new motor tool which model

"The only tool you can afford is the best one you can find." —yours truly

Whatever you get, it should have a flexible shaft and a comfortable, sturdy handpiece. I prefer Foredom, but they are expensive. On the other hand, you can will it to your heirs. 

I replaced my old rechargeable MiniLite with the Model 300 corded mototool. It's the best tool I have now. I have yet to get a flex shaft for it. That will be coming soon I think.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=300+Series

Dremel offers a couple of Minimite-type tools with replaceable AA battery packs instead of the integrated rechargable battery which often isn't very rechargable.

One is sold to golfers for use in cleaning/polishing their clubs [and sharpening their spikes?].  It is molded in green translucent plastic.   Check your local golf pro shop or dedicated golfing store. 

The second is sold to crafters for pumpkin/Jack-o-lantern carving.   It is molded in translucent orange plastic.   I've seen them within the last week in the local Lowes hardware store for about 25 bux and have seen them for sale in the past for half-that the week after Halloween.

Both are two speed and come with just a couple of bits (cutters or brushes).   They have the standard Minimite chuck and take standard Dremel cutters & grinders.    The higher speed will still melt plastic.  On low speed the grinding speed is just a bit fast for plastic,  but if you get just a bit of age on the batteries the motor slows to a perfect speed for plastic. 

I got a green one, but I think I got it at Lowes.

I have 4 different Dremels. I have an old 270 with a desk top speed control(wish the still made them) a digital one I got as gift I use that one with the flex shaft and 2 cordless a mini mite and a stylus (which came with a driver tool also) I use the stylus the most I like the way it feels in my hand. I also have a no-name one speed one I also use the speed control for,my Dad picked it up at Wally world. It feels good to and came in a silver metal case almost looks like a hand gun case. I know I have a tool fetish,also happens when I walk onto a tool truck at work all the cool shiny thingys lol

John

Army,as far as I remembr off the top of my head I want to say 3500 rpm. I don't know if Dremel makes it any more I havent seen it in Micro Marks Catalog or any where else for a long time.The weekend condo is my camping tent I picked up at Cabela's 2 years ago. Great tent I can set it up myself in 10 minutes. Going to be using it in about 3 weeks going away for close to a week down in the Pine Barrens,as long as the Jersey Devil dont get me lol.

john

I've had both corded and cordless. Even had one of the Dremel Mighty Mite, but once the batteries bit the dust it was time to move on something with more snorts, higher battery capacity and greater versitility. This one turns slow enough to stir paint as well as fast enough to polish plastic. I prefer cordless because there are times when I take my tools on the road to club meeting or demos at shows.

jtrace - Wish I could have had you as a customer when I was a Snap-On dealer for a few years back in the late 70s.

Jim

I love the Stylus, esp. for work on plastic, but I could not do heavy-duty work without my Dremel 398 Pro, which is an AC-powered digital/electronically-controlled model.  If I were buying an AC-powered rotary tool now, I'd look very seriously at the models from other makers that have electronic control over the motor speed under load, such as the Proxxon.  It makes all the difference when cutting hard materials.

The Stylus is an excellent design, and the pistol grip is great.  But it lacks the torque and speed control that the AC units have.  On the other hand, the AC powered units are not as easy to point and use as is the Stylus, unless you get the separate handpiece attachment.

All the rechargeable units will have a limited lifespan, but I've had mine for two years and not seen any deterioration in the battery life or performance.

JML wrote:

I love the Stylus, esp. for work on plastic, but I could not do heavy-duty work without my Dremel 398 Pro, which is an AC-powered digital/electronically-controlled model.  If I were buying an AC-powered rotary tool now, I'd look very seriously at the models from other makers that have electronic control over the motor speed under load, such as the Proxxon.  It makes all the difference when cutting hard materials.

I've been looking at the Proxxon for a while...

Haven't bought it yet but I like the size, weight, etc...

Spendy, but quality costs...

The Dremel Stylus has a speed range of 5,000 to 25,000 RPM.  Speed is set by a continuously variable rotary dial on the rear.  For plastic, 5000 RPM is pretty fast, but the HSS cutters and diamond-dust tools don't heat up the way other tools, like cutting disks, do on plastic.   The motor lacks the torque of the AC-powered tools, and it will slow down considerably when in use.  That's one reason why I use the AC-powered digital-speed-control model on metal.

Under load, the Stylus feels and sounds as if it loses 1000 RPM even with a full battery charge.  But it works fine.  By comparison, my AC-powered Dremel will run too fast at that setting, if I'm working on plastic, and things start to melt.

Fox, I think I put my 3 dealers (SO,Mac,Matco) kids through college lol. But its all paid for now and all I buy are updates for my Scan tools and specialty tools. I figure I have over$100K invested in tools lol.....

John