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Dremel, Dremel, bo-bemel, banana-fanna-fo-femel, fe-fi-fo-memel...Dremel! (continued)
As Figure C shows, it took about ten minutes with the Stylus and one of the included bits to clear out the glue, so I'd have clean, pristine surface. This would make the new glue adhere better.
FIGURE C
 
It's a grind. Roll over picture for a larger image.
I know, this isn't a typical tech project, but those of us techies fortunate enough to be married to wonderful people sometimes need life skills as well. Fixing stuff is one of those life skills and the Stylus makes it easier. Besides, isn't it better that we review the device based on a real-world actual experience than something we made up just to test the thing out?
Because the Stylus does everything it says it does, and because it's inexpensive and easy to use, we give it a four out of five. We'd give it a full five, but it's just a tad under-powered.
OUR RATING: 4 of 5
Experience the XBR
Without a doubt, though, the coolest and most versatile device is the 400 Series XPR, shown in Figure D.
FIGURE D
 
Holy rotary tool, Batman! Roll over picture for a larger image.
This is the Batman Utility Belt of rotary tools. First, it's your basic corded Dremel. But you can tweak it up with a wide variety of attachments, from a flex shaft to a circle cutter. You can even turn it into a jigsaw and add an attachment that's fundamentally a planer -- use it to trim up door frames and shave wood or other materials from projects. You can even turn your Dremel into a mini-shaper/router. Just amazing.
This is a very cool tool, with tons of possible attachments. And while the vacuum-molded case does fit most of the attachments, getting everything in there is an exercise in patience. If the case were a bit more versatile, a bit roomier, and a lot less frustrating (winding the flex shaft and making it stay put requires four-letter words), we'd give this tool a full five. As it is, it's a quality four.
OUR RATING: 4 of 5
Hang up your tools
In addition to the attachments that attach to the rotary tool itself, Dremel offers a variety of shop tools that augment the rotary tools. By far, our favorite is the 220-01 Workstation, shown in Figure E. This nifty device turns your Dremel into a tiny precision drill press.
FIGURE E
 
If you've got small, precision projects, this is an ideal tool for you. Roll over picture for a larger image.
Dremel's attachments are addicting. I keep finding myself drawn into the local Home Depot, buying any new attachment I haven't yet seen. No, I don't need a Dremel Mower and Garden Tool attachment. No, I don't need a Dremel Tile Cutter. But I want both. It's like crack.
Anyway, we really like this mini-drill press. It works with most Dremel tools, but not our favorite Stylus. So it's a four out of five.
OUR RATING: 4 of 5
Jorge Sosa is a writer/photographer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached via e-mail at jsosa1234@yahoo.com or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jsosa1234.
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