Thread: die grinder vs dremel rotary tool

Try http://www.arbortech.com.au/view/ for Angle grinder attatchments. I personally have the 4" version, but they do a 2" version for smaller work. The 4" version is good, can rough out quickly with a heavy hand and with a lighter hand make delicate cuts.

Just checked the site for you, four shops in Virginia sell Arbortech gear:
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comVIRGINIA</st1:State>
<st1:State w:st="on"></ST1</st1:State>Mountain Heritage Crafters
<O<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">601 Quail Drive</st1:Street>, <ST1Bluefield</ST1ity <st1:State w:st="on">VA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">24605-9411</st1:PostalCode></st1:address> <O
Tel: (540) 322-5921 <O
Orders Toll Free: 1-800-643-0995 <O
Website: www.mhc-online.com <O

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Woodcraft Supply Corp.
<OThe Shops at <ST1Willow</ST1lace Lawn <O
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">Suite</st1:Street> 402</st1:address> & 403 <O
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">4925 West Broad Street</st1:Street>, <ST1Richmond</ST1ity <st1:State w:st="on">VA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">23230</st1:PostalCode></st1:address> <O
Tel: 804-355-2532 / Fax: 804-355 2532
<OWebsite: www.woodcraft.com <O

<!-- Anchor --><O
Woodcraft Supply Corp. <O
<ST1<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Concord</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Shopping Center</st1:PlaceType></ST1
6123B <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Backlick Road</st1:address></st1:Street> & <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Commerce Street</st1:address></st1:Street> <O
<ST1Springfield <st1:State w:st="on">VA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">22150</st1:PostalCode></ST1
Tel: 703-912 6727 / Fax: 703-912 6736 <O
Website: www.woodcraft.com <O

<!-- Anchor --><O
Woodcraft Supply Corp.
<OWoodworkers Club <O
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">216 Dominion Road, NE</st1:Street>, <ST1Vienna <st1:State w:st="on">VA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">22180</st1:PostalCode></st1:address> <O
Tel: 703-255 1044 / Fax: 703-255 1046 <O
Website: www.woodcraft.com <O
<!-- Anchor --><O

l use a mini carver uses a 20mm disc made by carbatec attaches to your grinder
first l use chain saw,then 4"carbatec carving disc ,go to 24grit sanding disc on grinder to get all cut marks off ,minie carver for some shape,clean up with 100 g paper on grinder ,then enjoy using yor dremel,
hand rub with paper go finer as you go

well that is what l like

Air powered die grinders are cheap as chips and available at most pro powertool shops they come with a variety of collets. most of your dremmel stuff should fit.

A real die grinder then opens up a whole range of industrial tooling such as carbide burs in great variety, grinding stones, diamond burs, cutting disks and saws.


Much like the stuff you can get for the dremmel & similar but industrial.

They are agressive and noisy, and use quite a bit of air for a small tool.

They have an awfull lot of power for a tool so small.
There will be times you wish you could get a good two handed grip on the thing.... but its only big enough to get one hand on it.

they also spin at very high revs so you need to be carefull what you put in them.

you can also get small pencil style units that would be great for carving. they usualy have a special thin hose attched.

cheers

Originally Posted by soundman

Air powered die grinders are cheap as chips and available at most pro powertool shops they come with a variety of collets. most of your dremmel stuff should fit.

A real die grinder then opens up a whole range of industrial tooling such as carbide burs in great variety, grinding stones, diamond burs, cutting disks and saws.


Much like the stuff you can get for the dremmel & similar but industrial.

They are agressive and noisy, and use quite a bit of air for a small tool.

They have an awfull lot of power for a tool so small.
There will be times you wish you could get a good two handed grip on the thing.... but its only big enough to get one hand on it.

they also spin at very high revs so you need to be carefull what you put in them.

you can also get small pencil style units that would be great for carving. they usualy have a special thin hose attched.

cheers

soundman is right on bloody noisie things the compressure running at night + the zinging noise used both.dremal hasn't got the grunt
but the wife wont come out and turn it off

I'd advise against a air powered one they are good tools but they will thrash just about every domestic air compressor, you really need 18cfm+ to run one continuously.

There are electric die grinders they use way less power than running a aircomp and have more torque than an air powered one. Dont get the smaller ones as they are not much better than a dremel...
http://www.justtools.com.au/prod693.htm

This might sound silly but have you tried carving chisels to do this finish work. I haven't been happy with my Dremel tool as far as finish, control or speed are concerned so I resort to the old method.
Just a thought
Good luck
BobT

Agree with Harry on this one. Using a 3HP air compressor to produce the energy that a 500 watt electric die grider can deliver just doesn't add up to me.

Of course there are applications where air tools are the only choice so I am not knocking them. Noise is a problem with the electric die grinders as well so wear hearing protection.

I have the 1/4 inch Milwaukee die grinder and it is a good tool. Variable speed works well and doesn't drop off too much under load. These are much bigger than a Dremil and about the same weight as a angle grinder so keep this in mind if you intend to use them for long periods.

Makita make a unit in between the Dremil and Milwaukee that has a 1/4 inch collet but it is not variable speed.

I did a lot of research on die grinders and the Milwaukee, Bosch and AEG are all similar in quality and features. There is a big difference between any of these models compared to Dremil but there is also a big difference in price. Again you get what you pay for.

I bought a small plunge router a few years back. The power head can be removed and used as a die grinder. 1/4" burrs fit.
It was a cheap Ozito brand.

Ahhh a 500 watt electric won't keep ip with an air die grinder that keeps a 3hp compressor busy..
Yep they are a bit noisy...... however you can shut them up a little by putting a little strip of scotchbrite in the air outlet..... it works for most air tools.
If done properly there is no loss in performance but it takes the edge off the whine.

Don't try to compare an air die grinder with a dremmel style tool... they are very different in what they set out to do.
You wouldn't set out to do a porting job on a iron cylinder head with a dremmel now would you.

Dremmel.... fiddly little thing for doing fiddly little things.
Air die grinder..... angry little thing for doing things were a bigger angrier thing wont fit.

cheers

You may want to look for a 'Pendant drill/grinder' - the industry standard is made in the USofA by Foredom & is used in the jewellery trade. Dremel makes a 'clone' and there are a few Asian knock-offs out there as well. They have interchangeable handpieces, both rotary with a 1/4" collet which takes an 1/8" reducer, and reciprocating action, some of which also take miniature chisel blades.

These are 1/4 hp or so and much bigger than a standard hand held Dremel, Fordom tools also have a variable speed foot control standard. Not cheap if you buy from a Jewellery Warehouse, but second hand units keep showing up, and there is always E Bay search under 'Foredom'.