I've got one. Now what?
Congratulations. You've got a Dremel® rotary tool. The fun is just starting. The Dremel rotary tool is lightweight and compact, which makes it very "friendly" for beginners. But it's so versatile, even hardcore do-it-yourselfers find it indispensable. This is a tool that works differently from any other tool you've ever owned. It's also the most versatile tool you'll ever use. With more than 150 available accessories, you can use it to cut, sand, shape, drill, buff, grind, polish, rout, etch, clean and more. You'll use it on all kinds of materials. Metal, wood, ceramics, glass, plastic, drywall, leather, laminates, stone. Practically anything. You'll find hundreds of uses for the tool around the house. Our Project Finder section can help you get started.

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Just how does the rotary tool work? The rotary tool doesn't work like other tools. Most other tools rely on brute force to muscle through jobs. The Dremel rotary tool uses speed. Very high speed! It actually spins at rates up to 37,000 rpm. That's more than ten times as fast as most drills on their highest setting. In fact, at 37,000 rpm a Dremel rotary tool with a high-speed cutting bit can make an incredible 4,600 cuts a second! Almost a quarter million cuts a minute! It's what we call "The Dremel Speed Advantage!" (Think of it as a Tasmanian devil of power tools.) And that's why we say that the speed does all the work. You just guide the tool. (back to top)

The Problem Solver. Talk to people who own Dremel rotary tools. They are a fervent bunch. They absolutely love the tool. And they use it all the time. A comment we hear fairly often is "If you can't figure out another way to get a job done, you'll find a way to do it with a Dremel rotary tool. It's an amazing problem solver!" You may even have seen a certain wonder woman call it a good thing on her show. You can use the tool to cut off nails, unstick doors, clean your golf clubs, detail cars, sand tight spots, clean off rust, make ornaments, drill plaster walls, create drywall cutouts and hundreds more uses. And figuring out new ways to use your Dremel tool is part of the fun. Check out the Dremel Owners Club for some unusual and fantastic uses people have found for their Dremel rotary tools. (One guy carved the entire US National Football League Denver Broncos football team on toothpicks! No kidding!) (back to top)

Who needs other tools? With our tile cutting bit, who needs a tile nibbler to shape tile? With a drum sander, who needs a plane to unstick a door? With a drywall bit, who needs a keyhole saw to make a hole for an electrical outlet? You get the picture. Obviously, a Dremel rotary tool won't replace all your other tools. (It makes a lousy hammer.) But for a lot of jobs that you only rarely tackle, the Dremel rotary tool makes a great alternative solution. That's why a lot of people tell us the first thing they think when faced with any job around the house is "How can I use my Dremel, here?" (back to top)

Safety First! We know you want to skip this section but take a deep breath and read it! Now that you've got a Dremel rotary tool, what will you do with it? First, understand the safety issues before you do anything. Wear safety glasses Wear a dust mask Don't wear loose clothing Use the tool at the correct speed Always unplug the tool when changing bits Make sure the collet nut is securely tightened before using a new bit Don't start the tool with the bit touching the work surface Whenever possible use clamps to hold your work piece There are more details on safety in your owner's manual. Please take the time to read it. We want you to have a safe, happy experience with our tools. (back to top)

Click here for more safety info

How to get a grip.
There are several good ways to hold a Dremel rotary tool. Use the one that gives you the most control for your task. Or that you feel most comfortable with. One of these will work for you.

THE PENCIL GRIP This grip offers the best control for fine detail work.

THE PARING KNIFE GRIP Use this grip with cutters when making longer, smoother cuts. This grip offers good control for cutting depth.

THE GOLF GRIP One and two hands. When you want to keep the tool parallel to the work surface for sanding or grinding, use the one-handed grip. Use the two-handed grip every time you use a cut-off wheel. Cut-off wheels can stick and cause kickback. Two hands offer better control.

Remember, always use a light touch with a rotary tool. You're just guiding the tool. Let the high speed do all the work.

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FAQs.
Got questions? Maybe somebody else has already asked them. Check out our FAQs section. Our glossary of terms might provide help, too.

For other specific questions, contact our friendly and highly trained Customer Service Department. They have all the answers. About tools and where to find them in your area. Even what bit to use and when. We're here to help. 1-300-307-044.

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About Dremel.
Dremel has been making tools since 1932. Ours is the original high-speed rotary tool. For a lot of years, the Dremel rotary tool was the little known secret of hobbyists around the world. They used it for everything from polishing connections for model railroad tracks to carving beautiful and intricate bird decoys. A few years ago, the word began to get out, and do-it-yourselfers began snapping up Dremel rotary tools. For years, we literally couldn't make enough of them. It's a phenomenon! And only the Dremel Rotary Tool System has this unmatched assortment of accessories and attachments to make it the most versatile rotary tool you can own.

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