smallest 'dremel' type unit available?

I'm not sure where you are located but I found one at Harbor Freight for 10 bucks. It came with a fair amount of accessories too.

Carnivorous - you're thinking the right thoughts.  I've been fooling around with Dremel tools for about 35 years, and it's always struck me that, though the company claims to cater to model builders, it really has no idea what the priorities of the hobby are.  Every time a new Dremel rotary tool appears, the ads tell us that it's faster and more powerful than the last one.  The truth is that, in at least 90% of modeling applications, power and speed are just about irrelevant.  The typical Dremel tool is a big, clumsy thing - far bigger than it needs to be - and runs far too fast.  Even the ones with built-in speed controls are marginal.  The slowest speed on them is usually 5,000 rpm.  That's slow enough to drill plastic and soft wood IF the drill bit is really sharp.  At that speed a slightly dull bit will melt plastic or burn wood - and the higher speeds are almost useless for model building.

I won my first Dremel tool in a model contest back in the mid-seventies.  It was a big, powerful thing with no speed control, and I quickly discovered that it was just about useless for model building.  So I put together the necessary funds - about $15, quite a bit for a struggling college student - and bought a Dremel "Table-Top Speed Controller."  Oh, what a difference.  That gadget let me start the Moto-Tool at a dead standstill and gradually speed it up to whatever rate I wanted - which usually was a few hundred rpm.  Unfortunately Dremel no longer makes that speed controller, but various other companies make similar ones.  (I think a speed control for a router would work fine.)

A couple of years ago I happened to run across this little gadget:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=3736

I bought one at the Woodcraft store in Richmond, and I really like it.  It's made by a German firm called We-Cheer.  It's slightly fatter than a big pencil, has a thin, flexible cord running out the back, and takes Dremel chucks (so it will hold bits from 1/8" to no. 80 with no trouble).  The only problem is that it doesn't have a built-in speed control.  So I keep it plugged into my old, trusty Dremel Table-Top Speed Controller (which still works fine at the age of 30+).  I haven't had the tool long enough to comment on its durability over the long haul, but so far it's the nearest I've found to an ideal rotary power tool for model building.  And at that price of about $25, I figure even if it wears out after a few years I can afford another one.

Incidentally, that Woodcraft website is worth browsing.  The company stocks all sorts of stuff that's of interest to modelers. 

There are two other manufacturers that I know of, Minicraft and Proxon. They both have tools which are smaller an lighter than a Dremel because the adapter isn't build in to the hand held unit. (sorry if  I'm a bit vague, I don't know all the correct technical words)

Because the adapter controles the voltage both Minicraft and Proxon untis can drill at low speeds.

Here is a review I did of a new cordless Dremel tool. This model was just introduced in March of this year.

 

 

Dremel 1100 Stylus Review

 

Recently, while checking on Dremel tool parts, I went to Dremel’s web site. To my surprise, I discovered that they had released a new tool this March. Specifically, the model 1100 Stylus.

 

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/tools/tool-detail.htm?H=188091&G=66204&I=69808

 

I was immediately intrigued. As a sculptor who creates work from various found-object materials including hard plastic and light metals, I have found that a Dremel tools is an essential piece of equipment in my workshop. On seeing the new design I was struck by two features.

 

The first thing that jumped out was that it is cordless. Given that there are times where I find that my shop is a veritable snake’s pit of cables and wires run amok, and the frequent need to be able to move about the workspace without concern for my distance from a socket, I prefer the convenience and flexibility of a good cordless tool for many tasks. Furthermore, the description indicated an improved Lithium Ion battery that could hold a charge for a prolonged time. One of the challenges of the earlier generations of cordless tools having been that they often seemed to lose power at a substantial rate from the moment of being removed from their charger.

 

The other quality that caught my eye was the basic configuration. The new design seemed to offer the ability to “choke up” on the grip of the tool, thus bringing more control to the tip. Given that I often work on smaller parts that need a high degree of precision in reshaping, this immediately offered me a potential advantage.

 

After a few weeks of consideration, I found the tool at Amazon.com and placed my order.

 

The box from Amazon arrived shortly after 6:00 Wednesday evening, and I was just out the door to dinner with my wife and friends, so I had to wait until the next morning to open it.

 

Thursday morning after breakfast, I had the opportunity to play with my new Dremel.

 

The tool was well packaged in a handsome hexagonal display container.

(I should probably insert an obligatory joke about how I could well have used a Dremel to free my new tool from it's packaging    ) That said, everything was in good order in the box. I was pleasantly surprised to flip the switch and discover that the tool had a charge right out of the box. Given that part of this tool is an improved rechargeable battery that is supposed to be much better on battery memory, it indicated to me that firstly, the tool was likely tested at the factory (kudos for quality control!) and secondly, that from the point of testing and packaging, it had kept a charge up to the point that it found itself in my happy little hands.

