Dremel 8000-03 10.8-Volt Lithium Ion Cordless Rotary Tool: Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Work Station

Dremel 8000-03 10.8-Volt Lithium Ion Cordless Rotary Tool Remember how cool we all thought that first Dremel was? We're reliving the feeling with this one: lighter, faster, smarter, better, and stronger. The main improvement over the last generation is the battery source: lithium-ion. There are so many reasons to applaud. Lithium holds its charge up to six times longer in storage than nickel-cadmium batteries, so it's ready when you are. Remember the disappointment when you were ready and your battery was low? That won't happen with this one. It's got a battery fuel gauge that tells you how much life is left before a recharge, so you won't be caught without your Dremel, and if you choose to keep it on its charger, you won't cause memory and shorten the charge capacity. It's small, it's light, it's comfortable and maneuverable; it's everything the corded models are, but without the cord. We love it. One reviewer writes: I've used Dremel tools for over 15 years now. I've mainly stuck with the corded ones, as the battery-powered versions tended to run out of charge quickly, had less RPM, were generally heavier and usually had a lot less torque. The lithium version has none of these drawbacks. Because there's no cord it's more comfortable to hold (and much more convenient to use!), about the same weight as a corded model, and has plenty of RPMs and torque. Battery lifetimes are very good, and the "fuel gauge" seems to be reasonably accurate. (Exactly how long a charge will last depends greatly on what you're using it for--working on balsa wood uses a lot less power than, say, grinding metal.) Battery charge times are quite short, about three hours to charge a completely empty battery. (But thanks to a "smart charger" it should only take a few minutes to charge it after a typical job.) An added bonus is that lithium batteries hold their charges practically forever, so there's no need to "trickle charge" them; just charge it back up after you're done with it and put it away, and it'll be ready to use the next time you need it. The only nit I've found so far is the need to remove the battery to charge it. (This is probably for safety's sake.) It'd be slightly more convenient to just put the whole unit in the charger after use, but since it doesn't need charging that often this is really minor. I'd consider this to be an entirely practical replacement for a corded Dremel. For everything I use my Dremel for (mostly small models plus the occasional home repair task) this one seems more than adequate. It's a sturdy unit that should last a long time. My one concern about lifetime is how long the lithium battery will last; only time will tell. Get your Dremel 8000-03 10.8-Volt Lithium Ion Cordless Rotary Tool from Amazon.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Work Station

Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Work Station

Ideal for crafts, hobbies, metal working, and a variety of around-the-house jobs, the 220-01 Dremel Work Station transforms any Dremel rotary tool into a tabletop drill press. It can be bolted on to your workbench, and it has the versatility to operate as a tool holder, flex shaft holder, and drill press. This rotary tool work station holds Dremel rotary tool models 100, 200, 275, 285, 300, 395, 595 and 850 (tool not included).

All-In-One Operation
The Dremel Work Station gives you the flexibility to tackle hobbies, fix-it renovations, or special projects without having to invest in a variety of separate tools and attachments. Its stable, sturdy design lets you perform low-torque, high-speed jobs like drilling holes in metal to make earrings and bracelets, or sanding even the most detailed pieces of an architectural model. Measuring 56 square inches, and offering a drill depth of two inches, the sturdy, slotted base has four clamping points, while a rack and pinion feed lever ensures smooth, accurate operation.

Turn that Dremel rotary tool into a drill press with this rotary tool workstation from Dremel. The station accepts several Dremel models to drill perpendicular and angled holes in 15-degree increments from 90 degrees vertical to 90 degrees horizontal. Inch and metric markings on the base make for accurate drilling of workpieces. Depth markings with depth stop provide consistent depth adjustment, while the sturdy metal base with four clamping points holds workpieces securely in place. The workstation also holds the rotary tool steady for other tasks, such as polishing metal objects, sanding different shapes and grinding metal pieces--with greater precision and less fatigue. The station's telescoping shaft allows adjustments to any height between 16 and 29 inches. On-board storage for drill bits, cords, and wrenches keep them all in handy reach.

The Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Work Station is a wonderful looking tool. Get one!