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The Dremel 4000 is the flagship rotary tool that the Dremel brand makes. It is also one of the most popular rotary tools on the market today. It is a quality tool, and that can do most of the jobs that you can expect from a rotary tool.
I have used mine extensively for over a year now, so it’s about time that I write an in-depth review so you can know if it is worth investing your hard-earned money in this tool.
The Dremel 4000 is a great rotary tool for when you need that extra bit of power. The Dremel 4000 can be used for a wide variety of tasks like sanding, cutting metal, polishing, cutting wood, woodcarving, cleaning, rust removal and so much more. The Dremel 4000 is an essential part of any worker’s tool kit.
Let’s dive into the review, and I’ll show you why the Dremel 4000 is my go-to rotary tool
Dremel 4000 – The Stats
It is important that we get familiar with the Dremel 4000. Here is some info about the tool.
The Dremel 4000 has a powerful motor. This means it will be able to do i wide variety of hard tasks without bogging down the motor but within the limits of a rotary tool. I once tried cutting a 1/2-inch stainless steel bar with it, but that was the limit.
The main weakness of the Dremel 4000 is the relatively steep price point compared to other rotary tools. Depending on what you want to include in the kit the Dremel 4000 will usually set you back 100 dollars or more. But you get what you pay for, with the Dremel 4000 you have a reliable tool that will last for many years to come.
The Dremel 4000 has a wide variety of uses, some of the main uses of the Dremel 4000 are: Sanding, Cutting metal/wood/plastics and other materials, polishing, deburring, sharpening tools, woodcarving, cleaning, drilling holes, arts and crafts, grout removal and so much more.
Click Here To Check Out The Dremel 4000 6/50 Kit On Amazon!
The Dremel 4000 is on the larger side when it comes to rotary tools and it weighs about 23 ounces (0.66 Kg). That weight is fine for quick tasks like cutting a screw or a piece of wood, but when using it for longer periods of time I recommend using the Dremel Flex Shaft to reduce strain on your wrist.
The RPM range of the Dremel 4000 is from 5000 to 35000 RPMs, this is a fairly normal rpm range for a rotary tool and I rarely use the max setting of 35000 RPMs.
The Dremel 4000 has a 1.6 Amp motor. The amperage indicates the electrical current the tool is able to make use of. A lower Amp can cause the tool to overheat more quickly. I’ve experienced some overheating with the Dremel 4000 but only when I use it for very hard tasks that the Dremel 4000 was not really meant to be used for. When this happens, I just let the tool rest for a while and it is back to work.
The Dremel 4000 is a corded tool. This means that the tool can be used for longer periods of time without worrying about the battery running flat. If you prefer battery-powered tools, I recommend getting the Dremel 8220. The Dremel 8220 is very similar to the Dremel 4000 in use but battery-powered.
The Dremel 4000 can use most of the attachments that the Dremel brand makes. This makes it an extremely versatile tool. With the attachments you can for example make your Dremel into a chainsaw sharpening kit or a router for woodworking projects. I will tell you more about the attachments further down in the article.
My Experience With the Dremel 4000
I am not going to give you my life story, I promise I will be quick. I initially bought the Dremel 4000 in January 2021 to use for woodcarving. I got inspired after watching some talented woodcarvers on youtube making amazing wood art and wood spirits with the Dremel.
Since I don’t have the patience to sit for hours whittling away on hardwoods like beech with a knife, I came to the conclusion that I needed a Dremel to use for my crafts. The Dremel 4000 was the natural pick since that was the go-to Dremel model for most of the Youtubers I watched.
And I’m really glad about that purchase. I have used the Dremel 4000 extensively for over a year now and it has never let me down. The tool reduced the time it took to make my wood carving projects by a great deal as it shreds through the wood in no time when I use the right bit.
I also found the Dremel 4000 very useful for other projects that were not related to woodcarving. The tool is great for cutting small pieces of metal like screws and bolts. And it is way less daunting to use than an angle grinder. I’ve also found it very useful……… You know what, let me just make you a list of what I have actually found my Dremel 4000 useful for.
