Customer Reviews

Dremel 3956-02 MultiPro Super 1.15 Amp 5,000 to 35,000 RPM Variable Speed Rotary Tool with 77 Accessories

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This is a fantastic tool for a home owner or craft enthusiast. The range of small tasks that you can achieve with the Multipro is unbelievable and easy, even for an untrained person.

This kit includes a flexi-shaft, which helps you get into corners by extending the accessory bit using a long flexible shaft. You can buy the shaft separately if you already own the tool, but it's cheaper to get it with the kit if you're buying for the first time. The carrying case is attractive, and fits everything with room to spare.

Some of the things you can do with your Dremel tool include drilling holes to hang pictures, putting lot numbers on your house, engraving your initials on items you don't want stolen, sharpening scissors and lawn mower blades, cleaning jewellery or golf clubs, giving sticking doors and windows a quick repair, cleaning silverware or brass or even mag rims, installing your car stereo and adding auto accessories to dress your car, trimming nails that are sticking up, regrooving damaged screw heads, sanding in hard to reach places, and so on.

It is however a small tool, so you shouldn't expect it to sand a dining table like a belt sander, or cut out a large wood pattern like a scroll saw.

You need a tiny spanner to change accessories, but it's included in the kit, along with different mandrels to hold the bits securely. There is a wide range of accessories available for even more tasks, and a great additional purchase is the tile cutting attachment, which allows you to do bathroom tile repairs with a lot less mess and guess work.

The secret to the Dremel is the speed, with a range of varying speeds up to 35,000 rpm, which you control yourself. The instruction booklet is very detailed, and gives you lots of tips. Dremel also has an amazing website, with step by step how-to guides.

Every home should have a Dremel Multipro

Before I bought the corded Dremel Multi I used to use hand tools. The results were good but took time to produce. I then saw an advert on the television for the Dremel. I then went to a tool shop to see it and it's rivals. The only other competitor was the Black and Decker corded Wizard. The wizard lost out to the Dremel due to it's narrower range of operating speeds and it's greater size. The Dremel also had a far greater range of accessories to supplement it's use.

>I really appreciate the way that the Dremel can do what it does so quickly so well. It can carve letters, polish to a very high standard and grind metal as well as the capability to engrave metals as well. The fact that it does not take up a lot of room, especially when you consider the wide range of capabilities it has.

>To turn the Dremel on you slide the switch to one of the numbers on the scale, the further along you go the faster the shaft rotates. You set the speed according to the one recommended in the instruction manual which has pictures to guide you as well. You then apply the tool to the surface you are working on and gently do the polishing etc., but not too hard as it can damage the tool.

>I had my Dremel fitted with a optional chuck which makes bit changes faster and more convenient than the standard collet bits. You just loosen the chuck, put a bit in, re-tighten the chuck and select the right speed and you are ready to go. It also has a decent grip for easy and comfortable holding. It is quite simply a joy to use for craft. Special shafts can be fitted to the end as well, so there is little that has been missed out.

> The flexible shaft lets me work in places where the tool can't be inserted especially some places in my jeep! It's also easier to hold the flexible shaft when working on small workpieces like fishing lures etc.

I have used Dremel's rotary tools for many years now. The tool itself along with it's separate accesories are easy to find in most any hardware, hobby or home improvement store. Combined with the advertising and (as mentioned) deceiving accesory packages, it is an attractive option to other tools on the market. However, the Dremel is NOT the best rotary tool on the market, by a long shot! I finally got fed up with the finicky speed control and very poor bearing/spindle tolerance and looked for other options. They claim the speed control has been improved so perhaps it is better now but I am not interested in wasting my time with Dremel any longer. I have found Proxxon tools offer a similar price point with German manufacturing standards that far exceed the Dremel. Smooth, quiet, powerful. A maximum of .001" runout on most of their rotary tools. Far better than Dremel. The Dremel flex shaft is another story. I used it once and almost threw it out the window. Not for the precision minded to say the least. IMHO look at Proxxon or Foredom tools if you are serious about rotary tools. If you like to tinker once in a while then maybe the Dremel is for you.

While the tool itself is satisfactory, I'm very disappointed in the limited types of accessories that came with it. I had thought that the package would be a bargain with its 77 accessories, and that I'd have what I need for my simple projects, yet I now have to buy several more accessories at great expense to me because most of the accessories are similar sanding items.

Also, the included polishing pads are not thick enough to cover the sharp metal point on the end of the attachment piece, so my projects get scratched from the protruding point! I'm very disappointed and discouraged about this tool package.

I bought the Dremel 3956-02 variable speed after using a two-speed cordless mini for several years. This model is a great improvement with the variable speeds and increased power. It is used primarily for lapidary work and silver polishing, and it does a great job for me. I was a bit concerned about giving up the cordless feature on the mini, but working at a bench, the cord has been no problem. I highly recommend the variable speed Dremel 3956-02 for jewelry hobbyists.

The good:

I use this thing constantly, primarily for intricate sanding and woodcarving applications which are its greatest strengths. I have made hardware (e.g., pommel, handle, cross-guard) for several knives and swords using the Dremel for milling, sanding, and cutting. It's great for milling out scabbards, decorative art carving, and even fine engraving. It is accurate, reliable, and easy to use. The flexshaft is fantastic as long as you don't bow it too much. It tends to bind if you do.

