Dremel has come out with a new dust blower accessory that fits most of their rotary tool models. It’s quite simple actually – the new attachment (model 490) is essentially a small fan that attaches to your Dremel’s collet nut.
Dremel has been coming out with very thoughtful and useful accessories these past few years. It’s like their designers are really sitting down and thinking how can we make things better? The new accessory I like most is the EZ Twist nose cap, which allows for wrench-free collet nut loosening and tightening.
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It looks like the dust blower fan attaches to standard collet nuts via a friction fit.
The dust blower was mainly designed for use with engraving and carving burs, and sanding drums, but can be used with other types of cutting tools as well.
Dremel rotary tool compatibility: 4000, 400, 3000, 300, 398, 395, 285, 275, 200, 100, 8200, 8000, 7700, 750.
If you want to use this attachment with the new Dremel 4200, which features a tool-free collet locking mechanism, you’ll have to use a flex shaft attachment and standard collet and collet nut.
Hopefully it works with the Dremel Stylus (1100) as well, or am I the only one still using one?
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The dust blower is presently $6.67 via Amazon with free shipping for Prime members and free shipping on $25+ orders for everyone, and $4.97 via Home Depot with free shipping on $45+ orders or free in-store pickup.
Alan S. Blue
One thing I do wish Dremel (or whomever) would think about is: What to do when it is more convenient to bring the work-to-the-tool instead of the tool-to-the-work.
IOW: Put a couple of opposing reinforced parallel flat spots on the exterior of the body so we can clamp the tool decently.
At least then you can have both hands on whatever difficult-to-clamp piece needs attention.
Stuart
They do make a work clamp that can be used with any standard Dremel tool ($30 via Amazon). I bought one a while back and although I don’t use it too often, it does come in handy.
fred
Nice find – may have to replace the holding fixture that I cobbled together years ago from 2 band clamps (one to hold the Dremel with some Tygon tubing for padding – and one to hold the first band clamp to a block of wood held in a vise)
Stuart
I know some people have had success using U-bolts as well. If you search for “CNC Dremel” or “CNC Dremel mount,” all kinds of mounting solutions come up.
fred
Thanks for the additional info.
At the high end – there are nifty add-on plunge bases for your Dremel – from Micro-Fence ( http://www.microfence.com) – starting at around $300
Stuart
I haven’t heard of Micro-Fence before, but those bases do look quite robust.
I know that Stewart MacDonald makes some nice Dremel plunge bases and accessories, as well as a modified Foredom handpiece that can also fit them.
And there’s also Vanda-Lay industries. I always forget the brand name, but thanks to Seinfeld it comes back pretty quick.
fred
Another source of bases – for Fordeom handpieces is William Ng:
http://wnwoodworkingschool.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=30&zenid=9p1r6hn4etfs1ggdicfn0veev0
Kevin
very cool. I usually use mine for cutting, polishing and sharpening, but the few times I did some wood engraving this would have come in handy.
Jerry
A clever, useful, and easily mounted or removed dust blower fan you can snap on or off as needed. I like it. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most practical. I bet it would work super good with a dust collection table (by that, I mean one of those work tables with a perforated top you hook to a vacuum or dust collector, that sucks the dust straight down through the top).
Stuart
You’re thinking of a downdraft table. That does seem like it would be a good combo.
Mac
I got that multi-vise clamp as an Xmas gift. Thought it was something I’d try then probably never use again. (I almost always bring the tool to the work.) Then I had to Dremel about fify-eleven long pieces a long pvc. I clamped the vise to the back of the truck and away I went. Saved my back for sure. I’ve used it off and on since. Pretty nice, and recommended. Not sure about the blower, but Xmas is coming. 🙂
Robert
This seems like a simple and cheap solution. It doesn’t appear quite as useful for accessories in horizontal configurations. I could see it getting in the way for specific detailing when reaching further across a project without switching sides. Since sanders for example are primarily used on the flat side of the drum, this could limit your reach.
I would sooner brush or blow off the project than resort to this when sanding or using other horizontal accessories. For an application like the one illustrated, this would be simple and probably effective. I’m assuming it wouldn’t limit your view for fine detailing.
Robert
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