One of My Favorite Woodworking Tools Dremel Rotary Tool
One of my favorite all-time woodworking tools is my Dremel variable speed rotary tool. I got mine back in the mid 1990’s and it still runs just as strong today in 2022 as it did when I bought it. It really is an amazing tool and I will tell you why and the ways that I use it here in this article.
The biggest advantage the Dremel has over other tools is its size, and the power for it’s size. My Dremel goes from 0 to 30k RPM in increments of 5k RPM. When you start the tool on 30k RPM it literally tries to crawl out of your hand – the Dremel has some serious torque going on.
The thing is you don’t need that speed or that torque very often, so the slower speeds are actually used more often for most projects. The first thing you’ll want to do for your Dremel though is to get the keyless chuck – seriously this will save you a ton of time, and unless there’s a reason you need the extra grip, there’s really no reason not to use the keyless chuck.
One thing I want to mention is there are tons of Dremel knock-offs out there that are cheaper. They are also made much cheaper and will not last as long, nor will they typically have the same power. So stick with the Dremel – it really and truly is the best out there for rotary tools.
However, I will not recommend the battery operated Dremel because I found that it was noisy, the battery didn’t last very long, and it wasn’t that powerful nor did it have the RPM’s the electric model had. So stick with the electric one unless you really don’t want the cord.
Another truly amazing thing about the Dremel besides the power and the size is the sheer number of attachments and bits that are available for it. They come in all sizes. Keep in mind though that the largest bit that will fit in the Dremel is typically 1/4 inch, so when you purchase bits and attachments you’ll want to know they will fit.
Speaking of bits and attachments, the Dremel can cut, sand, grind, drill, and much more. Now due to it’s small size, it is suited best for either small projects or smaller areas of larger projects. But small is where it excels because it can get where other power tools can’t and it makes easy work when compared to hand tools doing the same job.
One of my favorite things the Dremel excels at is drilling really small holes! The bits that can be used with the Dremel are almost microscopic (well okay, not quite, but close!) and these bits would break FAST if used in a standard drill or drill press. You’ll still want to be careful that you’re drilling straight and not putting too much pressure when using super small bits, but the Dremel does the job SUPER WELL.
Lastly because of the size and convenience of this tool, you’ll find yourself whipping this out for more projects that used to call for larger tools, primarily because it is so quick to take this out and clean it up and put it away compared to using bigger tools. You’ll find yourself using your Dremel more and more, especially as your bit and attachment collection gets bigger.
You can find the Dremel Variable Speed Rotary Tool for sale on Amazon – models generally run from $59 to $99 and they’re worth every penny. Get yours today!