The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest New Dremel 4000

I am into really precision body work after welding in panels, fixing things on these old trucks you never know what you are going to run into.

So I needed something smaller than the 3 inch die grinder with carbide tipped rasps. Too large to get into the really finesse work. My original Dremel was discontinued in 1978 and died recently, so I purchased the new model 4000 with the 150 pc kit. It comes with a flex shaft attachment and I also got the 90 degree attachment so there should be no problems getting almost anywhere. Then, you can purchase the same carbide tipped rasps (only much smaller) for the Dremel.

Time will tell, but the attachments seem a bit cheap. The 90 degree attachment gets very hot when used at higher RPMs. So does the flex attachment. Nothing has failed so far, but it just makes me nervous. This is one of those companies that moved their manufacturing facilities to Mexico after Clinton approved the free trade agreement. No idea if it has anything to do with my assessment, just sayin.

About all I use a Dremel tool for is to sharpen my chain saw. Its old enough to be made in U.S. Made in Mexico scared me 15 yeaars ago. Now I'm glad to see Mexico instead og China. My first choice is Fein with Metabo second.

I bought a dremel flex attachment probably 30 years ago that didn't last till the water got hot. I also have a rechargeable dremel that is sorta lame. My regular dremel works fine, I guess it's about 20 years old. The little bitty peices doesn't seem to hold up like they used to, guess like most everything they're made cheaper by the day! BUT, you can get into areas with a dremel and cutoff disc that can really make short work of seized fasteners!

After a few months of using my new Dremel with flex attachment almost everyday, I can report back that I am very impressed. When welding cab corners, inside cowl supports (lots to do there!), things that WILL require some grinding work at the end, the flex attachment allows me to get into the very bottom/insides of the cab corners with a carbide rasp and make the areas that need it look absolutely perfect. I had to replace a section of the dash due to an enlarged radio hole and I was able to get under the dash and easily clean the weld nasty. The trick is the 10 pc carbide set that is available for it in different profiles.

I am saying all this because it fills a previously very nasty or to most people impossible to fill place in the toolbox. I have never NOT cleaned an area because of a lack of tooling. But I am sure many have used it as an excuse to say.. well, the gas tank covers it, or nobody will be looking under the dash, or...

With this tool, it makes excuses like that obsolete!

I got the new Dremel in the flat case and my cousin traded his older square case for the flat one. Perfect!
Haven't had any issues with the new drem at all.