In the process of writing a post about Dremel’s 4000-series rotary tool update, I dug around to see if there had been any official announcements, news, or additional details about the change. While I didn’t find any info about the 4000 tool, I did discover that Dremel is adding two new cordless rotary tools to their lineup.
Dremel 8220 12V Max High-Performance Rotary Tool
I reviewed the 8200 cordless Dremel nearly two years ago, and have kept it in the test kit to help evaluate new attachments and accessories. The 8200 is a great tool, but it suffers from an issue common to continuous-load cordless tools – poor battery life. For example, Makita’s new cordless oscillating tool has a runtime of “up to 15-minutes.”
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It looks like Dremel is quite aware of the 8200’s runtime issues, as their new 8220 is said to have 33% longer runtime, at least when cutting screws. Dremel mentions the inclusion of a next generation high-capacity 12V Max lithium ion battery, so we’re not sure if the tool itself has been changed or just the battery.
The new model will also feature Dremel’s recent EZ Twist nose cap design. This means no more fumbling in a kit box for the easy-to-misplace collet wrench.
Pricing information and ETA are not yet available, but I do know that there will be three different kit configurations.
This of course brings up a good question – if Dremel did develop a new higher-performing battery, what other cordless tools are currently in the works? Maybe a new oscillating tool?
Dremel 8100 8V Max Rotary Tool
The new 8100 is a compact 8V li-ion rotary tool with variable speed control. While 8V Max sounds a bit puny, smaller cordless rotary tools are actually quite user-friendly and handy for more intricate projects. I have a 7.2V Stylus, and although it doesn’t see a lot of use, there are times when it is absolutely indispensable.
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As with the 8220, pricing information and ETA are not yet available.
Fred
Ever since they made a battery powered one, Dremel has always been hurting themselves by not having more variety tools to share the battery or get more via buying more tools. When I saw Craftsman came out with a 12v rotary tool, I got 3 of their 12v tools and now I have spare batteries & chargers that came with other tools for about the same as what it would have cost to buy the extra Dremel batteries. I never even looked into whether the 12v multi-max used the same batteries, because even if it does that’s still only one other tool.
Between the three, the Milwaukee & Craftsman 12v are very similar and not quite as polished as the Dremel one. For the money though, the Dremel is the least cost effective since it comes with a few accessories but not enough that it’s anywhere close to complete. Both of the others have longer run time and don’t get as ‘hot & tired’ as quick as the Dremel. I did borrow a friend’s Milwaukee when they came out and it does feel nicer than mine but the plastic scars more noticeably than my dull grey one. If I had to do it again I would strongly consider Milwaukee’s 12v rotary instead since they offer a bit more variety 12v tools than the Craftsman (especially the 12v recip saw).
delvingoh
not sure if u wld find this helpful, but u can use the same 12v battery on dremel n bosch after removing the bottom cap.
Rick
I went through 3 of the Milwaukee 12v rotary tools in just a few hours combined use (over two months). While the batteries are protected from overheating, the tools electronic control apparently is not. Each of the units failed while using sanding drums to shape plastic, the tool shut down like the battery overheated, but failed to restart on all but the highest setting after cooling off, and even with 4 different batteries switched out. I bought the Dremel on Amazon with 2 batteries for about $100 dollars. While I was put off by the thought of extra batteries at 40 bucks+, I found a Dremel oscillating tool kit (with 2 batteries, blades, and charger) in Amazon’s Warehouse Deals section for $49. 2 tools, 2 chargers, 4 batteries, great product, big savings.
Fred
At that price I would be hard pressed not to pick one up also. I never had that experience with the Milwaukee or the Craftsman, and they’re similar enough that I assume it would have happened with either.
most of my Dremel use is with one of the several corded ones I own, the battery one of course has several unique uses and I felt it was worth it to have one. Keeping the 12v rotary with my chainsaw case is a lot more useful than having to pull off a chain due to one chipped tooth. As a side note, the ‘on bar’ sharpeners are good but they’re not good enough to straighten chipped teeth & depth gages when something flies at them from the side.
Most of my dremel use is also with plastic, but I tend to cut, use the various engraving/’pointy’ bits for tracing templates, and only sanding after that work is done. I will suggest that a rotary tool is not a die grinder and I rarely use it as a sander unless it’s the only thing that fits in the piece. I’d consider a shaper unless it had to be portable. They do make those 1″ belt sanders that can get into some tight spaces if I suddenly needed to sand small hard to get places I’d try one of those.
Jess
There is no Difference in the tool the Americans just changed the name to 12v max that’s all still is a 10.8 V battery so there fully of shit i don’t know why they just cant make a 12 v the only difference is you can buy 1 Ah battery or 2 Ah battery. So if you get the 2 Ah thats where you get your so called 33% extra form. Other then that bull shit marketing the tool is very good i use it a lot only down side i got one battery at the moment so i got to wast time waiting for the 3 hr charge
Fabian
La batería del 8100 sirve para 8220?
Stuart
No. One takes a 12V Max battery, the other an 8V Max battery pack. Different sizes and form factors.