Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Dremel motor tool repair

9292 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Dremel motor tool repair
Posted by richg1998 on Sunday, November 29, 2009 8:00 PM

My fifteen year old Dremel tool recently came up with a speed control problem. It is a model 395. I went to the Dremel site and found an 800 number and parts layout with part numbers. They answered rather quickly and I was able to order the replacement speed control for $14.00 and a few dollars for shipping. All well now. Very good service.
 

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Southeast Kansas
  • 1,329 posts
Posted by wholeman on Monday, November 30, 2009 1:24 AM

I'm glad you have had good experience with Dremel.  I will keep that in mind for future reference.  I received a Dremel set (Rotory tool, case, and numerous attachments) as a Christmas gift a couple years ago.  I have yet to use it much.

Will

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 299 posts
Posted by JSperan on Monday, November 30, 2009 9:11 AM

 Dremel is a solid company selling a good product line, IMO.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, November 30, 2009 1:31 PM

Forgot to mention, you need a T10 Torx to remove four fasteners to open the tool.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 1:17 PM

 

I had one which was probably 10 years old go bad on me, sparks happened inside and it quit.  I sent it in and they repaired it free of charge.  It has worked ever since - variable speen type.  Must be they have a long or life time warranty.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 6:55 PM

riogrande5761

 

I had one which was probably 10 years old go bad on me, sparks happened inside and it quit.  I sent it in and they repaired it free of charge.  It has worked ever since - variable speen type.  Must be they have a long or life time warranty.

 Probably wore the brushes completely out if you had it 10 years and used it a lot. Last little nub got sucked out of the brush holder, spring followed, shorted - sparks. Glad to hear they fixed you right up. I've always felt Dremel tools were a quality and worth the extra over a 'generic' version and this thread only reinforces that.

                                   --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • 2,751 posts
Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 11:44 PM

 I had one go easier then that. Bought one of their kits with all the do dads etc. in it from Home Depot. After a while using it the thing got hotter then a $2.00 pistol and the lock that holds the chuck quit working.

Walked in to HD didn't even have the receipt the nice lady looked said got your receipt , nope took it back no questions asked gave me store credit, walked over and picked up another one a knock on wood haven't had a problem yet. Whole deal took less then 10min.

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, December 3, 2009 7:00 AM

rrinker
riogrande5761
I had one which was probably 10 years old go bad on me, sparks happened inside and it quit.  I sent it in and they repaired it free of charge.  It has worked ever since - variable speen type.  Must be they have a long or life time warranty.

 Probably wore the brushes completely out if you had it 10 years and used it a lot. Last little nub got sucked out of the brush holder, spring followed, shorted - sparks. Glad to hear they fixed you right up. I've always felt Dremel tools were a quality and worth the extra over a 'generic' version and this thread only reinforces that.                                   --Randy

The thing is it hadn't gotten used all that much over that 10 years, I'd used it more since the repair.  Maybe metal shavings got in and shorted something out?  I'll never know but they repaired it free of charge.  Its the older model from the late 70's and still a good work horse.  Hasn't gotten much use in the last 10 years because my layout was torn down when my marriage went *poof*

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: high desert so cal
  • 997 posts
Posted by BIG JERR on Thursday, December 3, 2009 10:03 AM

I had a similar problem ,the brushes didnt ware out they fused to the brass sleeve they ride in and the gap got bigger and lots of sparks ,till it wouldn't run .most hardware stores that carry dremmel stock the brushes.but not the sleeves ......It works ,but not like new

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Dremel motor tool repair - Older Model 395 output nylon coupling
Posted by chutton01 on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 10:03 AM

I am bumping this thread, as I just had an issue w/ my older model 395, that was kind of a pain to find info about (eventually found it on a aircraft modeler site), but which is easy to resolve once you know what to order, so figured I'd share the info.

Inside of an older Model 395, there is a plastic (nylon?) coupling between the motor armature and the output shaft/collet. The idea behind this coupling is that if the output shaft becomes stuck (the grinding wheel or drill bit or whatever), this coupling will twist and shear rather than have the motor stall and spark/melt.  This idea was so good that all later model 395s dispensed with the plastic coupling and have a direct metal shaft between the armature and output (and this configuration is what you will find most exploded view diagrams of the 395 are on the web, which confused the heck out of me at first). 
Of course, being of plastic, eventually the coupling becomes brittle and...well, my Dremel first made an odd rumbling noise, and then the output stopped spinning even while the motor continued to rotate.  Upon taking the Dremel apart (fairly easy, 6 screws altogether), well you get the idea (which was several yellowed nylon spline fragments between the 2 metal shafts)

The part you will need is called a Flex Spline Coupling by the Demel Service center - I contacted the one sort of closer to me: Dremel Service Center: 1-800-437-3635 (Racine, WI) - there is an Authorized Service center in Palm Springs, CA: 1-800-275-2052. Contact info on their website (www.dremel.com)

Couplings are 1.25 apiece, so I ordered a few just in case...

 

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 6:08 PM

rrinker

 riogrande5761:

 

I had one which was probably 10 years old go bad on me, sparks happened inside and it quit.  I sent it in and they repaired it free of charge.  It has worked ever since - variable speen type.  Must be they have a long or life time warranty.

 Probably wore the brushes completely out if you had it 10 years and used it a lot. Last little nub got sucked out of the brush holder, spring followed, shorted - sparks. Glad to hear they fixed you right up. I've always felt Dremel tools were a quality and worth the extra over a 'generic' version and this thread only reinforces that.

                                   --Randy

It had the *poof* problem when i was living in Texas around 1985 and I don't think I had had that Dremel more than 4 years by then.  It is coming up on 30 years old and I've used it far more since it had been repaired than prior.  Why it sparked and died is probably not from heavy use.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Southeast Texas
  • 5,449 posts
Posted by mobilman44 on Thursday, May 19, 2011 7:13 AM

Hi!

Dremel is one of those companies that puts out a solid, reliable, useful product and stands behind them providing readily available parts and service.   

I have a corded one purchased in the late '70s that has seen heavy use and still working just fine.   I also bought a cordless one (w/ extra battery) that has proved to be even more useful.

 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: N.E. Ohio
  • 19 posts
Posted by leadpirate on Saturday, May 21, 2011 5:49 AM

  A few years ago I needed a part for my Model 2 (a 1956 model) .  Called Dremel and the nice young lady I spoke to said that this part was no longer in stock and had not been for some time.  I asked if by chance there was an old guy there, who had been there  forever, that might know.  On hold for a couple of minutes, when she came back on, they had found the part I needed.  It was the very last one.  Asked for the price with shipping and was told there would be no charge.  Whoever she asked had enjoyed using their knowledge, instead of what as on screen.   Sometimes you just have to ask the right questions.    I have had other dealings with Dremel and they are just  a great company to deal with.    Steve

leadpirate
  • Member since
    December 2010
  • 245 posts
Posted by papasmurf on Thursday, May 26, 2011 8:28 AM

HOLY MACKEREL;  yours truly has TWO Dremel 395s, which bit the dust over the years!  Better take down those 800 numbers, get busy and get 'em fixed! THANKS SO MUCH for this very timely post! TTFN....Old Tom aka papasmurf in NH

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, May 26, 2011 9:05 AM

 Yes, unlike so many items we buy today, Dremels are fixable. And still not horribly expensive. If you have a broken one, fix it, don't toss it. Too often that's not an option these days.

                     --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!