Practical Uses Of The Dremel 4000
- Drilling small holes in wood and metal
- Cutting Screws
- Cutting Bolts (up to 1/3-inch)
- Cleaning Rust From Old Tools
- Routing
- Making Wooden Beads
- Woodcarving
- Engraving Glass
- Cutting Through Glass
- Any DIY project
- Sanding Uneven Spots
- Deburring Metal
There really are no limits to what you can do with this tool, some people even trim their dog’s nails with a Dremel.
The only problem I have encountered when using the Dremel 4000 is that the brushes sometimes become worn down. The brushes are there to keep the electricity flowing through the system, and when worn too much down the motor won’t start. A simple solution to this is to get some new replacement brushes, either on Amazon or by calling the Dremel service line.
Dremel also has really good service and support, so if you encounter any problems with your Dremel the simplest solution is to just call them to get some advice or send the Dremel in for repair.
Which Dremel Kit Should You Get?
When you look to buy a Dremel 4000, you will notice that it is sold in different kits at different price points. It can be hard to know which kit is the right for you since we all are using the Dremel for different tasks.
The kits include a wide range of attachments for the Dremel, and kits with more attachments and bits included will of course be more expensive. But it is cheaper to buy the attachments in the kit instead of buying them one by one later on.
My recommendation is to get the Dremel 4000-6/50 kit. This includes a wide range of attachments, and you will usually not have to go out and buy attachments separately for a while.
The Dremel 4000-6/50 kit also includes the Dremel Flex Shaft, this is one of my most used attachments and will help you reduce the weight of the Dremel when you use it so you can use it more comfortably and for longer periods.
A good alternative is the Dremel 4000-2/30 kit.
Here’s An Article About The Different Dremel Attachments!
My Favorite Bits for The Dremel 4000
Bits are the little things you secure to the front of your Dremel. You use different bits for different tasks. Since I am a woodcarver, many of my favorite bits are for woodcarving. But I will also include some bits that are used for other things as well.
Here are the bits that I have found to be most useful:
Wood Cutting Wheel #EZ544 – The wood cutting wheel is the absolute best Dremel bit for cutting through wood quickly. This cutting wheel can almost cut through a 2×4 of construction lumber, but I mainly use it for removing wood and rough shaping my wood carvings.
Extreme Kutzall Burrs – Extreme Kutzall burrs are top-quality burrs that are great for removing large amounts of wood quickly. They are mainly used for wood carving and are very aggressive. They come in many different shapes, my favorite is the flame shape. The downside of these burrs is that they can be somewhat expensive.
Reinforced Cutting Discs #EZ546 – These discs are great for cutting through small pieces of metal like screws and bolts. I have used them countless times, and I have yet to have one break on me while using them. They prefer these discs over the thinner and more fragile ones. Though they are a little bit costlier.
Precision Drill Bits #628 – The precision drill bits are great for drilling small accurate holes in wood. I use them for making holes for the chain in small wood pendants.
Sanding Drums – I have found sanding drums/bands to be one of the most useful bits for the Dremel. They are just so versatile. They can do anything from cleaning rust, deburring metal, shaping wood, smoothing wooden surfaces to removing callus from your feet. Sanding bands are usually included when you buy your Dremel.
TIP! The cheap brand sanding bands that you can buy in bulk on Amazon work perfectly fine, buy once, and you will almost have an unlimited supply of sanding bands. They wear out a little quicker though. Here is a link to the cheap off-brand sanding bands!
Best Attachments For the Dremel
Here are the attachments that I have found the most useful:
Keyless Chuck #4486 – The keyless chuck is a better way to change fasten bits to your Dremel. The Dremel kit generally comes with a collet and nut system to fasten the bits but whenever the shank size of the bit changes you also have to change the collet. The keyless chuck is more versatile and can take all change shank sizes and is more similar to the keyless chuck of a cordless drill.
