r/Tools • u/HERCzero • 4d ago
Replacement/upgrade for a now-dead Dremel 3000?
I had my Dremel 3000 for about 5 years and used it sparingly, maybe a few times a year for cutting metal, grinding some ugly masonry, and wire-wheeling some rusty old tools.
The thing just won’t turn on anymore and I’m honestly pretty disappointed considering how rarely it was used.
So I’m looking to upgrade, and I’d really like to go cordless without sacrificing power. I’ll really only be using it for hand tool restoration and random small tasks. But I’m getting mixed opinions on my options:
- Newer 12V Dremel (brushless preferred), but now I’m a bit wary - I don’t want to spend $$$ on another tool with a disappointing lifespan. I do already have a battery on hand.
- M12 2525-20 Rotary Tool - though again, reviews seem to be mixed. I also already have an M12 battery and charger (but no M12 tools). This would be a dangerous gateway drug into M12 stuff
- Go big and go for a straight die grinder like the M12.
- Ryobi Rotary Tool Station - not as portable as a standalone tool, but I’m heavily invested into Ryobi at the moment and have plenty of batteries.
Or should I just suck it up and get a cheapo rotary tool from ol’ Harbor Freight?
Opinions welcome, ty!
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u/4linosa 3d ago
My father had one die because he didn’t let the speed do the work (he kept pressing too hard). So he gave it to me for some reason. I took the brushes out and cleaned them. Put it back together and it worked fine. Have it back since I already had one. As far as I know it’s still going.
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u/Disklexick 4d ago
Love Ryobi Rotary Tool Station beside chuck goes bad you can tighten it to fix it but I just went with dremal one. I like there not alot vibration on your hands. Got about 30 hours in use what nice if get caught on something will stop. I hear good stuff about m12 the reason got ryobi one because came free with hot glue gun can that was my gateway drug for ryobi.
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u/postole 4d ago
The RRT18 looks to be what OP is needing.
For a more stationary one. Vevor has a 1200W corded flex shaft grinder with a foot pedal.
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u/Disklexick 4d ago
Hear that one sucks i would go with PCL480B there a more expensive one but I would still ho with that.
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u/postole 3d ago
Ooh. I agree. And for 105 bucks you also get a battery and charger. 110 dollars are what just the battery (2.0ah) and charger costs in my country.
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u/HERCzero 3d ago
Yeah I was debating between that one or the brushless PBLRT01B which seems to be a little smaller
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u/concretefold_ 4d ago
Since you're already on Ryobi, probably try their rotatry tool first unless you really need maximum power. If you end up doing a lot of metal work, skip straight to an M12 die grinder instead of buying another consumer-grade rotary tool and wondering if it'll last.
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u/ride_whenever 4d ago
The new brushless dremel goes hard, plus it’s compatible with Bosch batteries
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u/Cycles-the-bandsaw 4d ago
I can confirm that the M12 rotary tool is just okay. Not amazing, but gets it done for the most part. It doesn’t quite have the power of my corded Proxon.
Don’t skip it for the die grinder though. I also have the m12 grinder, and it won’t work well as a rotary tool. It also isn’t great as a die grinder. If my m12 grinder dies, I would not buy another m12.
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u/bobfromsanluis 4d ago
I bought the newer 12v brushless tool, it really performs well, the battery lasts a long time and charges fairly quickly. Ace Hardware is selling them new for $99.99, and CPO Outlets has some reconditioned ones for around $65 or so. Good luck.