New Black & Decker roto-tool

[Bob Zambelli]

Night before last my trusty old Ryobi tool gave up the ghost - made lots of noise and when I took it apart, I found three of the four bearings shot.   

Off to Home Depot for a replacement. They had a Black and Decker on sale for around $35.00. 

Used it a bit last night and it is great. Unbelievably quiet and seem to have lots of cutting power.
Comes with a nifty assortment of accessories. 

Bob Z.

[Jim Oliver]

Thanks Bob,

I'm in the market for a replacement for my old Dremel.

Jim

[Bill Morell]

The price is attractive but I have found that when it comes to these kind of tools you get what you pay for. I have tried B&D rotary tools but they just didn't hold up. Went back to Dremmel and haven't looked back.

[Bob Reeves]

I still quite often use a Dremel tool I purchased in 74, Don't like changing bits or roto tools around so over the years I ended up with a total of 5, all Dremel. Only one I ever had any trouble with was one I bought about 4 years ago. The speed control crapped out shortly after I bought it, Dremel replaced it with a new one under warranty.

One lives in my Dremel router table, one lives hung up by my bench with a flexable shaft and the other 3 just hang around with cut off wheel, sanding disk and various bits. Don't have a cordless, sometimes that would be nice but having to deal with charging and eventual battery replacement don't think I am misssing much.

For me it's Dremel all the way 

[Keith Spriggs]

For me it's Dremel all the way 

I have a pretty complete shop lathes, milling machines, metal shaper and so on. I have often said if I had to give up tools one at a time the Dremel(s) would be the last thing to go.

I have had ne experience with other brands.

[Bill Little]

I wore a Dremel single speed slap out!  Don't really remember exactly when I bought it, but it was quite a while back.  Actually, if I wasn't so lazy about it, I could probably get a set of brushes from Dremel and it would work fine again!

Bought a variable speed one and flex shaft about 8-10 years ago, and it's all I got now.  I will get me a cordless one day......... I think......

I, also, have never had another brand.

[Will Hinton]

Hey guys,
As a luthier I use flex shaft tools every day and a lot during those days.  I have a Dremel flex shaft that has the power and durability I need that I leave set up with my home made inlay router base but my main tool is a Foredom flex shaft unit.  It has a regular three jaw chack in miniature that allows easy change of tools and the beast has POWER compared to no other.  It also operates with a foot control for speed control.  They are expensive, but well worth it if you use it professionally!
Blessings,
Will   

[James Lee]

I bought my Black and Decker variable speed rotary tool several years ago.  I really like it...   Twice the amps of the dremel...  So Far so good...   And I have a variable speed Dremel that I still use also...   
Jim

[Charlie Pate]

I have had to cut down the commutator twice on my Dremel, I have installed two sets of brushes and now I find the front bearing is gone!
I didn,t send the warranty card in so i guess its just my bad luck.
I purchased it in 1973 and only the good lord knows how many hours are on it.
As well as a hobby tool ,I have used it on SINKS. washing machines, race cars and no tellimg what tal!

[Clint Ormosen]

Charlie, I can't tell if you're praising or complaining about your Dremel.  
I think I would be praising a '73 power tool.

[dennis lipsett]

I have had to cut down the commutator twice on my Dremel, I have installed two sets of brushes and now I find the front bearing is gone!
I didn,t send the warranty card in so i guess its just my bad luck.
I purchased it in 1973 and only the good lord knows how many hours are on it.
As well as a hobby tool ,I have used it on SINKS. washing machines, race cars and no tellimg what tal!

Charlie,
Send it into Dremel for a rebuild. It won't cost as much as you think.
Dennis

[Bill Little]

Hey guys,
As a luthier I use flex shaft tools every day and a lot during those days.  I have a Dremel flex shaft that has the power and durability I need that I leave set up with my home made inlay router base but my main tool is a Foredom flex shaft unit.  It has a regular three jaw chuck in miniature that allows easy change of tools and the beast has POWER compared to no other.  It also operates with a foot control for speed control.  They are expensive, but well worth it if you use it professionally!
Blessings,
Will   

Hi Will,

I have actually *seen* a Foredom unit.  Is there a convenient on-line source?

Thanks
Bill <><

[Bob Zambelli]

The Foredom tools are probably the all-around best for professional use but cumbersome to move around a lot.
We had on here in the lab but it was tossed during a cleanup.

Most of my power and bench tools are Craftsman. With a family member employed by Sears, the discounts made it well worthwhile.

My only complaint about Craftsman is their rechargeable tools. Seems to be a bit of a crapshoot but, for the most part, the batteries are not up to the task. I've had a few Craftsman rechargeables and all but one were tossed.

Both my Ryobi and Dremel tools were fine and the wear-out was only after many years of good use.

I have owned many Black and Decker tools and NEVER experienced a problem. So, I figured, why not try their Moto-Tool? I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it works out.
I've been using it every day since I bought it and so far, I'm really pleased. But, time will tell.

Bob Z.

[Leo Mehl]

I still have a black and Decker 3/8" drill I bought in the sixties and it is still like new, My father in Law had an old aluminum case half inch drill that would coast to a stop for 15 seconds after you turned it off. I also use Dremmel. My sander and scroll saw are Sears and My band saw is Ryobi. The rest of my tools are razor blades and sandpaper which is used more than my power tools, these are made by Jack Armstrong. A little German humor there.

[Dennis Vander Kuur]

"my power tools these are made by Jack Armstrong. A little German humor there."
Leo,
When I was stationed in Germany with the ARMY we used German "Guut-un-tight" torque when tightening things  .
DennisV

[Leo Mehl]

My dad was a mechanic and thats the same thing he used. He was always stationed at work.

[Bill Little]

I have some tools that were bought well before I was born, and used professionally for many, many years in the H, A/C,Elec., Plumbing trade......... they still work!  A lot of them were made by Ridgid.......... 

It seems th etop line tools from about anyone will last as long as you canuse them (unless you get the occasional dud)