[Mischief]

HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS

Chicago 12V ROTARY TOOL SET WITH 30 ACCESSORIES at 7.49??
Really??


I have been wanting something for sanding small carvings until I think I merit a foredom or power carver or grizzly . Was actually looking at dremel but was thinking it was already half the price of a foredom then THIS....is this to good to be true or what??

[Bill]

I think that would work fine for small areas. I have a proxxon that I use
all the time for sanding works great.
Bill

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I know that a lot of people in construction use the "chicago electric" brand as they seem to hold up well.........can't say the same about the "central machinery" brand tho. I would not be afraid to buy that set if I needed it imho

[Thomp]

Originally Posted by Mischief

HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS

Chicago 12V ROTARY TOOL SET WITH 30 ACCESSORIES at 7.49??
Really??


I have been wanting something for sanding small carvings until I think I merit a foredom or power carver or grizzly . Was actually looking at dremel but was thinking it was already half the price of a foredom then THIS....is this to good to be true or what??

its trash and wont last a month even if you take it easy on the tool it will burn up soon,,,, 'ive returned 3

[Iowa Carver]

You can find a dremel much cheaper than half the cost of a foredom. Watch the sales coming up for Fathers Day. Craftsman always has them on sale and they are made by Dremel.

Corey

[Dagwood]

I've always said u get what u pay for

[susieq]

Hi Mischief,
Speaking from experience, Dremel shaft tools are great little workhorses of a tool. Before I had the Foredom shaft tool, I used the heck out of the Dremel for everthing from carving to sanding, roughing, detailing, you name it....everthing from small kutzalls to diamond bits to sanding mandrals. You can "hog" with them, within reason of course. They are strong but not as powerful as a full sized Foredom. Some of mine (I currently have 2 in use) are 10 years old before I break down and buy another and still work great.

I don't know anything about the brands that Harbor Frieght sell. I do find hardly used Dremels at yardsales a lot. Folks get them and then don't use them so when the garage needs cleaned out...they go into the sale. $10 to $20 bucks. You can plug it in and listen to it before you buy it most times and tell by the sound of the motor if it is ragged out or still running smooth. They do have a little high pitched whine, that's natural. But it is a darn good tool. I think you will buy at least 3 of the others before you would have to replace the Dremel. And with Father's day coming up, they will go on sale at Home Depot or some of the other big box stores.

Just don't forget to buy a good dust mask when you finally get one, for sanding or any other use, wear a mask. Safety first.

[Mischief]

Yup..I figured it would burn but I was comparing it against buying a box of sandpaper...lol which was 7.90 at Lowes. I definately wasnt expecting it to last very long. I am looking right now at the Dremel 400 6/90 series on Amazon that is like $125 with accessories up the waazoo.


Susie,

I have heard...err read that you use a foot peddle for your dremel. Is that a naccessory or something you rigged up?

[susieq]

Hi Mischief,
I like the foot pedals for all 4 of my shaft tools..... and the dust collector.
For the micromotors, I would rather use the on/off switch on the power source. 5 foot pedals is quite enough to keep track of and I still hit the wrong pedal once in a while.

For the two Dremels it is personal preference but by the time you grab the hand piece, stick the little bit shaft in the hole to keep the collet from turning while you use the wrench to loosen the collet nut to change a bit, it just seems better to be able to use my foot to start up again and not have to reach up (the motor part hangs just a bit higher than my head as I'm seated) and turn it on and set the speed I want. I leave the motor switchs in the on position all the time and the speed turned all the way up on it for all units.

One is hooked to an on/off pedal and has a 3/32 collet in it. I always run it at full speed. The other one is hooked to a variable speed pedal....press a little, it goes slow, press harder, it goes faster. This one has a 1/8 collet in it and I use it for kutzalls, larger sanding bits, and the heavy duty carbide bits.

And really, it is the same for the other two larger shaft tools, both with 1/4" collets in them....the variable speed pedals work just fine. All the units hang on an old medical surplus "IV hanger" at a height just above my head as I'm seated at my table. It would be a pain to have to reach up and turn them on, set the speed, etc....every time I wanted to stop and change a bit.

As for getting the big set with all the accessories....be forewarned, most of the stuff that comes with the big set is usless to a carver.

If it is cheaper to buy the unit separately and get the shaft separately, do it. None of that other stuff they come with, will do you any good. It is just that most of the time when they put the big set on sale, it winds up being cheaper anyhow, than buying the two things separate.
Hope I didn't make things more confusing......

[Mischief]

Thanks Susieq! Great advice.

One thing tho, where do you get the foot pedal. Does not seem to be a dremel accessory.