Wood carving has for a long time been one of the most aesthetic ways to decorate spaces and homes. Wood carving isn’t a hobby or craft developed recently. The oldest wooden sculpture is over 11,500 years old. People of the old used knives, chisels, and other tools for carving. Now, power tools like dremels are the way to go.
The Best Dremel Tool for Wood Carving: Reviews
In this review, we’d like to recommend our top 6 picks for the best Dremel tool for wood carving in 2020. This review is as honest as it gets, with real pros and cons.
To help you make the best choice to suit your needs, we also compiled a comprehensive buyer’s guide below.
1. Dremel 8220-1/28 Cordless Kit
The battery can easily be removed and only takes an hour for a complete charge. The high performance 26 watt motor is designed for demanding tasks. Moreover, the powerful motor runs at a speed between 5,000 and 30,000 RPM.
As a versatile tool, the Dremel 8220 comes with a cordless rotary tool, an attachment, a charger, 28 accessories, and a plastic case. The variable speed dial comes in handy as it lets you shift to an ideal speed with so much ease while working.
This Dremel features a patented EZ twist nose cap that makes accessory changes easy and fast. The slim ergonomic design of this compact Dremel tool provides a 360 degree grip zone for maximum maneuvering.
And with the rugged storing case you can keep this tool in one box for easy storage.
Specifications
- Weight – 22 oz.
- Size – 9 L x 3 W inches
- Motor – 26 watt
- Speed – 5,000 to 30,000 RPM
- Attachments – 1
- Accessories – 28
- Accessory change system – EZ twist nose cap
- Battery – Lithium-ion
- Battery voltage (V) – 12 volts
Pros
- Attachments make it quite a versatile tool
- Affordable compared to the value you get
- Cordless rotary Dremel which makes it portable and easy to carry and use
- Durably built
Cons
- Battery life runs out quickly but charges very fast
2. Dremel 4300-5/40 High-Performance Kit
This high-performance rotary tool kit is perfect for engraving, sanding, carving, cutting, and grinding. This tool kit comes with the 4300 rotary tool, 5 attachments, 40 high-quality accessories, and a plastic storage case.
The accessories and attachments in this tool kit make it quite a versatile tool suitable for hundreds of applications. And with the Dremel rotary 4300 tool that comes a universal 3-jaw chuck: this tool can use all Dremel accessory shank sizes.
Furthermore, this corded Dremel tool features a pivot light to light up your projects.
The Dremel 4300 tool comes packed with a powerful high-performance motor of 175 watts and can master even the most demanding tasks. You can change the motor brushes when needed to help increase the tool life.
With the adjustable speed (between 5,000 and 35,000 RPM), you can easily adapt it to the material you’re working on. The separated speed dial and on/off switch adds convenience to the control. The airflow helps keep the motor cool and a soft grip makes it easy to handle. And thanks to its lightweight nature, maneuvering with this tool is easy.
Specifications
- Weight – 25 oz.
- Size – 9 L x 1.5 W inches
- Motor – 215 watts
- Amperage – 1.8
- Cord length – 6 ft.
- Speed – 5,000 to 35,000 RPM
- Light – LED bulbs
- Attachments – 5
- Accessories – 40
- Accessory change system – EZ twist nose cap
Pros
- High-speed rotary tool
- Powerful motor
- Universal 3-jaw chuck makes this tool compatible with Dremel accessory shank sizes
- Pivot light to illuminate projects
- Ventilated system to prevent heat build-up
- Durable casing
Cons
- Overheating motor, not ideal for long projects
3. Dremel 4300-9/64 Kit
The 4300-9/60 is another top Dremel tool suitable for wood carving, engraving, sanding, cutting, and grinding amongst other applications.
This platinum tool kit edition offers you the high performance 4300 Dremel rotary tool, 9 attachments, and up to 64 accessories for added versatility.
The flex shaft and universal 3-jaw chuck make the 4300 Dremel rotary tool compatible with the entire line of Dremel attachments and accessories.
The slim and ergonomic body with a soft grip offers you the best maneuvering for precise cutting.
This corded electric Dremel tool is backed by a powerful 215 watt motor, giving you enough power to handle tough jobs. The motor provides you with a speed range between 5,000 and 35,000 RPM.
The separated speed dial and on/off switch adds convenience to the control. For smoother, quieter, and cooler operations, the Dremel 4300 features an innovative airflow system.
The pivot LED bulbs light up your workspace for more convenience. And the large custom storage casing with reinforced corners, metal latches, and foam-lined drawer helps this kit store better.
Specifications
- Weight – 25 oz.
- Size – 9 L x 1.5 W inches
- Motor – 215 watts
- Amperage – 1.8
- Cord length – 6 ft.
- Light – LED bulb
- Speed – 5,000 to 35,000 RPM
- Attachments – 9
- Accessories – 60
Pros
- Powerful motor
- High-speed rotary tool
- Pivoted LED bulbs to light up your project
- Universal 3-jaw chuck makes this tool versatile with Dremel accessory shank sizes
- Durable casing
Cons
- Not budget-friendly
- Overheating motor, not suitable for prolonged jobs
4. Dremel 8050-N/18 Micro-Cordless Kit
The docking station provides you with an easy way to recharge and the LED battery level indicator lets you know when you need to charge. This cordless rotary tool offers you a combination of portability and versatility as it comes with 18 accessories.
