Mini drills and engravers comparison. The best engravers according to customer reviews

Engraving performed with a special tool and electrical equipment, which is used as an engraver, dremel or dental drill, has for many years been one of the popular types of decorative processing of products from various materials. The quality and efficiency of such processing is largely determined by which electric engraver is chosen for its implementation. When purchasing such equipment for use at home or for professional activity, it is necessary to take into account a number of its technical parameters.

Design features and main characteristics

Before deciding how to choose an engraver, you should have a good understanding of the design and principle of operation of such a device. Structurally, the engraver is a modified drill, all constituent elements which are placed in a compact case, held with one hand.

Electric engravers, which work like a dental drill, have an electric motor, gearbox and spindle in a compact and easy-to-hold housing. The spindle can be used both for fixing the tool and for installing a flexible shaft, at the end of which a working nozzle with a tool is fixed. Cooling of the engraver's electric motor during operation is provided by a special fan that blows the drive mechanism through the air intake holes in the plastic case.

Serial devices, with the help of which such a technological operation as engraving is performed, work on the principle of a conventional electric drill. At the same time, the weight of their body, as a rule, does not exceed one kilogram, which makes it easy to hold them even with one hand. When choosing an engraver, pay attention to following characteristics:

• supply voltage;
• spindle speed;
• the presence of a flexible shaft and its length;
• the ability to adjust the frequency of rotation of the working tool;
• the number of working nozzles that come with the equipment.

Applications

An electric engraver is a fairly versatile device that can be successfully used to perform various technological operations. It is suitable for both home and professional work, when the use of conventional power tools is not possible. With an engraving machine, for example, holes with a diameter of 0.2-0.4 mm can be accurately and precisely drilled, as well as grinding, polishing, milling and cutting off small parts. The most common areas in which engraving equipment is used include:

• engraving on the surface of products from almost any material;
• manufacturing and decoration models;
• repair, manufacture and decoration of watch mechanisms;
• manufacturing and constructive improvement of devices used for fishing;
• performing various household chores small items and devices;
• polishing and cleaning of areas located in hard-to-reach places on the surface of products.

Various job-specific attachments, included or purchased later, allow you to expand the functionality of the tool

The versatility of electric engravers and a wide range of working tools with which they can be used allow them to be successfully used to solve a wide variety of technological problems.

Criterias of choice

When choosing an electric engraver, buyers are guided by various criteria. Someone focuses on the reviews of more experienced users or on the rating of a particular model among professionals, while for someone an important indicator is the cost of the device or the brand under which it is produced. Meanwhile, it is necessary to choose a specific model of such equipment based on how intensively and for what technological problems it will be used. The answers to these questions will depend on the required technical characteristics and equipment of the purchased electric engraver. Naturally, for intensive daily use and for use several times a week, you need to purchase various models electric engravers.

A wide variety of electric engravers are presented on the modern market, differing in their technical specifications, functionality and, accordingly, cost. This allows you to choose a device that will cope with the tasks that you are going to solve with it. In this case, you should focus on the power of the purchased device. So, for domestic purposes and doing your favorite hobby, engravers with a power in the range of 100–200 W are quite suitable, and for solving more professional tasks, it is better to choose more serious units with a power of 250 W or more.

When evaluating electric engravers by their functionality, one should be guided by common sense and the real need for certain options that the equipment in question is endowed with. For numerous functions professional apparatus, most of which you may not need, you will have to seriously overpay.

Ergonomic equipment

When choosing an electric engraver with which you have to work on your own, you should not just focus on reviews about a particular model. It is important to understand how convenient such equipment is for you, so before purchasing an engraver, you need to take it in your hands, evaluate its weight and ergonomics. It should be borne in mind that you will have to work with the engraver for a long time, so it should be comfortable and not cause fatigue during prolonged use.

When evaluating an electric engraver in terms of ergonomic parameters, pay attention to the following characteristics:

• the quality of the material of manufacture and assembly;
• convenience of location of switches and other controls;
• convenience and efficiency of changing working nozzles;
• reliability and ease of installation of a flexible shaft, if provided in the design;
• smoothness of work and the level of noise that the engraver creates.

Naturally, you should not choose equipment that works with jerks, extraneous squeaks and clicks. The design in which the body of the electric engraver is made is also important. It is much more pleasant to work with a device that looks beautiful than with unattractive equipment.

Modern models of engravers, especially those produced under reputable brands, emit a very small amount of noise during operation and are distinguished by a low level of vibration. Working with such equipment, which is in good technical condition, does not tire and does not cause any discomfort.

Which brands to prefer

On the modern market, there are products of many manufacturers of electric engravers. However, professionals advise choosing devices from the following brands:

• defort;
• Bosch;
• Makita;
• Dremel;

High-quality equipment with more modest specifications is produced by Einhell, Skil and Sturm. Among the electric engravers from domestic manufacturers, you can choose the products of the Zubr, Whirlwind and Energomash companies.

A large drill does not always allow you to solve the problem. A heavy body with an electric motor does not make it possible to perform high-precision operations manually, because the hands of the master quickly get tired. Hard-to-reach places are also impossible to drill due to lack of access, and flexible drives, often included with power tools. Therefore, you need to buy a mini drill. These are devices of a particularly compact size, allowing you to operate manually with the operations of drilling and engraving of metals, plastics, ceramics or wood. They are different from the big ones. internal device, cartridge design and performance characteristics.

Key features

The mini drill collet is the only type of holding device. The impact variety is not provided, so stone work is not possible. It is only possible to perform the most precise engraving. Used small asynchronous electric motor with a large number of turns, and the body is made of durable corrugated material, comfortable to grip. AT this moment There are two types of construction: self-powered and flexible drive. By analogy with dental instrument the latter option is often called a drill, and the drill itself looks like a thick clerical pen.

