R.I.P Beloved Dremel.

[BrianG]

:sniff: After over two years of loyal service, my trusty Dremel tool bit the dust yesterday. It was acting kinda funny (varying speeds all by itself). I tried replacing the brushes and cleaning the slide potentiometer, but it didn't help. Then, while cutting, it simply stopped.

After the suitable period of mourning, I went to Wal-Mart and picked up a new Dremel 400 series XPR. I figured since it was larger than my previous 200 series model, it would handle the demands I place on it better. Well, I was wrong. I turned it on and it had a funny smell right off the bat. I just figured it was the "new Dremel" smell and proceeded to do some cutting. About 2 minutes into the cutting, clouds of white smoke billowed out from the vents and it stopped. Arggg!

My g/f has the same model, and hers has that funny smell too, so I wonder if hers will suffer the same fate. At any rate, I returned the new one and got another 200 series model. The old one lasted for a few years so let's see how this one does.

However, I'm now eyeing the husk of my former tool and wondering if it may see new life with upgraded internals. Hmmm, a sidewinder ESC and 4600 motor should do the trick. But that's a project for another day.