Dremel 1100 repair didn't last - options for new Dremel-like tool? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: timg11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2025, 07:05:44 pm
content: Last year,this forum was very helpfulin guiding my repair of my Dremel 1100.I really liked the 1100 with its compact pistol-grip style. It has a strong motor that handled the basic cutting and grinding I need to do occasionally.I replaced the battery and it was fine for a while, but a year later, it is dead again, only operating for a few seconds on a full charge. I probably used it about 10 times in that year. Disappointing, given the original batteries lasted 10 years.I'm not sure I if I had bad luck with the new batteries, or something else, but I'm looking for for a small and nimble tool that is not battery operated. I tried theStylo 2050. I like the size, but unfortunately, the motor is incredibly weak, and stalls out with even the slightest load.What Dremel tools does everyone here like for electronics work? Should I go with the old-school 3100 with corded AC power, although it is a bit chunky? Or the more expensive 4300, which is still the legacy form factor, corded tool? Anything else out there that I should look at?Edit - I realized I should have posted to "Other Equipment & Products" since I'm not discussing the repair anymore. Is there any way to move the thread to a different area?

author: FIXITNOW2003
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2025, 05:51:36 am
content: i use one off these as i find it easier to have a slim piece to hold/use rather than a bulky unit with motor insidehttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/297422630927?_skw=mini+bench+grinder+with+hand+piece&itmmeta=01JYZP53BNNRMREVMYJZY5GEJT&hash=item453fc5300f:g:Ji0AAOSwenFn2sAJ&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1et8M83QU8w7kT2LozongJHzKIniGYyoDpcxexXAlttnoIpsUIeWLSroGD6ewKWD8PQDVhwKVkHUXtnbTlRzIH58InT4gISwAoj3ivp1bwqSQ5zO3CqSmCuZSG8vDJC7V8E5vZhwwsb2a4XehHx86gR1evrwLOBP2GqDaSSr2nKTcLlDCZ77zXysJBaIV4VcKoyyBz5k6zz5%2BDa%2BB182a%2BGdarIK7Ps6abjM7xZsgocAteDiUE%2FBGq642NAkkn3aKhcD%2BKr6gpEjPavdSDt2fi%2F%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5S2lPb3ZQ

author: elektryk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2025, 11:43:04 am
content: I've got Proxxon MICROMOT 60/EF but its corded tool and not "pistol style".If only battery is the problem, maybe you can modify it to work with external PSU?

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2025, 11:56:05 am
content: I would try to change the battery again, with a known brand and reputable seller. and see what happens.if you love the form factor of the device, then a battery change once a year is still something worth it.

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2025, 01:33:23 pm
content: Good Morning Timg11, Dremels are like Multimeters,...you can't have too many. I keep 3 at the ready, at all times. I keep a cut-off wheel in one, a wire brush in another and I have fitted one with an adjustable chuck, for small drill bits. They all are on hooks under the edge of my bench, ready to grab. There are other reputable brands, but I prefer Dremel. Good luck with your decision(s), and report what you wound up with

author: JimmyJo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2025, 02:02:53 pm
content: If the motors still work, and you like the formfactor and power, why don't you just solder some leads to the battery contacts and make them corded? If you are on this forum i assume you already have a bench power supply?

author: timg11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2025, 03:59:09 pm
content: I like @BILLPOD's approach (can't have too many Dremels), but @JimmyJo is on to something. I don't want to dedicate my bench supply, but I can repurpose a recycled supply capable of generating about 7.3V at 5 amps (just guessing), and make the 1100 a wired tool. I'll hook it to the bench supply first to measure the peak current requirement.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2025, 11:40:25 pm
content: I'm thinking most of the corded stuff is going to be junk because of their use of brushed motors.If you can find something brushless and corded, it would be good but not cheap.We found a few in this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/does-a-low-speed-high-torque-rotary-tool-exist/I know you said no battery power, but there are the brushless M12 units that are not too large:https://www.milwaukeetool.ca/Products/2525-20and you could always convert it to AC power. The batteries are also cheap if they fail.Quote from: timg11 on June 29, 2025, 07:05:44 pmIf you just posted I you can move by going to the first post, but now its posted in I think its not possible.I'll ask to move it.

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2025, 12:02:00 am
content: I would suspect counterfeit batteries or a faulty charger. Have you tried monitoring the cell voltages while charging?

