Looking for a good Rotary Tool

[chouse]

Foredom is hard to beat. I like mine and use it often with no problems. Good medium priced machine. The Dremel will get you by but are easy to burn up. Not enough power when you need it. I would look at the flexshaft tools from china or where ever they come from before another Dremel.

 

[sunshadow]

I have had the Rio Grande version of the Foredom since 1989 and have used it hard, it is likely a rebadged Foredom. I have been through 3 #30 hand pieces. It has been a workhorse

-Page

 

[Brett Mathews]

I dont know about that one I went through 2 cables and 1 sleeve in less then a years. Nothing like a foredome. I actully had better luck with the dremels. This was 5 years ago but was the same Wecheer unit. Now I own 2 foredooms both bought used for much less then new. If your not in a big hurry you can find nice used foredoms around.

 

[Brett Mathews]

I would look at one of these http://www.ottofrei.com/Grobet-USA-C300-Flex-Shaft-Kit.html?gclid=CPay2ZGZiroCFQ9BQgodKGAAtA there are one of the original foredoms models that was made 20+ years ago. Grobet and foredom are now owned by the same company I believe. So you can get them most of the same Foredom machines with the Grobet name for much less then a the Foredom name and all the hand pieces are interchangeable as well.

 

[Wild Rose]

Not as fancu nor as expensive but a decent tool for the price and a real work horse
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G9928

 

[HallHandmade]

I've never stalled mine. Faster RPMs don't really cut faster, they just burn up/wear out tooling (especially sanding sleeves, of which I use a lot) and scorch materials (G10, wood, micarta etc) faster.

Agree, I usually feather my foredom's speed between 1/3 and 2/3, rarely do I "floor it" and max out the speed, and I have the slowest model.

Stay away from the cordless ones.

I have that funky little banana looking cordless dremel that was discontinued, absolutely no power, but very handy for quick touchups and deburring.

I would look at one of these http://www.ottofrei.com/Grobet-USA-C300-Flex-Shaft-Kit.html?gclid=CPay2ZGZiroCFQ9BQgodKGAAtA there are one of the original foredoms models that was made 20+ years ago. Grobet and foredom are now owned by the same company I believe. So you can get them most of the same Foredom machines with the Grobet name for much less then a the Foredom name and all the hand pieces are interchangeable as well.

That machine does look nearly identical to my Foredom, even the handpiece.

Not as fancu nor as expensive but a decent tool for the price and a real work horse
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G9928

If I was in a pinch, I'd definitely give that a shot over a dremel. The utility of the variable foot pedal just can't be understated.

 

[Smithy]

One of the other advantages of a Foredom styled machine over a Dremel is wide range of accessories available. There is a drill press, a 3 x 10 belt grinder, a 2" angle grinder, a scroll saw and many other tools that are all interchangeable.

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

I got a Mastergrip one at Costco which I have liked quite a bit. That was around 60 bucks, and it's done everything I've asked of it thus far. I've been very happy with that purchase to date, although I've only had it for about 2 years.