The variable speeds are essential for the work I have performed on a huge variety of metals, woods, tiles, and drywall. It shifts smoothly and reliably between speeds with plenty of power and torque to drive the various accessories needed for each of these applications. The quick change clamp lets me switch between cutters, sanders, engravers, and so on with ease. Every time I think I've discovered all possible uses for this fantastic tool something else comes up.

The bad:

Some of the attachments are relatively useless. The mini router, drill press, and circular saw don't work all that well, especially on hardwoods. I own three other routers, a full-size drill press, and lots of other cutting tools so it's not a big deal to me but if you need to rely on these features you'll undoubtedly be disappointed.

There are only two grits of sanding wheels that I have found (60 and 120). I really wish that finer wheels were available, at least 220. They don't last all that long and are reasonably expensive but are the only thing that can be used in certain applications.

The ugly:

Who designed the carrying case? It's cheap plastic, poorly constructed, and inefficiently laid-out. I dumped mine and built a nice wooden box to replace it. Guess I can't argue too hard against an excuse for building another woodworking project but they'd frankly be better off having no case than the one they provide.

The Dremel Tool is by far and away one the most versatile tools anyone can own. The question isn't what can you do with it? Rather what can't you do with it? Cut, Polish, Grind, Route, Scrape, Shape and Engrave it does it all and quite well. The tool allows you to get into very small places where in the pre-dremel days was the realm for only very small hand tools. If you work with models you probably already have one. If you don't I can't understand what you are waiting for..?

The key to the Dremels versatility is the variety of attachments and the myriad of bits available for it. Attachments include: flexible shaft, right angle attachment, Router attachment, Drill press, Mini-Saw, Dremel light and more... Bit's are way to numerous to mention but include tile & drywall cutting bits, grinding wheels, cut-off disks, engravers, grout removal and the list go's on and on.

Personally I have used this tool on many occasions. I have cut drywall for electrical outlets, sharpened my chainsaw blades even de-gummed a generator carburetor; it's so useful and easy to set up. It's the kind of tool you often don't know when you are going to need it. A problem just presents itself and you think for a solution.......BETTER GET THE DREMEL!!!

Drawbacks?? Only two that I can think of. First, the bits can be expensive over time but you don't have to buy them all just get what you need. Second, the cases that come with these kits stink!! They are made from cheap plastic and don't last. The tool however is very well made and even accepts replaceable brushes. I guess they just want to keep the cost down so they include these really cheesy cases.

When you purchase the Dremel make sure you get the flexible shaft and the right angle attachment. Both of these are very useful and can be found in the many kits available with the tool. Most kits include a variety of starter bits and disks so you should be ok unless you are purchasing for a specific task.

So I can't say enough about the Dremel. When nothing else will suffice and you are lucky enough to have one available, then you will understand... This is one very cool tool.

I recieved this tool as a christmas gift in 2003. I make decorative boxes of all types and thought it would be handy for sanding tight radius, especially inside the box cavity. It does this duty extremely well, I am able to effectively remove all saw marks in those real tight area's and achieve a nicer finished product. What did surprise me was how many other task's I can use this little powerhouse for. I find myself using it for carving contours on the outside of the boxes a lot, with the variable speed you can maintain control easily, following the grain pattern, no matter how wild it may be. Then using one of the fine pointed stones, I can undercut the contour and polish it out, leaving a real head scratcher of a detail not usually found in decorative boxes. I use it to end cut drawer handles that are too small to chop with a saw, and to trim "keys" on mitered corners. Every time I am trying to think of a way to accomplish some wild (dumb?) way to accomplish something with wood I end up reaching for the dremel. With the flexi shaft, vari speed and "pencil" end it is so easy to control, that you can let your imagination get the best of you and still accomplish the finish you are looking for. Every one know's the common capabilities of this little tool, cutting, carving, sanding, grinding, etc, etc, but there are more.
I have had and used this tool for a year now and have had zero problems with it. I too wish I could find some finer sanding tubes, up to 220 would be nice, but I have made some using a worn out tube, 220 paper and super glue. Not a glamorous looking device but it works. When using the stones to polish wood they do clog up, just touch them to a rubber sanding wheel cleaner and they clean right up. I made blocks to hold all the differant attachments, and the case sits in one of the bins under my worktable. I am very happy with this tool and would recommend it to anyone for light, tight work.

This tool is by far the best rotary tool out on the market today.The question isnt what does it do, the question is what doesn't it do. I haven't found 1 thing that this tool can't accomplish.Anything from polishing metal to doing intricate detail work in wood,especially with the flex shaft.I have gotten in to places you wouldn't believe with the flex shaft.So if your thinking about getting a rotary tool and your not sure what to get, get the best and that would be this tool.

Great little tool that can save you time and aggravation on many little jobs/projects around the house. Easy to use but the only warning is to "GO SLOW", when cutting or grinding. For two reasons, 1) it will work faster than you expect, so you may overdo what ever you are attempting to accomplish. 2) if you put too much pressure on the work surface, you will wear out whatever attachment you are using, really fast. I went through a bunch, that I just have to toss now, as the abrasive surface is gone. I guess I am partially to blame for being overzealous, but I feel the quality/longevity of the individual grinders, cutters could be better.