors and wonder how some razors turn out incredible. Aside from replating, I figure they either use a tumbler (not sure how that is) or a dremel.

Is that how they do it?

 

[bmilcs]

Everyone recommends an old t-shirt, maas and scrubbing bubbles. But what really is the best way to polish with Maas? Keep the razor went and polish in small circles?

 

[Ski-Patroller]

I prefer the flexible shaft versions. A lot more power, and a smaller handle. You can buy bits, brushes, etc anywhere since they all interchange. The H.F. Flex shaft looks OK but I haven't personally tried it.

 

[JRL]

I bought one for polishing vintage razors and they are very good. But, the attachments get very dirty and need to be changed often; this means more money spent. All I can say is that I probably would not do it again. There is not much better polishing than by hand, unless you get an industrial strength polishing wheel.

+1