 

I brought the tool down with the charging base and plugged it in at 9AM sharp. As of 11 AM, it had fully recharged itself.

 

The tool is pleasantly lightweight. Having worked with a Dremel 500 series with a Flexible shaft attachment and a Craftsman Moto Rotary Tool for a number of years, I found that it is lighter in the hand than the Craftsman tool, and easier to control than the Dremel flex-shaft attachment, due to the lack of cabling to constrain the rear axis of the tool's movement. It is absolutely easier in the hand than the standard corded Dremel tools without flex-shaft attachments.

 

The grip is very close to the chuck, which facilitates close work; I found it gives me very precise control when held in the standard pistol grip. Indeed, one of the virtues of that alignment is that I am able to use my left hand (the hand holding the work) to simultaneously serve as a steadying influence on the butt of the grip.

 

The manual shows several suggested grips, but so far I am most comfortable with the standard pistol grip. That may likely be as much my own preference, however. The tool is certainly light enough that it seems that were I inclined towards the “Reverse Grip” position, this would likely not be an undue strain.

 

I found that up from the low through the mid-power levels, the tool is surprisingly quiet. For light plastics like styrene, you can set it as low as “2”. For harder plastics, I’ve adjusted it up to around “6” in order to get a good balance of power and control. It has performed perfectly satisfactorily on all the plastics I have used it on.

 

The tool also seems to do pretty nicely with light metal. I’ve used it on some die-cast toy parts recently, using a carbide cutting head. I did this as much for the sake of testing, however. While in general I do some reshaping and grinding of smaller metal parts with a Dremel, for any serious cutting work I use either a hacksaw or a dedicated metal cutter like a chopsaw.

 

I have no doubt that this tool will prove itself perfectly versatile in dealing with most wood stock, for small scale reshaping and detailing, within reasonable expectations.

 

Now one thing to keep in mind about this tool is that it’s maximum speed is 25,000 RPM, as opposed to my Dremel 595 Corded tool, which is capable of 30,000 RPM. At this point, I can’t honestly say whether that last 5,000 RPM truly makes a significant difference in most cutting applications.

 

So far, I like this tool. Indeed, I could definitely foresee this becoming one of my most frequently used pieces of equipment. It has a good deal of power and control in a surprisingly small and comfortable frame. The ergonomics of the piece are comfortable in the hand, and attractive. It is definitely aesthetically reminiscent of the Phaser pistols from Star Trek.

 

What pleases me so far about this model is that it is clearly the result of some serious design and engineering work specifically tailored towards the needs of everyday users. I imagine that the prototypes must have gone through some serious Beta-testing in order to get the functionality and balance just right.

 

Now I have only had the tool for a short while. At this point, the real questions that will have to be answered are ones of long-term durability. There are a few things I will keep my eye on.

 

For one, the controls. The trigger is reasonably responsive, and requires only a gentle pressure to activate or deactivate the tool. It is a semi-flexible button that is activated with the first finger. It will be worth observing whether this is eventually a point of failure, or holds up under months of use. Similarly, the rear dial for adjusting power is smooth and requires only a gentle touch to dial up or down. I am hoping that this element also holds up over time. Perhaps this is my concern as much due to the fact that I am accustomed to working with more “chunky” industrial tools.

 

I am also interested to see if the powerplant holds up. At present, I imagine that it will. My old Dremel 595 Type 3 is still going strong after fifteen years. Unlike the standard Dremel tools, however, there are no user-serviceable parts.

 

My last question regards the battery. The new Lithium Ion battery is designed to be better for holding and maintaining a charge. I will be curious to see how long the internal battery holds up before requiring factory replacement.

 

These are simply a few thoughts, however, and not serious concerns at present.

 

At this time, I am rather pleased with my new Dremel, and seriously look forward to exploring it’s potential further in the months ahead. Should it hold up satisfactorily under conditions of daily use in a workshop environment, I will indeed consider it well worth the investment.

 

-Krzysztof Mathews
www.firstgearterritories.com

I haven't used either the Proxon or Minicraft tools, but I suspect either of them would work just as well for model building as my little We-Cheer.  A big consideration in making the choice probably should be the transformer/speed controller. 

The Proxon and Minicraft tools run on 12 volts; they have to be plugged into a transformer with a speed control dial built into it - and that unit costs at least as much as the power tool itself.  (Actually I think Proxon may make a 110-volt version with a built-in speed control, but it has the usual problem of a too-fast minimum speed setting.)  If you've got several 12-volt tools, you can plug them all into one transformer and save a lot of money.  If not, the combined prices of the tool and the transformer would be quite an investment. 