Weighing only 8 pounds, and featuring a soft 360 degrees grip zone, maneuvering with the Dremel 8050 is easy. It is designed so compact you can hold it like a pencil between your thumb and forefinger.
The adjustment speed, ranging between 5,000 and 25,000 RPM, lets you easily match the speed to the current job at hand. To light up your work, this Dremel 8050 features an LED bulb, built uniquely into the nose cap. The nose cap also features a quick collect lock for quick accessory changes.
Specifications
- Weight – 8 oz.
- Size – 8 L x 1.5 W inches
- RPM – 5,000 to 25,000 RPM
- Light – LED bulb
- Accessories – 18
- Accessory change system – Wrench
- Battery – Lithium-ion
- Battery level indicator – Yes
- Battery voltage (V) – 8
Pros
- Powered by a battery, with battery level indicator
- Built-in LED bulb
- Compact with soft gripping
- Variable speed dial
Cons
- The battery runs down too quick
5. Dremel 200-N/15HC Kit
It is a compact tool suitable for a wide range of projects and applications. You can use this tool for wood carving, sanding, cutting, etc. This rotary tool also comes with you to 15 assorted accessories, which is why it is so versatile.
With this tool, you get two-speed control that lets you set the speed either at 15,000 or 35,000 RPM with a flip of a switch. The powerful motor, running on ball bearing construction, offers a smooth and quiet construction.
And to extend this tool’s life, you can replace the motor’s brush when needed. The power cable is 6 feet. long, which gives you enough freedom to move around your workspace.
Specifications
- Weight – 18 oz.
- Size – 6.5 L x 3 W inches
- Amperage – 0.9
- Cord length – 6 ft.
- Speed – 15,000 and 35,000 RPM
- Accessories – 15
- Accessory change system – Wrench
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver with
- Affordable
- Versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications
- Cool running ball bearing construction for quiet operation
- The motor brush can be replaced to extend the life of the tool
Cons
- Features only two-speed levels
6. Dremel 225-01-Flex Shaft Attachment
The Dremel 225-01 is compatible with the Dremel 4300, 4200, 4000, 3000, 200, and 100 rotary tools. As a DIYer or craftsman, this attachment extends your flexibility and control to drill, polish, and carve delicate projects.
Dremel designed this piece with a comfortable hand grip to allow maximum control.
The flexible 36 inches long shaft that attaches to the Dremel rotary tool provides more comfort during use.
Meanwhile, the integrated shaft lock button on the handpiece allows for easy accessory changes. To increase the flexibility of this rotary tool, Dremel constructed it such that it accepts all ⅛ inches shank accessories. You can choose to attach this 225-01 flex shaft to a 10.8 V Lithium-ion cordless rotary tool or a corded rotary tool.
Specifications
- Weight – 18 oz.
- Size – 7.5 L x 1.5 W inches
- Shaft cable – Flexible, 36 inches long
- Shaft – ⅛ inches
- Accessory change system – Wrench
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Versatile as it accepts all ⅛ inches shank accessories
- Attachable to a 10.8 V Lithium-ion cordless rotary tool or a corded rotary tool
- Long flexible shaft cable
Cons
- Not a standalone rotary tool
Buyer’s Guide
Buying any of the Dremel tools in this review is a great deal. But if for one reason or another the Dremel tools in this review don’t meet what you desire, don’t worry, we still have you covered.
Below are key features of Dremels you should keep an eye out for when searching for the best.
Portability
How compact and portable the Dremel tool you want to buy is shouldn’t be a factor you take likely.
A slim, compact, and ergonomically designed Dremel tool makes maneuvering a breeze. The weight also has an impact on how easy you find maneuvering the tool.
So, aim for a slim and lightweight Dremel that makes you feel like you’re holding a pen. A durable storage case will also be a helpful addition to have.
Versatility
When checking the versatility of a Dremel tool, the number of accessories and attachments that come with the tool comes to mind.
While some Dremel tool kits come with a lot of accessories and attachments, others come with only a few but are more affordable. So, it’s only ideal you check the types of attachments and accessories you’ll be getting with any kit and match it with what you need.
You don’t need to buy extra accessories and attachments if you won’t be needing them.
Battery-Powered or Corded
While battery-powered Dremel rotary tools are portable, easy to use, and give you the convenience of not depending on a power outlet, they don’t offer as much power compared to corded Dremel rotary tools.
Speed
Lastly, the speed matters as well.
So, check the range of speed the Dremel tool can support. A tool with a more variable speed level is recommended as it gives you the flexibility to set an ideal speed level for the type of material you’re working on.
Conclusion
To sum things up, you don’t need a large budget to get the best Dremel tool for wood carving. All you need is the right buyer’s guide and a list of recommendable Dremel tools like we just offered you.