My dremel is leaking magic smoke, any recommendations on replacement?

Matt Shade

Matt Shade

Joined
Nov 24, 1999
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Its a 10 year old Ryobi Moto tool actually. I've been really happy with it. The fan cooled motor made it a hard worker, but it always worried me. I did my best to keep it clean, but with those magnets inside and cutting steel with it, well you know how it goes.
So today it caught on fire while I was cutting some holes in the bands of some spurs. I shut it down and tore it apart and cleaned all the grit out and blew it out with WD40. The bearings and stuff are amazing, no play or wear at all. The base of the motor had started to melt though. I got it running again but I might be needing a replacement soon and with all the new ones on the market I was wondering what you guys would recommend. :confused:

Are there any with sealed motors? I was planning on this thing running until I could afford a Foredom tool, but thats not in the cards right now. Hopefully it will keep running but it doesn't look good.

So anybody have a particular Dremel, or dremel style tool they really like?
 
If you just get a cable for what ever Dremel like tool you end up with, it help a lot. Just hang it up out of the way like a Fordom.

I have had decent luck with the Black and Decker version. It has more power than the Dremel. Roto-zips work pretty good also. The Harbor Freight version is an underpowered POS.
 
Matt, Harbor Freight sells an imported version(fairly inexpensive) of the Foredom. It's got a 1/4 HP motor, and some that have them seem happy.
 
That doesn't sound too bad Mike
Any idea what kind of quality the handpeice is though? That and the shaft is what really makes the tool.
 
I haven't seen the Foredom version from HF, but the other ones are poor quality from there.

I have the Black and Decker too with the extension arm and I like it quite a bit; especially for the price. :)
 
shgeo said:
If you just get a cable for what ever Dremel like tool you end up with, it help a lot. Just hang it up out of the way like a Fordom.

I have had decent luck with the Black and Decker version. It has more power than the Dremel. Roto-zips work pretty good also. The Harbor Freight version is an underpowered POS.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll definitely look at a cable this time, I'd gotten to where I was doing alot of (crude)engraving type stuff and holding a big honkin dremel like a pen is kind of clumsy anyhow :D

Looks like Burchtree makes 2 votes for black and decker also, thanks a lot. I'll take a look at them. Saw them when they first came out and thought they looked pretty nice.

The Ryobi still has a little smoke left in it, so I'm going to limp along with it for awhile :D It looks like your supposed to be able to get replacement parts for it, but there wouldn't be much point in it since a motor probably costs close to what a whole new outfit does.
 
what do you use your Dremel type tool for most?

I have one but hardley ever use it?
 
If you can find one, try to find a dremel that was released a couple of years ago, i think they called it the "PRO" it has a digital display and uses a circuit board and frequency limiter to change the speeds... revs up slowly, has WAY more power than the regular variable speed units, especially at slowwer speeds.. I found one used with a flex shaft ( a must IMO) and really like it... I have used dremels and foredome tools through the years and always end up going back to the dremel, i like the higher tool speeds and can do things with that that the foredome doesnt see to want to do...

The other thing i found works rather well is an air powered grinder from harbor freight... its small and compact like the dremel flex shaft handpeice but runs at 60,000 RPMS, runs realls smooth and quiet... i like it for fine details and work like that because of how smooth it runs...

Good luck, once the magic smoke comes out its hard to get it back in...

Alan Folts
 
Thanks a lot everybody

blgood
Have you seen how I mark my name on my knives? I put my last name in the tang with filework, use the dremel with a diamond burr to do the inside of the A and D as well as to make some of the other cuts. I do quite a bit of filework with it as well, like the vine pattern.
The real hard use on it though is making folders. Since I don't have a milling machine I use it to cut the locks and do that sort of thing. Frame locks really cook it pretty good.

Alan
I'd like to get a pneumatic tool, but I don't have an air compressor in my shop yet, would have to borrow my dads. The speed on those things would be great for engraving, but I'm pretty sure it exceeds the limit on cut off wheels and stuff.
I'll have to look for one of those dremel like you mentioned though because it sounds great!
 
do you have a picture of your makers mark?
 
Another vote for an air powered the die grinder. It's really worth it for the smoothness alone. They are cheap from Walmart too, figure about $20. Slap a Jacobs chuck with a 1/4 driver on it and throw away all those stupid Dremel collets. God I hated those things! :D

I paid about $200 for a barely adequate Craftsman compressor but am going to upgrade eventually. Meanwhile this one does OK.
 
I definitely will get a die grinder/engraver some day, but I don't want to use it for cutting unless I can get a big honkin compressor that will run it non stop at a useable speed :eek:
Making a 3" slit through 1/8" steel is bad enough without waiting on the compressor to catch up all the time :grumpy:

blgoode
I'll attach a pic.
 

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nice! I like it....now let me get one of those to ude for a while :) Do you have a website?
 
Thanks :) Nope on the website, I'm just a part timer. If I don't have a specific request from a customer I just work on whatever seems fun at the time and try to sell enough to buy a few tools here and there and stil break even. So I don't really have anything to put up on a website (or the skills to make one)
 
My old Dremel tool needs to be kick started. I have to turn it on then give it a quick twist to get it going. LOL. I called Dremel and asked what to do about it. The person said to send it to them and they would throw it away for me. :eek: :footinmou :p :grumpy: :barf: Good customer service, don't ya think? :eek: :eek: :eek: :confused:
 
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