The Dremel Driver(TM)

I'm going to tell you a story, and when you read it, keep in mind that we're not on Dremel's payroll, they don't advertise with us, and we don't even stock their lines in our retail store. We have no connection whatsoever to the company. Don't even know anybody there. OK, here goes...

About a month ago, we received a new Dremel 7.2 Volt cordless screwdriver to test in the shop. It came from JSH&A, who I believe are an ad firm that works with Dremel. A big percentage of our magazine is about new tools, and stuff arrives here at Woodezine just about every week.

We opened the package and plugged in the charger, and then set the driver in place. Then we went on with other things and, well, pretty much forgot about it.

It must have been a week later that we had a loose radiator hose on my old 1993 Explorer (only 70,000 original miles!). I tried to tighten the hose clamp with a standard 18-Volt cordless, but space requirements denied that. So I went with the trusty old 12-Volt, but that, too was about an inch too long to fit between the block and the radiator. My son went back inside to find a short manual screwdriver and came back with... the Dremel. It worked like a charm. Great torque in a tiny package - this thing is only 6" long with a stubby Phillips bit in the chuck, and 5" without.

Since then, we've found dozens of uses for it. Having this much power in such a small tool has come in handy time and again in the course of the kitchen job we're currently building. It slips into the gap between the wall units and the ceiling to secure soffit lights; it's a Godsend when installing drawer slides in narrow cabinets; and it works beautifully for Lazy Susans, sink mounts... in fact, any tight spot anywhere in any job.

One thing we've really noticed is the amount of control it offers. Because it's so short, your index finger likes to slide up near the chuck, your middle finger finds the trigger, and the back of the handle is then essentially locked into the curve of your palm. It ain't real fast (about 300 rpm, I believe), but that's as fast as a screwdriver needs to be, if you don't want to strip the heads of screws. It has a built-in brake, so it only works when you tell it to. And here's another cool idea: the chuck is magnetic. It doesn't have to be tightened. I have periodic bouts of arthritis in my knuckles, and sometimes opening a keyless chuck can be a bit of a pain (literally). This one doesn't care how strong or weak your hands are. The chuck also locks, if you need a manual screwdriver. And it comes with a box of basic bits.

I just read the manual, and it says that the "7.2-volt rechargeable lithium-ion battery holds a charge for up to two years, making the Dremel Driver and Dremel Stylus easy to store and always ready when users are."

Kudos, Dremel. We need more great ideas like this.