Multi-Purpose Cutting Guide #565 – This guide is essential when you want the bits to stay perpendicular to the material you are working on. This attachment gives you more accuracy when cutting any material, it is great for routing and doing inlays as you can control the depth, and it is one of the essential attachments that any Dremel owner will find useful.
Flex Shaft #225-02 – The flex shaft is also one of the essential attachments in my opinion. With this, you can hang up the heavy main motor of the Dremel so you only have to carry the weight of the flex shaft when doing your work. This gives you the ability to work for longer and to be more precise in your work.
Dremel 4000 vs Dremel 3000
The Dremel 4000 and Dremel 3000 are very similar tools in use. Unless I use them side by side, I would not be able to make out the difference just by the performance alone. The main differences between the Dremel 3000 and Dremel 4000 are that the shaft lock button wears down faster on the Dremel 3000, and the speed control on the Dremel 3000 is a little bit less convenient.
The Dremel 4000 also has a little bit more power.
Is The Dremel 4000 Worth It?
If you are in the market for a rotary tool, I would highly recommend getting the Dremel 4000. It has all the power you will ever need and is all in all a reliable and high-quality product. There are so many attachments, so I’m sure you will find multiple uses for this tool. For me, the Dremel 4000 was definitely worth buying.
Click Here To Check Out The Dremel 4000 6/50 Kit On Amazon!
I researched a lot before buying my Dremel 4000, and I had so many questions about the tool. To clear up some info about the Dremel 4000 I’ve included some frequently asked questions below, so you can better know if it’s the right tool for you.
FAQ: The Dremel 4000
Difference between the Dremel 4000 And A Cordless Drill?
The Dremel 4000 uses high RPMs to do its work but doesn’t have that much torque. A cordless drill is the opposite with lower RPMs and a lot of torque. A Dremel is not designed to be used for heavy-duty tasks that require large amounts of power like driving screws, drilling concrete, or drilling large holes in wood. These are jobs that the cordless drill can handle fairly well, depending on the model of course.
How Thick Wood Can The Dremel 4000 Handle?
If you push the Dremel 4000 to the limit, it can cut a 2X4 of construction lumber in half. But the Dremel 4000 is not designed to cut thick pieces of wood, you will be better off using it for the smaller and thinner cuts.
How thick metal can you cut with a Dremel 4000?
If you push the Dremel 4000 to the limit, it can cut through a 1/2-inch (1.3 cm) stainless steel bar. But the Dremel 4000 is not designed to cut thick pieces of metal so it is better to use it for lighter metal work like cutting screws or thin metal sheets.
Can You Cut Plastic With A Dremel 4000?
A Dremel is a good tool to cut smaller pieces of plastic. If you try to cut larger pieces of plastic with the Dremel 4000 the friction of the cutting disks will cause the plastic to metal and bog up the cutting bit. Use a lower speed setting when cutting plastic with the Dremel to reduce the friction. And use the cutting discs that are meant to be used for plastic.
What are some cheaper Alternatives To the Dremel 4000?
A great cheaper alternative to the Dremel 4000 is the Dremel 3000. The Dremel can do all the tasks that a Dremel 4000 can do but with a little less power. But it is still good. Wen also makes some decent rotary tools for a good price, but you will sacrifice some reliability and quality by going the cheap route.
You can check out the Wen Rotary Tools on Amazon Here!
What Is The Most Powerful Dremel Rotary Tool?
The most powerful Dremel rotary tool is the Dremel Fortiflex. But this tool is very different from the more conventional rotary tools the Dremel brand makes. The motor on the Fortiflex is separated from the shaft, so you will always have to use a flex shaft with this tool. This means that most of the attachments that Dremel makes can not be used with this tool.
The most powerful conventional rotary tool that the Dremel brand produces is the new Dremel 8260 which is a battery-powered rotary tool. The power of the Dremel 8260 is a step up from the Dremel 4000 and Dremel 43000 models. This is a smart tool with a Bluetooth connection to an app on your phone.
Conclusion Of Review
I think I have covered the most important information about the Dremel 4000 in this article. I can highly recommend the Dremel 4000, and it will also be my go-to rotary tool in the years to come.