The We-Cheer operates on 110 volts, but also needs to be plugged into some sort of gadget so it can be slowed down.  I use my old Dremel "Table Top Speed Controller."  It's not available any more, though I think Dremel still sells a similar one that works with a foot pedal.  Various other companies offer speed controls for tools like routers and rotary carvers (e.g., Foredom) that probably would work just as well.  They aren't cheap but, depending on what other gear you have in your shop, you might find such a thing would come in  handy for other things.  I've found all sorts of uses for that speed controller over the years.  It can control the speed of practically any motorized tool, up to and including my antique Unimat lathe/drill press.  It can also control the heat of a soldering iron, and the size of the picture on a small black-and-white TV set.  (Don't ask me how I found that out.) 

If I were in the market for a small rotary tool, I'd give careful thought to which combination of tool and speed control would give me the most options for my particular arsenal of tools.

Thanks for the links gang-

 

Your are right, most dremel tools are massive overkill for building models, I was looking for small, for precise control and was also thinking of a flex shaft, but the transformaer idea is a good one as well.

 

Thanks for the heads up

I'm currently debating building my own low speed drill for styrene - its a Dremel chuck with a 3 or 4 inch shaft running thru two bearings which are soldered to a each end of a brass tube.  It's driven by a Sagami moter which is attatched to the tube by a couple of brass straps - motor shaft is attached to the drill shaft by a piece of soft tubing (ala boat motor to a prop shaft).  Power is a cheapo model railroading transformor with an on/off switch (or foot switch).  The basic idea came from a side bar in Evergreen Scale Models book on Styrene Modeling.

Can I add a recommend for Bohler's Minitools here.  They have a similar unit to the above, main difference is it runs on 12V.  Made in Germany, they're available from Micromark.com under their Microlux brand name.  As well as collets their high-speed unit takes a 3-jaw chuck - very comfortable to use, smooth and versatile.  Not the cheapest but top quality too.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=15230

One question--why can the device not be battery powered?

If you can yield on that criteria, this device is, in my humble opinion, hands-down the coolest Dremel-type tool for modelers around:

 

http://www.ww2modelmaker.com/microtoolpg.htm

 

The Microdetailer is perfect for drilling tiny holes, detail grinding, cleaning up parts, nearly everything, and it isn't high enough rpm to ever melt plastic.  Speed control is related to how firmly you push the button.  I haven't used my Dremel at all for model building since I bought one.  I have the drill and bit sets, and the adapter allows me to use my Dremel bits as well.  I can't say enough good things about this tool...you might wish to consider it.  Plus, it is reasonably priced!

My g.f. just bought me this. it is a cordless set with alot of accessories (62 pc.). light weight & seems to work pretty good
http://www.collectionsetc.com/Item14058.aspx#
Technical Specs on it:
NO Load R.P.M. Speed: 10,000rpms
Volts: 3.6

uproar wrote:

If you can yield on that criteria, this device is, in my humble opinion, hands-down the coolest Dremel-type tool for modelers around: http://www.ww2modelmaker.com/microtoolpg.htm The Microdetailer is perfect for drilling tiny holes, detail grinding, cleaning up parts, nearly everything, and it isn't high enough rpm to ever melt plastic.  Speed control is related to how firmly you push the button.  I haven't used my Dremel at all for model building since I bought one.  I have the drill and bit sets, and the adapter allows me to use my Dremel bits as well.  I can't say enough good things about this tool...you might wish to consider it.  Plus, it is reasonably priced!

Whoa.  I use that thing as my paint stirrer.  You use that as a drill?!    I had never thought it would be powerful enough...

Chimera wrote:

uproar wrote: If you can yield on that criteria, this device is, in my humble opinion, hands-down the coolest Dremel-type tool for modelers around: http://www.ww2modelmaker.com/microtoolpg.htm The Microdetailer is perfect for drilling tiny holes, detail grinding, cleaning up parts, nearly everything, and it isn't high enough rpm to ever melt plastic.  Speed control is related to how firmly you push the button.  I haven't used my Dremel at all for model building since I bought one.  I have the drill and bit sets, and the adapter allows me to use my Dremel bits as well.  I can't say enough good things about this tool...you might wish to consider it.  Plus, it is reasonably priced! Whoa.  I use that thing as my paint stirrer.  You use that as a drill?!    I had never thought it would be powerful enough...

Yes, it works very well as a drill--I used it to drill out all of the tiny portholes on my Revell "USS Arizona", as well as the gun ports and barrels on my 1/48 aircraft.  Paint stirrer?  Surely you're being facetious.... 

Nope.  Dead serious.    It only spins slowly, and I've just chucked in a long piece of scrap styrene rod with an 'L' tip to do so.  Works well.

I just picked up a Dremel Stylus myself last night and I must say I love my new toy. It allows for much more precise handling then my traditional older model did and I love the charger base design.