How to choose a rotary tool/dremel...?

[knave]

I've been looking for an inexpensive rotary tool and there are a lot of crappy choices.

What are some of the good ones.  I just want a basic tool that will only be used once in a great while.  I just want it to last.

Thanks

[HaRuMaN]

Get a Dremel.  You may pay a little more, but they're not that expensive, really.

[TOK]

I bought a 40 dollar Craftsman about 6 years ago... Initially, I was using it to grind fork stops and lugs off of motorcycle frames, so it got the crap wrung out of it running top speed all the time and it still going strong. When I started building my first cab, I thought it'd be very useful, but that turned out not to be the case. I think the only thing I used it for was to notch away some metal in the base of my metal control panel to make a trackball fit.

As an occasional use tool, I don't think you need to go high end.

[ChadTower]

I have a black and decker model that works great.  Dremel is a little higher quality and has a lot more accessories but you'll never need 90% of them.

[TOK]

I have a black and decker model that works great.  Dremel is a little higher quality and has a lot more accessories but you'll never need 90% of them.

Sears either licensed or flat out copied the Dremels collet, so all the attachments work. I have a couple of genuine Dremel accessories like the tiny router base, and it threads right on to the Craftsman rotary body.
I'd suspect other companies also copied.

[ChadTower]

Could be, I've never checked with compatibility with my B+D.  I tried to find a tiny router base for mine but it was discontinued... maybe the Dremel one would work.

[bigh4th]

I have a dremel that I picked up from walmart about 5 years ago that still works great.  Have used it for sanding, cutting metal, grinding, etc. and its still going strong.

I also like the fact that you can easily get replacement parts for them from just about any home depot.  Something to be said about a tool made these days where you can get replacement brushes.

However, there is one small problem with it.  It is a variable speed model and the first speed setting quit working about a month after I bought it.  Other than that, I haven't had any trouble with it.

-Harry

[t8erbug]

I don't know what all your looking at doing, but I picked up a RotoZip and I can use Dremel bits and standard router bits with a simple change of the chuck. It also has an optional attachment for using cutoff wheels and sanding disks. You will have to come off of a little more money.

[spllbnd2]

Buy a Dremel. It will last you forever.

I have had one for over 10 years and it still works great. I did have to put in a new set of brushes. You get what you pay for. And now I have two and a ton of different bits

I also use a dremel at work, as a auto tech I have used it for so many different applications. Very handy little tool for a variety of tasks. I just used the one at home to install (cutout) a few new cable/telephone/electrical boxes in the drywall. Worked fantastic.

Cheers 
Alex

[Tiger-Heli]

Wal-Mart sells or used to sell a knock-off of the Dremel under their Handi-Tools (?) line.  I got one and have used it occasionally, but like the Craftsman, it uses all the Dremel bits and attachments and has worked fine - I think it was $17-20 or so.