Dremel Lifespan

[Country Joe]

Just had a look to see if you can use a 1/8" tool, but they don't list anything smaller than 1/4" collett.

http://www.powertoolspares.com/tool/makita/spares-and-accessories-for-gd0800c/gd0800c/spares/

Having said that, someone else may make them.
I've thought about it, as I seem to have quite a lot of Dremel size things, but concluded they'd be best used in a Dremel.
From past experience, I don't think I'd try!
All the Best,
CJ

 

[hotrodder]

They're listed on the Makita USA site but not on the UK site for some reason. First hit (as in probably not the cheapest source) from googling the collet part # from the UK site... http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/makita/index.php?category1=MISCELLANEOUS&category2=ENGINEERING&category3=COLLET%20CONE

 

[steveo3002]

if you think you will kill it fast , buy one from argos and they offer extended warrenty for a few quid , take em up on it and get a new one everytime it gets ropey

 

[Country Joe]

if you think you will kill it fast , buy one from argos and they offer extended warrenty for a few quid , take em up on it and get a new one everytime it gets ropey

It's not so much how fast it'll kill the ends, that worries me, (well, maybe a bit of both)as much as how fast it'll kill the user (me!) when it self-destructs into tiny fragments at high speed.

Ok, I'll admit it - the paranoia most likely stems from seeing a wire brush type end (with quite a low speed rating) that should probably only have gone in a drill, sending bits of wire everywhere, before even touching the work-piece.
Not me, honest! I always check the speed ratings now, and stay within them, by quite a margin!

All the Best,
CJ

 

[stucktoweld]

Buy a cheap dremel copy hammer it hard then bin it if its out of warranty - I bet you it will be when it dies I have a dremel and a copy can't really tell the difference bet there both made in china as most things are!!!

 

[MG David]

I used to buy dremel clones but got fed up with their reliability so now I use an air die grinder. The downside is it makes alot more noise than I had expected.

 

[droopsnoot]

I also use the cheapo Aldi clone rather than a real one. Started with B&D Wizard (blew up motor), back on warranty for refund and bought a Power Devil (motor bad but > 12 months old). Since then I've just got the cheap ones. My last one had a 3 month warranty and the collect wore out, I emailed them and they sent me a complete new kit.

Air grinders are much better, but it's a pain starting up the compressor and there are some places where only the mains mini-drill will fit.

 

[zedhead]

I've got an Aldi one as well.
I had a Dremel, but lent it to a neighbour, who burnt it out. Sent it back and got a replacement, which was also lent to said neighbour, who kept it... So I bought a cheapo Aldi one and it's been faultless for the last 3 years or so.
I've got an air die grinder for heavier stuff, although it's F noisy and needs regular stops to let the receiver fill up again. Use the 'Aldremel' for smaller stuff - cutting braided brake & oil lines etc, grinding corroded fasteners / bearing housings etc

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

Yeah,the Aldi ones.I'm waiting for them to crop up again...not that I need another one but I need a new flexi shaft that they come with,looked up the price of em and I can get a new Aldi drill with flexi shaft for the price of a flexi shaft alone.