A serious pleasure
25.10.2018
Translation: machine translated
Engraving, sanding, polishing - that's what the creative set from Dremel promises. But are the results really impressive?
The crafting season is upon us. Grandparents, aunts and uncles want to be provided with great creations for Christmas at the latest. For years, I started making clay sculptures, casting door signs and painting thousands of window pictures with my sister and parents during the autumn holidays. Unfortunately, those days have been over for a few years now. Now I have to throw myself into the crowded shops to buy any "thoughtful" gifts. I long for simpler times.
Well, it wasn't quite so rosy. The romanticised view of the past makes me forget some of the inconveniences. For example, the fact that I always had problems with filigree employees because I was a coarse motorist. My sister, on the other hand, has churned out one masterpiece after another. Nevertheless, for reasons of nostalgia, I'm going to try my hand at crafting again and test out the creative set from Dremel.
Small power tools with power
Dremel is primarily known for its multifunctional rotary tools, which are relatively handy and easy to use. Nevertheless, they have a lot to offer in terms of speed. Sawing, routing, drilling and sanding are no problem. However, the project should not be too large, as the diameter of the attachments is limited. My Dremel 2050-10 Stylo+ creative set to be tested can also sand, but you will search in vain for the other functions. This thing is intended for hobbyists, not DIY enthusiasts.
Quiet and handy
At first glance, everything looks good. Everything is nicely organised and there aren't too many individual parts. But then I take a closer look at the attachments. I'm normally more of a bench saw kind of person, so I'm almost afraid of this little accessory. The Dremel itself comes with a cable. At first I had my doubts as to whether it would be a bit cumbersome, but the cable is relatively long. I plug the Dremel in briefly and am immediately pleasantly surprised at how quiet it is. Even at the highest intensity level, which can be adjusted using a dial, nobody will complain about the noise. What's more, the Dremel is light and comfortable to hold.
Good sign(s)
According to the packaging, the set is suitable for engraving, carving, sanding and polishing. Which means that I have to engrave or carve something, because simply sanding an edge smooth is not very exciting. As I can hardly hold a candle to Michel from Lönneberga, I decide in favour of engraving. Now I just have to decide on a material. Wood, metal, glass, brick and leather should all be able to be engraved. My choice falls on glass, for which I grab a small ironing bottle. I use a waterproof pen to draw a random pattern. Just not too complicated and too intricate, otherwise I'm sure to reach my limits when engraving.
The whole thing is done
The pattern is in place, now it's time to get serious. I grab the Dremel and switch to the 7103 attachment, which is supposed to work on glass. You can see which one you need for what on the back of the packaging or in the operating instructions. It takes me a moment to replace the accessories because nothing sticks at first. Only after a few attempts did I notice a button at the bottom of the Dremel, the spindle lock. Without pressing it, you simply turn the chuck and nothing holds. But as soon as I get the hang of it, it's quick to change. I place the bottle on the table, hold it firmly with my left hand and start to trace my pre-drawn lines. I hold the Dremel like a pencil, which allows me to work flexibly yet stably. "Not too bad," I think to myself as I look at the first few lines. I don't slip, nor do I have to touch up ten times.
Mastered with engraving
I quickly engraved the entire pattern. However, a few traces of the waterproof pen are still visible as I didn't manage to get the whole thing evenly covered. But I know how to help myself and dip a cotton bud in nail polish remover and wipe everything away without any effort. Looks quite smart as long as I don't look at the artwork too closely. Gross motorist remains gross motorist.
Conclusion
I am amazed at how quick and easy it was to create the pattern on the bottle. The Dremel was comfortable to hold and the cable didn't bother me either. You can create Christmas presents with a personal touch in no time at all. All I needed for my mini project was the Dremel set, an ironing bottle, a waterproof pen and some nail varnish remover. I also had a quick go at sanding and polishing, but it didn't knock my socks off. At least with the beech roundwood that I still had at home, the sanding attachment left quite a few marks. I prefer to sand with a "proper" machine or even by hand. Nevertheless, I'm not averse to buying it, as the engraving alone offers me enough added value. And the price of the thing is also completely reasonable.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
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