Battery Dremel

[firewoodstudio]

Does any body have and use a battery powered dremel tool? If so how long does it hold a charge? Will it handle heavy carving? Does it have the power to carve, sand, etc?

[whitecree]

I bought one years ago. A couple of hours to charge fully and you could only get 15-20 minutes at full power of work out of it. If you are working somewhere without access to household current, it might be okay, but otherwise I'd just spend the extra couple of bucks for a proper dremel.

[MadHatr]

Have to agree with whitecree works ok for 30 minutes at most but then time to charge the battery.

Dremels are low priced and there are others on the market also.

[hi ho sliver]

Guess it depends on the model and / or how you use it, my "Mini-Mite" lasts a long time!

[firewoodstudio]

I went out an purchased a new dremel Battery powered. The 8000-01 it has 10.8 volts of battery power and it works great. Has plenty of power and running at the highest speed, and continous use the power last about 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. The power is as strong as you will need.

[Qsteer]

I have both corded and the 10v rechargeable. I have ended up using the battery one the most. at a position of 2 on the dial I can use the thing non stop for 1 1/2 to 2 hrs before it needs a charge. I find the slower speed also best for both sanding and burrs. I have never found need for wide open speeds but I do know few if any electric tools will go any faster. Speed CAN be mighty useful when one learns to not count on power but insead the speed like in the ones that get 400,000 rpm. I might also add that there IS one of them that is marketed for a lot less money than others. it has a little EXTERNAL air tube and the whole thing is plastic except its little turbine, and IT is NOT repalceable. for get that one. spend more, the better ones lil motor can be replaced !!
also with the battery Dremels, do not use the little flap sanders at full speed, they MUST go slow. those will cause damage going fast. I know so !

[Whittling]

Seems a 50/50 split on get one... don't get one! For what its worth, I use the dremel corded model. There aren't may applications that I have that don't have power available so its not an issue for me. I have a friend who has the battery pack and he eventually gave up in disgust with it and got the corded model.

Thinking about it though, unless you have a particular application that needs to be cord free, then I reckon the corded one is better value in the longer term. Sooner or later you're going to have to replace the battery pack which isn't cheap... at least its not here in Oz.

[Qsteer]

yep I agree with the fact that there are the UPs N Downs and its a matter of what suits the individual most. like me most my serious Dremel time is when I an away from home,travelin/RV'n settin out in the sun in my lawn chair. I used a gift card once and got a second battery. ALL MY Dremel stuff (too Much of it), motors, charger and all ,I have fit into a nice wooden box avail at Hobby Lobby's. reg price $19 , but here is a thought. ON Hobby Lobby.com one can print a 40% off coupon good for any one item not on sale. that makes the Box $12 something these are nice constructed boxes with finger/box joint corners, ment for painting artists. but one can do their own interior. since I take the thing and another along in my 5th wheel I played on the lid of the Dremel box and burnt a large inscription of my hand writting on the lid "MY Shop in a Box" All my wood burning assortment fits in a second one.

[Dick Miraglia]

I have used multiple Dremel's on my projects over the past few years along with a Foredom, for carving. I am not impressed with the battery operated units and will not buy any more of them. Recently, I have had the oportunity to work with one of their newest units, the Dremel 4000 and in my opinion, it is the best unit they have produced so far. It has more power and mechanically seems to run much smoother especially when changing speeds. I like it better than all the older units. Unfortunately, it is also a little larger in size.