Customer Reviews
Dremel Review 
2008-02-25
Very easy to handle and you have the control to manuever the machine around tight places.
Good tool for hobbiest 
2008-01-01
This is a good purchase and a great tool to work on my model train hobby.
Good basic tool, but watch... 2007-12-30
This is a great tool for anyone needing to drill, polish, cut, grind, etch, sand, screw, etc.... but not for big projects. If you have larger projects, consider purchasing a more powerful, corded Dremel. But for crafts and basic home repair, this product works great.
The battery pack is easy to get on and off, and holds a charge well. (a back up battery is a good idea with ANY product!)
The only thing I can really say I'd improve on, would be the on/off switch. I don't like that it goes High/Off/Low rather than Off/Low/High, for safety reasons. I have, on more than one occassion (while trying to switch tips) switched the unit on. There is no well defined seperation between the Lo/Off/Hi.
Otherwise, I am quite happy with it and the accessories it came with.
Nice set, wrong tool shape 
2007-10-19
The form, fit and function of the hand-held tool is poor, but the tool set attachments are great. Even the little bag is a nice touch.
After many decades, I bought my first Dremel hand-held tool. However, if the battery was turned 180 degrees and the French curves on shallower side were made into a flat surface, parallel to the rotating axis, then it would be extremely useful for cutting balsa wood to make models. It would also be able to sand all surfaces with precision. I don't believe there is one Dremel table that would have this stand-alone-flat-surface capability to handle any work size.
I would guess that Dremel Marketing dictates to Dremel Engineering, just like marketing at Microsoft must dictate tons of application bells and whistles, whose bugs are rarely fixed (even after 17 years of re-packaging MS Office applications)...marketing seems to drive almost all companies.
I registered my Dremel product and signed up for the forum. But I don't think Dremel wants to hear from folks with any suggestions. Of the 30-40 permissions, I only had the right to read, not to make replies. I guess the Dremel legal department reins in users with muzzles...no wonder there are very few postings.
If you do register with Dremel, DO NOT check any boxes pertaining to your interests. If you do, you can count on a deludge of third-party emails, selling everything from travel deals to fake online degrees. It appears that Dremel sells your name to profit from you, while you are not permitted into the domain of a one-sided forum. I've spent way too much of my time unsubscribing and adding to this review (which you will not see as the most current review on Amazon).
If "money is no object," then buy all the Dremel tools (shaper/router table, scroll saw, drilling station, etc.) that you need to do the job right (hand-held tools with French curves are how Marketing promotes sales of all other Dremel tools). Just don't expect the tool to be innovative in form or fit (I am impressed with 20k rpm, but speed falls off quickly as battery drains), and don't expect the battery to last more than 0.5 hours cutting very soft Balsa wood.
Technical functionality is the very best of form, fit, and function. Aesthetic functionality is usually the application of misguided technical functionality dollars. We consumers will always buy what we need, regardless of bad press, but more product support, allowing us to provide critical feedback, would be a good thing for everyone...not using "buy what we need" as a marketing lever to sell us inferior products.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Health Hazards (OSHA)abrasive saw blades and disks:
(Author, not OSHA, note: You should wear a protective mask when using Dremel abrasive disks or any abrasive saw blade. This may not mean that all abrasive disks are coated with Cobalt, but I don't know what substance, other than carborundum, could be coated on such blades. Even though you should wear a filter mask, it may not absorb Cobalt fumes).
OSHA: "Health Hazards. Cobalt Dust Stellite tipped saw blades generate a fine dust containing cobalt when sharpened. Cobalt is a silvery, bluish-white, odorless, and magnetic metal (author, not OSHA, note: test yours abrasive disk...magnetic steel disks will be misleading...with a strong magnet). The fume and dust of cobalt metal is odorless and black. Without proper ventilation, cobalt overexposures are possible. Cobalt also is combustible and burns brilliantly (Author, not OSHA, note: Dremel disks do not burn when exposed to flame)in air at room temperature. Dusts of cobalt metal or cobalt compounds may form explosive mixtures in air.
