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Date:         Sat, 2 Nov 2002 21:13:13 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Dremels
Comments: To: Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <000801c282d6$d3f116c0$0d00a8c0@TIGER>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 08:17 PM 11/2/2002, Clive Smith wrote: >Being a Brit, and Dremels appearing to be an American thing, can I ask... > >..wahts the lowdown on Dremels Vs Rotozips which I see in the shops over >here now. Are RotoZips super Dremels, or a different beast altogether. > >Its just that Christmas is coming up... :-)

Roto Zip is basically a saw that uses a modified drill bit (more like an end mill really) to make blind cuts in wallboard and other construction materials. It turns at max rpm around 18,000. You can get a flexible-shaft handpiece that will take Dremel-type bits (1/8" shaft mostly). <http://www.rotozip.co.uk/indexuk.htm>

Dremel make a tool that is meant as a general-purpose light-duty handpiece -- turns 5,000-27,000 rpm, uses a collet chuck to hold 1/8" and smaller bits. Enormous variety of burs, stones, brushes, cloth/felt/rubber polishing wheels, cutoff wheels, sanding disks and drums etc. Attachments include right-angle head, drill-press mount, router mount (i.e. converts tool temporarily into a drill press or router), grout saw and a head that converts it into a light-duty version of the Roto Zip. <http://www.dremel.com/Europe.html>

Both very useful tools -- Roto Zip is much more powerful, turns slower, basically a special-purpose construction tool that has turned out to have versatile possibilities. It's only been around for a few years, probably will keep on getting more versatile. Dremel (and Black & Decker imitation) smaller, lighter, faster -- extraordinarily versatile but only good for small work. I think many people who get Dremel tools tend to expect them to do larger/faster work than they're actually good for, and are initially disappointed. I certainly was, twenty years ago or so. Haven't been without one since... <g>. N.B.: the bits are expensive, both in themselves and per-use. To me the best deal are the cutoff wheels, which if used very gently have uses far beyond just cutting off. Because they mount on a mandrel instead of having their own, a tube of 36 (maybe a half-cubic-inch of material?) is as cheap as a couple of mounted stones. If Dremel still make a sleeve-bearing model I'd pass it up for the ball-bearing version. My sleeve-bearing one wore out in a few years.

david

-- David Beierl - Providence, RI http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/ '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage" '85 GL "Poor Relation"


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