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Foredom vs Dremel vs Proxxon vs die grinder

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SimonTesla

Sat Dec 15 2012, 12:10AM

Registered Member #1728 Joined: Wed Oct 01 2008, 07:52PM
Location: Italy (MI)
Posts: 13

Hi all!
This time I'm looking for a drill/grinder tool and I would like to buy something "sturdy" (but at the same time "handy").

This tool should be able to do:
- Cut wood panels (about 10-15mm of thickness)
- Cut plastic panels (less than 5mm of thickness)
- Cut metal objects (thin panels, bolts and others)
- Drill metal/plastic/wood materials in a precision way
- Drill/cut PCB (but I think that every minidrill is able to do that)
- ONLY IF possible, work glass (anyway, I don't use glass so much)
- Possibility to use a good flex shaft
- Accepts the most common Dremel/Proxxon rotary set (drill set, milling cutter set, polishing set, ecc)
- Safe when used (I wouldn't like to lose "somethink" everytime I used it =D)

During my research, I found this solutions:
1) Foredom tools: I think that would be wonderful possess one of them *_*... anyway, the "standard kit" (with a SR 1/6 HP motor) would cost for me about 275 euros (shipping and taxes included). A bit expensive...
2) Dremel tools: I used a Dremel 4000 for 1 day, but I didn't like it so much... it didn't give to me a so "sturdy" impression... maybe I'm wrong? I saw on ebay a "300W" Fortiflex Dremel too... but I should spend about 250 euros for this.
3) Proxxon tools: the most powerful minidrill I saw is rated "100W"... isn't too little for my purposes?
4) Die grinder (500W or less) + Proxxon flex shaft: someone told me that, in this way, Proxxon flex shaft could melt cause the excessive power of a die grinder. Anyway, flex shaft specifically built for die grinders are really expensive (O_O) and, probably, not so "handy".

I don't have more ideas... what do you think? Someone might advise me about a good choice =)?

Thanks!
Regards

Ash Small

Sat Dec 15 2012, 12:35AM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

You can get 'cheap' flexi drives that fit any electric drill with a 'Jacobs chuck' (they all have Jacobs chucks). The flexi drives have mini Jacobs chucks that will accept the dremmel style tools.

I bought a cheap 'dremmel copy' for Â£10 recently, and a set of 'dremmel pattern' tools for Â£3, I think.

I have used Dremmels and Hitachi (I think) die grinders in the past. The cheap copy seems fine so far.

I also always have at least two angle grinders handy (saves changing discs everytime you need a different disc), 500W and 1000W drills, and a pillar drill (all the drills accept the flexi's)

I'd reccomend the die grinder for heavy duty burr use, but otherwise the cheap dremmel copy is a pretty good all rounder, unless you are cutting a lot of metal, in which case the angle grinder is more or less essential.

I also have table saws, electric jigsaws and a scorpion saw, among other power tools.

I'd suggest getting a cheap Dremmel copy, and see how you go. Why spend hundreds on a Dremmel or die grinder when you can get a copy for a tenner?.....If it proves not to be up to the job, you can always get something else.

Steve Conner

Sat Dec 15 2012, 11:28AM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

The more you spend, the better the runout on your collet chuck will be. Cheap tools tend to have terrible runout causing a lot of vibration.

Linas

Sat Dec 15 2012, 01:57PM

Registered Member #1143 Joined: Sun Nov 25 2007, 04:55PM
Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
Posts: 721

since i was using 0.4mm drills i searched for Dremel and stand.
i bayed universal gripper for Dremel, but when i mount 0.4mm drill offset is bigger than drill diameter so i can't use it !
as it turns out, Dremel themselves say that it is not for precision work.
my old Velleman do far better job than 4 times more expensive Dremel

SimonTesla

Sat Dec 15 2012, 02:57PM

Registered Member #1728 Joined: Wed Oct 01 2008, 07:52PM
Location: Italy (MI)
Posts: 13

Thanks for the attention =)!
My desire is to spend something "more" for a good tool, hoping that it will be "long-lived".
So, I would avoid "cheap dremel imitations" cause I heard that they aren't so "durable".
I looked for Velleman tools on ebay.eu but I didn't find anything =(.

Instead, I found (near where I live) a Dremel Fortiflex for "only" 199 euros.
I also found a Foredom flex shaft with this performance for 180 euros (on ebay.eu, shipping cost included): 240VAC, 0.5A, 20000 MAX RPM, CC type (old type -_-).

But 240VAC*0.5A=120W of power... at this point isn't Fortiflex (300W) better than Foredom? It has more power...

About die grinder... I would have more and more power (>500W) but they are heavy (>1Kg)... isn't there a good/cheap flexible shaft for them?

I'm a bit confused... I don't have a long experience with this machines. Every advice is welcome =D!

Pinky's Brain

Sat Dec 15 2012, 03:15PM

Registered Member #2901 Joined: Thu Jun 03 2010, 01:25PM
Location:
Posts: 837

Not that I would recommend buying it (they are cheap dremel imitations) but by searching for the Velleman part number it's easy enough to find suppliers who will deliver to Italy.

For instance :

SimonTesla

Mon Dec 17 2012, 01:51PM

Registered Member #1728 Joined: Wed Oct 01 2008, 07:52PM
Location: Italy (MI)
Posts: 13

Thanks Pinky's Brain, I didn't see it =S!
Anyway, I'm also looking for old jelewer's tools (for example Faro motors)... I think that they would be the best! Low price and good quality. But I will need good luck =)

Pinky's Brain

Mon Dec 17 2012, 03:59PM

Registered Member #2901 Joined: Thu Jun 03 2010, 01:25PM
Location:
Posts: 837

There's also the pneumatic approach if you want power with flexibility BTW.

Tools are cheap, but the compressor is relatively expensive ... might want to search for a second hand one.

lightlinked

Tue Dec 18 2012, 06:41AM

Registered Member #2087 Joined: Tue Apr 21 2009, 08:32AM
Location:
Posts: 115

get a dremel or clone and maybe a rotozip style tool. i wouldn't recommend a die grinder unless you already have a decent compressor and really need to remove alot of metal or are carving big chunks. with a good rotary tool and carbide bits you can get close to die grinder performance for less money especially with the 1/4" collet electric tools

Ash Small

Tue Dec 18 2012, 12:14PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

lightlinked wrote ...

get a dremel or clone and maybe a rotozip style tool. i wouldn't recommend a die grinder unless you already have a decent compressor and really need to remove alot of metal or are carving big chunks. with a good rotary tool and carbide bits you can get close to die grinder performance for less money especially with the 1/4" collet electric tools

There are plenty of electric die grinders, you don't need a compressor:

However, air tools are cheap, so if you are thinking of getting different tools, drills, angle grinders, etc., it may be worth considering getting a compressor, and several air tools.

Air tools also tend to be lighter, and therefore more managable/easier to use.

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