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A lot of people may tell you the full-size Dremels and motortools are too powerful for model work. Completely untrue; with precise control, they're perfectly acceptable.

Whatever you get, just make sure it has a speed control. If you want a good deal on the real-deal Dremel, Harbor Freight may be the best place.

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Just a thought, but why would you want a knockoff? Yea, I know, it's a little cheaper, but at $50 to $60 for a corded variable speed real deal, I don't understand going with a copy. Dremel makes really nice tools and they last for ever. I have one that is over 35 years old and it never misses a beat. You get what you pay for. Spend a few bucks now and never buy another one or go with the knockoff and in a few years, buy another and another. Get the real deal!

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The Dremel tool that I have (with the integral speed control) runs too fast for that type of work, at least for me. For those jobs, I've got a cheap (under $10) knockoff from Snap-On East (Harbor Freight). The HF tool is a single-speed unit, I then plug that into a Dremel stand-alone speed control that I picked up on eBay. You can't plug an integral-speed-control tool into the external speed control; it will burn up the tool according to Dremel's instructions. The cheapie tool with the external speed control will slow right down to a crawl, allowing you to work more slowly and without fear of slipping up. Don't use the HF grinding stones in the higher-speed Dremel tool. They can fly apart at high speed, and they probably aren't balanced nearly as well as the genuine Dremel bits. As a rule, I don't buy anything at HF that is supposed to support the weight of a car, or turn at high speed.

For removal of molded-in exhaust detail, I use various oddball X-Acto blades for most of the work. Blades with straight-across edges, chisel blades, and the like. Those ones you see hanging on the rack at the hobby shop, but you probably haven't got. Make sure they are sharp, and work slowly so you don't have to fix "collateral damage" when you catch something you weren't trying to remove.

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I have a Harbor Freight variable speed corded tool. I also have had two Dremel cordless that didn't last. Harbor Freight tools are a lot better than they used to be. If you buy one, make sure to get the one with the cord as I have a cordless and the battery charge doesn't seem to last long enough for me. The go from very slow to very fast and are adjustable.

Edited by my66s55
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I'm a big fan of the older Dremel Mini-Mite. You can still find 'em new repurposed for cleaning golf clubs and dog grooming.. 15 bucks and they are perfect for plastic work.

I still have a couple bought in the late 80's, and even the Ni-Cad batteries still hold a charge.

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Just a thought, but why would you want a knockoff? Yea, I know, it's a little cheaper, but at $50 to $60 for a corded variable speed real deal, I don't understand going with a copy. Dremel makes really nice tools and they last for ever. I have one that is over 35 years old and it never misses a beat. You get what you pay for. Spend a few bucks now and never buy another one or go with the knockoff and in a few years, buy another and another. Get the real deal!

I have to agree. I have a corded Dremel that's over 20 years old and always works ... I will never need another. But, I DO have another .. a Dremel Stylus I got because it's cordless. I would advise anyone getting a new tool to get a Dremel cordless model. They all have speed control but my cordless goes down to a much lower speed which is desirable when grinding plastic so it doesn't melt. The rechargable battery is ALWAYS ready to go as it sits in the charger-stand all the time .. it's meant to and never fails. It's fairly old as the Stulus as been discontinued for the NEXT model.

I learned long ago the cheapest tool is the best one .. you will always be buying at least two of the cheaper ones.

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Some how I misplaced my Dremel (Sears version) that I have had over 20yrs. Were I worked we would go through about 2 a year do to miss use, mostly over tightening the chuck. I always replace the chuck with a keyless chuck. I bought a HB cordless and it would not even charge. Returned it and picked up a corded one. The keyless chuck has different threads so it won't fit. The adapters I have different shanks sizes won't fit either. Wish I had my Dremel back.

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Some how I misplaced my Dremel (Sears version) that I have had over 20yrs. Were I worked we would go through about 2 a year do to miss use, mostly over tightening the chuck. I always replace the chuck with a keyless chuck. I bought a HB cordless and it would not even charge. Returned it and picked up a corded one. The keyless chuck has different threads so it won't fit. The adapters I have different shanks sizes won't fit either. Wish I had my Dremel back.

That's right. I forgot that the Craftsman's are Dremels, not knockoffs. Works at Sears for 17 years. How could I have forgotten that one? :blink:

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