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[BORIS]

I Am only making Boats from kits, so im thinking is it worth me having a minidrill..such as the Dremal type ones...being as im building from kits i could just get along with a handfile or 2 and handdrill..which is a lot cheaper..thats all i have used in the past,,

[funtimefrankie]

I've a cheap one which I use now and then, e.g. useful for opening up the freeing ports on a glass fibre hull.
In fact mine was free with a subscription to "Model Boats" magazine. also bought accessory pack from Aldi.

[Colin H]

Boris,

I purchased a Wickes own brand (much cheaper than Dremel). Have had it 2 years and now would not be without it.

Maybe I am just idle but I find it saves lots of agro.

Colin H.

[grasshopper]

If you can afford it, and it makes you happy why not? - one can always manage without, but do you want to?

I buy whatever tools or spares I think I 'might' need when I've got spare cash - it pleases me and makes me look for jobs to use whatever it is. When questioned by the Mem-Sahib about my spending my usual retort is 'how many pairs of shoes?'

[bigfella]

I bought one from our biggest chain of hardware stores here in Oz. It is a Dremel clone made especially for the hardware store. It came with the flexi shaft thingy. I can not tell how easy it is using the flexi shaft to do things like sanding or cutting or anything and it is really good for close up precision work. I don't know how I survived with out it. Do yourself a favour and get one, you never stop thinking of other things you can do with it.

[Damien]

Yes definately worth having. I also got one from the biggest chain in Oz, Ozito brand with flex shaft & acc's. It sure beats the 3volt Plug pack powered thing i've had for several years, indispensable i also have an Air powered Die Grinder for the larger jobs.
Damien.

[bigfella]

Hi Damien

Have you seen Bunnings are now selling Ozito branded Dremel like stands and vises and all the same things you can get for Dremels and at a fraction of the price.

Regards David

[Damien]

Yes David, i have seen them I have a drill press that i put a pin chuck into for the smaller drills my hands are too shakey to use the dremel as a drill, Bunnings is like a second home, I tend to be a bit wary of Ozito I had a 100mm angle grinder that chewed up brushes approx every hour of use wasn't too bad when they cost $2 a pair from ozito who are only a few Km from me but Bunnings is now sole supplier & they want $13.80 a pair so i chucked the 2 of them in the bin an bought a different brand off ebay.
The Dremel clone seems to have plenty of grunt & works faultlessly.
I can just make it to Bunnings & back on my mobility scooter as long as i limit my load on return trip & Bunnings wont allow me to recharge while i brouse.
Damien

[tigertiger]

What websites do people know with info about these miinidrills.

There are lots of tools, but no instructions in what they can be used for, or even how they are used.

I guess we are just supposed to know.

I have looked at the Dremel site, not very informative in this respect.

[Roger in France]

I find my 3 mini drills most useful. I am not bragging because I have three that came about because I originally had a cheap one purchased in the UK and used it frequently for all kinds of jobs (engraving; burnishing; cut off; drilling etc). Since moving to France, I could not resist a supermarket offer of a mini drill kit for 19€. This contained a whole host of accessories. Then I bought a Proxxon mini drill at a good price direct from a German guy with free postage in mainland Europe. It is a beauty for which I have a mini drill press and a horizontal stand.

I have a separate workbench for mini tools and leave different accessories in the chuck of each. I do find that with a mini drill having the supply lead coming from overhead (via a hook) makes things more comfortable.

Can I justify 3? No! But definitely need 1 and would gladly settle for the Proxxon because of the variable speed and the rugged design.

Roger in France.

[malcolmfrary]

What websites do people know with info about these miinidrills.

There are lots of tools, but no instructions in what they can be used for, or even how they are used.

I guess we are just supposed to know.

I have looked at the Dremel site, not very informative in this respect.

This link might help
http://www.btinternet.com/~two.mm/articles/fonly/fonlydr.htm
Try googling for "fonly", apparently it refers to the notion that you can do something if only "fonly" you have the right exotic tool.

[Bryan Young]

I find my 3 mini drills most useful. I am not bragging because I have three that came about because I originally had a cheap one purchased in the UK and used it frequently for all kinds of jobs (engraving; burnishing; cut off; drilling etc). Since moving to France, I could not resist a supermarket offer of a mini drill kit for 19€. This contained a whole host of accessories. Then I bought a Proxxon mini drill at a good price direct from a German guy with free postage in mainland Europe. It is a beauty for which I have a mini drill press and a horizontal stand.

I have a separate workbench for mini tools and leave different accessories in the chuck of each. I do find that with a mini drill having the supply lead coming from overhead (via a hook) makes things more comfortable.

Can I justify 3? No! But definitely need 1 and would gladly settle for the Proxxon because of the variable speed and the rugged design.

Roger in France.

Is your hook the "spring-loaded" thing? I have been thinking about getting one of those if only to keep the bench clear. Is it worth it? BY.

[sunnybob]

What websites do people know with info about these miinidrills.

There are lots of tools, but no instructions in what they can be used for, or even how they are used.

I guess we are just supposed to know.

I have looked at the Dremel site, not very informative in this respect.

finding out isnt easy, but I have just found the best add on yet for the dremel. Its a little angled drive which turns it into a cross cut circular saw. Bought at B&Q. Its pefect for wood, and I've just tested it to nearly its limit by cutting along a 100mm length of alluminium angle that was 4mm thick! very impressed.

[Roger in France]

BY, no my hook is not spring loaded. In truth I have overhead, suspended power supply.

I would have thought that most guys on here (certainly you) could soon contrive a spring loaded hook with little if any financial outlay. How about the mechanism from a retractable dog lead?

In my previous comments I did omit to say that I find another accessory very convenient, it is a flexible drive shaft which is about 1m. long. With the drill itself clamped in a fixed position you can manoeuvre the bit (etc) into some spots which are difficult to access.

Roger in France.

[barriew]

Does anyone know if you can use either Proxxon or Minicraft power supplies with low voltage Rotacraft tools - in particular the mini jigsaw?

Barrie

[nhp651]

try to buy one with a chuck and key though, rather that the expanding collets set into the head, as these take a restricted bit size. my minicraft drill with chuck and key will take upto 5 mm drill bits and yet a larger drill with flexi =drive( but still classed as a mini drill) with the collets will take a maximum of 3 mm.
but as all the other responders have said, I am in total agreement. couldn't do without mine.I'd be totally lost.

[Martin (Admin)]

I have 2 I regularly use (and 3 more I don't use hardly ever!)
My favorite one is a Dremel cordless, that battery seems to last forever!
I also fitted a small normal keyless chuck for the same resons nhp651  outlines below.

The other one is a very cheap and cheerful 3.6volt cordless screwdriver, also with a chuck, for slow careful work.

[Bryan Young]

BY, no my hook is not spring loaded. In truth I have overhead, suspended power supply.

I would have thought that most guys on here (certainly you) could soon contrive a spring loaded hook with little if any financial outlay. How about the mechanism from a retractable dog lead?

In my previous comments I did omit to say that I find another accessory very convenient, it is a flexible drive shaft which is about 1m. long. With the drill itself clamped in a fixed position you can manoeuvre the bit (etc) into some spots which are difficult to access.

Roger in France.

Ingenious! Never thought of the dog-lead idea. Ta. Bryan. p.s. have you seen the new Proxxon catalogue? Full of good ideas.

[ianmcairns]

If you prefer to keep the dog on a lead, Maplin do a stand...ref N02FX