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2025, 02:46:00 am
content: Try Harborfreight:https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=rotary%20tools

author: Rubo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2025, 08:41:58 am
content: I would say get the Milwaukee M12 version. But only if you find a good deal.Have had one for around 6 years now and abused the living s**t out of if, it still works.Batteries can be purchased from Home Depot on sale quite often (a lot of times they have stupid package deals around holidays).

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2025, 09:18:24 am
content: Quote from: timg11 on June 29, 2025, 07:05:44 pmIhighlyrecommend the Proxxon IBS/E. It’s mains-powered but uses a quiet DC motor. It is far, far more precise than any Dremel, has plenty of power, and it’s far quieter. Proxxon also has a whole stable of accessories, including a vise that can hold the unit in any position.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 04:46:46 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on June 30, 2025, 11:40:25 pmWhat is wrong with series wound brushed motors? The brushes and commutator last a long time, and they have excellent power for their size.QuoteThere may be a better option. 1/8" collets are available for the M12 Milwaukee die grinders which are slightly slower at 25,000 RPM, but have higher torque than Dremel type tools:https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/3485-20https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2486-20Their M12 right angle die grinder was recently upgraded for higher performance, but their straight die grinder has not yet.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 09:18:48 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on July 02, 2025, 04:46:46 amBecause they generally use triac speed control which sucks for torque, and has no feedback mechanism under load.QuoteYeah I was thinking about that one as well, its probably the best but might be out of OPs budget.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 09:49:03 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on July 02, 2025, 09:18:48 pmTRIAC speed controls for universal motors commonly adjust their output based on current to level the speed with load. Maybe Dremel is cheap enough to not bother.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 10:24:05 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on July 02, 2025, 09:49:03 pmThey've always been too cheap to botherhttps://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/21353/modding-a-dremel-to-accept-230voltshttps://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/topic/dremel-358-5/

author: shapirus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2025, 01:16:27 pm
content: I wonder if there are any small rotary tools with speed adjustable from very low (say 100 or less, for precise drilling) to ~20-30k RPM and the size of those manicure tools, with the hand piece say up to 13 cm/5" long, 2.5 cm/1" in diameter. Of course, with decent torque at low RPM, rigid enough to take reasonable side loads and with very low chuck runout (yes, preferably having a choice between chuck or collets, or both). I'm assuming such a thing would need to have a brushless motor. It's ok to have the control electronics in a separate unit.I have a Dremel 4000. It still works, but it's too big, the lowest RPM is 5000 (too high) and the torque at low RPM is a joke. The smaller hand piece with an extension cord is inconvenient. Besides, quality and sturdiness are lacking, the thing feels like a cheap piece of crap overall. Mine is an older unit, made in Mexico.I also bought an extremely cheap"nail drill"from aliexpress, it's powered via an adjustable step-down voltage converter from a 5V USB brick. Quite surprisingly, it's pretty decent for what it is. No torque, of course, and it accepts bits of just one size (2.3 mm and up to 2.35 mm if you're being persuasive enough), and runout is not good and is inconsistent. So I would want something like this one, but done right. Obviously it's not for hard work, mostly for wood, sometimes resin and plastics.Any hints?

author: 11mrjones
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2025, 04:09:09 pm
content: Quote from: tookiThanks, just order one.

author: chilternview
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2025, 04:33:40 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on July 01, 2025, 09:18:24 amSeconded, I've had one for a few years and it's excellent, very good build quality like all Proxxon stuff.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2025, 08:03:49 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on July 02, 2025, 10:24:05 pmHave theyalwaysbeen though? Is that a fact?My Dremel 4300 have a literal speed control, not a power adjustment like the very old model I had before it. The 4300 maintains constant speed regardless of load. It is not a perfect tool, but it does that thing right. The least expensive Dremel models don't have the constant speed control, but I don't think it is Dremel that is being cheap in that case, rather it is the consumer who is too cheap to pony up for a better model.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 09:11:56 pm
content: Quote from: macboy on August 09, 2025, 08:03:49 amHey it only took them ~20 years to fix it, nice: "Variable-speed with electronic feedback for consistent performance in all applications"And they've finally figured out brushless motors are a thing too:https://www.dremel.com/ca/en/p/8250-5-f0138250aa