Dremel replacement wrench and collets?

[iBorg]

I'm in the process of buying four or five wrenches for my Dremel. Mine appear to have wings and fly away whenever I use them. I'm thinking of getting some magnets to glue is strategic places so I have a set place to return them to.

While looking for the wrenches I also found brass replacement collets. Anyone have any experience in using non Dremel parts?

 

[ColonelKrypton]

I have several old genuine Dremel collets that have worked very well for many years. They are made of steel not like Dremel's current offerings which are aluminum and leave me wanting.

I tried several different brands of Dremel compatible collets from eBay and Amazon. They were all useable to a point but where all disappointing in one respect or another - some didn't grip well enough, some needed to be de-burred before use, some had too much obvious runout. For use in a Dremel holding larger size burrs for rough work they would all get the job done.

However, I am fussy. My needs and wants were for something a bit more precise. 

I would suggest, as I did, just spend the extra to buy genuine Dremel Multipro three jaw keyless chuck Dremel model number 4486. These are, or at least were when I recently purchased one, made in Germany and made of steel.  Do not try and substitute the inexpensive Chinese Dremel compatible three jaw keyless chuck as these are made of aluminum.

I tried one of the inexpensive Chinese compatible aluminum chucks to compare to a genuine Dremel and the difference is like night and day. 

cheers, Graham

[stitchdup]

I've used the collets from a cheap electric nail file. they fit the smaller dremell collets pretty well and for less than 5 bucks you also get a decent sanding drum and 120 of the sandpaper rings for it. The motor part only lasted about 6 months (I used it as my travell dremell on the boat) but the rest is still working in my dremmell and the parkside brand knock offs from lidl which come with loads of tools for notta lotta cash

[Big_John]

1 hour ago, iBorg said:

I'm in the process of buying four or five wrenches for my Dremel. Mine appear to have wings and fly away whenever I use them. I'm thinking of getting some magnets to glue is strategic places so I have a set place to return them to.

While looking for the wrenches I also found brass replacement collets. Anyone have any experience in using non Dremel parts?

 

Take a zip tie and attach the wrench to the cord.   

Or there's always something like a Texaco rest room key fob...  Or this...  I'm sure we all have encountered similar men's room keys.  I know I have. 

[bobss396]

13 hours ago, Big_John said:

Take a zip tie and attach the wrench to the cord.   

Or there's always something like a Texaco rest room key fob...  Or this...  I'm sure we all have encountered similar men's room keys.  I know I have. 

I have seen steel wheels and those old 5-gallon oil jugs tied to gas station bathroom keys....

[Jon Haigwood]

On my former job I would order the Dremels for my department. Some of the crew would tighten the chucks so tight that it was almost impossible to open them.  After a few of these when I received a new set I would throw away the wrench and put a keyless chuck on them. I have the chucks on both my Dremel and my Craftsman ( made by Dremel). The keyless chucks won't fit on the Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight). 

[espo]

17 hours ago, Big_John said:

Take a zip tie and attach the wrench to the cord.   

Or there's always something like a Texaco rest room key fob...  Or this...  I'm sure we all have encountered similar men's room keys.  I know I have. 

Years ago, while working in a service station, we used to hand out the key to the restrooms wired to a short block of a 2X4. Never lost the key after that and the wire made it easy to hang up on the wall in the office. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I used to misplace my own Dremel wrench almost constantly...as well as whatever tool I'd just changed from and needed to go back to...until I put a small compartmented plastic box on the bench with places for the most frequently used accessories and the wrench.

Once I trained myself to put everything back in its proper place with every use, no more wasted time looking for something that got lost under something else.

Though it may seem like putting things away constantly would take more time, I assure you that the time saved by being able to find what I want without digging for it is much greater.

 

 

[iBorg]

Thanks for the replays. I think I'll try a couple of the chuck less units. 

[midlineqb]

On 6/2/2024 at 8:42 AM, Jon Haigwood said:

On my former job I would order the Dremels for my department. Some of the crew would tighten the chucks so tight that it was almost impossible to open them.  After a few of these when I received a new set I would throw away the wrench and put a keyless chuck on them. I have the chucks on both my Dremel and my Craftsman ( made by Dremel). The keyless chucks won't fit on the Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight). 

Where do you get these Keyless Chucks?

[Bugatti Fan]

A place for everything, and everything in its place.              Sound advice from Ace.

There is logic to Ace's advice once one becomes self disciplined enough and design a bench layout with holders in an ergonomic fashion will speed up your work where the most used tools are always closer to hand. It can be a combination of various things. My bench has a couple of small multi drawer units plus a number of glass jars for longer items.

Getting back to Dremel, they are good tools generally. Regarding losing keys for them, they are generally made of steel so a strategically mounted magnet above your work space might be an idea.

Edited April 6 by Bugatti Fan

[johnyrotten]

3 hours ago, midlineqb said:

Where do you get these Keyless Chucks?

They are available on the obvious sites (amazon/ebay ect.) Make sure you get an all metal one, there are ones with plastic bodies. I picked up two from spralmart on clearance a few months ago. They run true, but needed a cleaning and oiling.