Inhalation of cobalt metal fume and dust may cause interstitial fibrosis, interstitial pneumonitis, myocardial and thyroid disorders, and sensitization of the respiratory tract and skin. Chronic cobalt poisoning may also produce polycythemia and hyperplasia of the bone marrow. Among 12 workers engaged in the manufacture or grinding of tungsten carbide tools (cobalt is used as a binder for tungsten carbide crystals), who developed interstitial lung disease, there were eight fatalities.
The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for cobalt metal, dust, and fume (as Co) is 0.1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m(3)) of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration [29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1].
Signs and symptoms of exposure:
Acute exposure: Acute exposure to cobalt metal, dust, and fume is characterized by irritation of the eyes and, to a lesser extent, irritation of the skin. In sensitized individuals, exposure causes an asthma-like attack, with wheezing, bronchospasm, and dyspnea Ingestion of cobalt may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a sensation of hotness.
Chronic exposure: Chronic exposure to cobalt metal, dust, or fume may cause respiratory or dermatologic signs and symptoms. Following skin sensitization, contact with cobalt causes eruptions of dermatitis in creases and on frictional surfaces of the arms, legs, and neck. Following sensitization of the respiratory system, cobalt exposure causes an obstructive lung disease with wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath. Chronic respiratory exposure results in reduced lung function, increased fibrotic changes on chest X-ray, production of scanty mucoid sputum, and shortness of breath. Chronic cobalt poisoning may cause polycythemia, hyperplasia of the bone marrow and thyroid gland, pericardial effusion, and damage to the alpha cells of the pancreas.
Methods that are effective in controlling worker exposures to cobalt metal, dust, and fume, depending on the feasibility of implementation, are as follows:
* Process enclosure,
* Local exhaust ventilation,
* General dilution ventilation, and
* Personal protective equipment."
Author, not OSHA, note: In terms of other brands of saw blades, you should not use abrasive blades...use something else (An Evolution Rage 2 Chop Saw is fantastic and patented technology...this is where I found out about the dangers of abrasive disks) . Abrasive blades can also explode in your face when over-heated.
dremel tool 2007-09-28
I had owned a dremel tool for years but it is electric, meaning you have to drag the cord around your work. I found myself not using it very much because of the cord problem.
This tool is battery powered and two speed. In addition, it is very light weight making it easy to navigate your work.
I found my foot doctor using this product to trim down nails and remove dry and cracked heel skin with the sandpaper attachment, which is shipped with the product. I highly recommend this product.
It depends on what you want to do with it. 2008-07-25
I bought this recently and figured 20,000 rpms would be more than enough for what I would do around my apartment. Well I guess not? Anything I attempt to cut stops the tool from cutting completely. The battery dies in about an 30 minuts of heavy use.
I would suggest going with something corded, or a 10.8v battery.
Great, versatile tool! 2008-07-18
This tool is a powerful unit, that does exactly what I wanted it to, and more. The price was fantastic, and it arrived very quickly.
Dog Toenail Trimmer! 2008-06-12
Bought it to trim the three labrador's toenails (or claws, as it's been a while...). They don't love it, but they put up with it much better than the clippers. We're trimming once a week, and no more worry about bloody toenails.
Cordless Freedom - short battery life 
2008-05-14
I purchased this cordless Dremel after some frustration on detailwork while doing some wood carving. The cord always seemed to alter the balance of the tool making it so incredibily difficult to be precise in softwoods - which can mean a pulled cut and a marred piece of wood and a ruined carving.
The balance of the tool here is exceptional. Very easy to manipulate with a slow speed that's perfect for my application of soft wood.
However... the battery life is horrific. I can work less than 45 minutes before I have to recharge the battery for 2+ hours. I very much wish I could have 3x the life and 1/2 the charging time. I need to (and don't really want to spend the money) get 2 more batteries and another charger.
Very handy 2008-02-26
This unit is very handy for the average homeowner. It comes with a starter supply of cutoff wheels, polishing wheels, sandpaper, etc. The battery is just average. I wish it would last longer before having to be recharged. I also wish this unit had the ability to be plugged in rather than to be solely operated by a battery. The bag gives you the ability to keep your Dremel and all the accessories in one place. I don't see how people get by without owning a Dremel. All in all, a great little tool!