What to look for when choosing

Be sure to consider the following characteristics when choosing the optimal model:

• Regulator mini drills can allow smooth speed changes or step shifting. Everything depends on the task at hand. Usually stepless change is necessary when working with a large number of different materials, for example, in repair shops.
• Number of turns directly affects the ability to drill delicate materials. You will be able to choose between rotational speed and torque, which are the basic characteristics. Over time, you will be able to adapt to your power tool and drill the most accurate holes. Usually values ​​start from 10000 to 50000.
• Weight. It's also a determining factor. At long work hands get tired quickly.
• Body length. It is necessary to understand for which operation the device will be used. Do not forget to add the length of the clamped drill.
• Shank. Depending on the type of cartridge, there may be different design this part.
• Supply voltage. Using the mains directly will not work due to too weak windings. A transitional adapter is required, the output voltage from which ranges from 6 to 36 volts.
• Chuck material. The soft brass used allows, in case of jamming of the drill, to use scrolling in the chuck without damaging the electric motor. There is no other type of protection in such a compact package.

Industrial Options

Due to the high power consumption with a large number of connection points, these devices can be connected to a pneumatic or hydraulic drive. They are characterized by increased torque and simplicity of the device. Their cost is so low that they are considered consumables. There is practically nothing to break in them. Especially often they are used in mechanical engineering when creating military equipment and all types of aircraft. You can also buy a microdrill of this type for domestic needs, but then you will need to purchase a compressor or hydraulic unit. This is an advantageous purchase for repair shops.

Engraving is one of the oldest ways of decorating. People carved designs to decorate their dwellings and tools, and the work of skilled craftsmen was always valuable. Today this craft can become available to everyone thanks to an electric engraver or a mini drill. Engravers can be used for drawing patterns on various materials, making jewelry, modeling and all kinds of small work: drilling, stripping, polishing. These tools have a wide range of applications due to a large number nozzles.

Device

Characteristics

• Shaft speed. This is the main characteristic of the engraver. It is higher than that of other power tools, and can be from 15 to 35 thousand revolutions per minute. To work with soft materials (wood, plastic, copper) and polishing, high speeds are not required, and for dense products made of stone or steel, you should use a tool with at least 30 thousand revolutions per minute. For impact engravers, the corresponding characteristic is the number of strokes per minute, which can reach 6000.
• Engine power. Another important parameter that directly affects the performance of the tool. Measured in watts (W), there are devices from 35 to 300 watts. Note that the price depends on the power, so if you do not plan to use it professionally, then it is quite possible to purchase a low-power entry-level engraver. For continuous work, especially with hard materials, you should take an engraver with a power of 200-300 watts.

Engraver attachments

• Carving and grinding. For cutting, milling and grinding of hard metal and stone, nozzles coated with technical diamonds or aluminum oxide are usually used, for soft products from wood, glass and ceramics, silicon carbide abrasive is used.
• Polishing and cleaning. For polishing, you can use vulcanite nozzles or rubber ones with an abrasive coating. Nozzles made of felt and felt are used with a special polishing paste, which consists of paraffin and grinding powder of different grain sizes. Various brushes are used for cleaning, for example, metal brushes can remove rust, paint or create scuffs for an antique effect.

Choice

Sometimes certain types of work require a very subtle, in the truest sense of the word, approach. Modeling, jewelry making, engraving various items, grinding very small and fragile parts. All these works cannot be done with conventional tools. For example, how to drill a hole with a diameter of one millimeter with a simple drill?

Especially for such “delicate” operations, mini-drills or, as they are also called, engravers, are produced. A relatively small tool with a lot of potential. With it, you can drill, cut, grind or clean the smallest details and planes with a minimum surface area. Engraving on glass or metal is not difficult. An indispensable tool for the modern left-hander.

We have compiled a list of the best engravers based on expert opinions from experts and reviews from real customers. Our recommendations will help you make the best choice for your requirements and desires. There are many competitors in the global technology market, but we have selected the best manufacturers and we recommend paying special attention to them:

Budget / Inexpensive

1. Dremel
2. Hammer
3. Elitech
4. VORTEX

1. Makita

Expensive/Premium

1. Dremel

* Prices are valid at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.

Engravers: Electric

Minimum price:

Main advantages

• Surface grinder with a well-thought-out body shape that makes it as easy as possible to hold the tool during work. Rubberized grips prevent slipping and provide a comfortable grip
• Cast aluminum housing reliably protects the mechanism of the device from damage in case of impact or drop of the tool
• Slider-type switch makes it easy to turn on (off) the engraver and simplifies manipulations with the device during operation
• Ventilation of the engine during operation is provided. This protects the motor from winding overheating and prolongs tool life.
• Easier access to carbon brushes for visual inspection of wear or self-replacement. There is no need to disassemble the case or contact a service center

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Engravers: Inexpensive

Home / Inexpensive / Electric

Main advantages

• Compact mini-drill (engraver) of light weight, only eighty grams. Light weight does not require much effort and allows you to freely manipulate the device for a long time
• A large number of interchangeable nozzles makes it possible to perform work of varying complexity without the use of additional tools
• With the mini drill, you can drill holes with a diameter of 1 mm in wood, plastic or other soft material, which is not possible with a conventional drill
• The small size of the engraver is very convenient for work in hard-to-reach places with limited space or for miniature "jewelry" operations such as drilling, grinding, engraving, cutting, etc.
• The device is powered from the mains 220 V or 12 V through the connection to the car's cigarette lighter or battery

For home / Inexpensive / Universal / Electric

Main advantages

• Engraver with smooth adjustment of engine speed in the range of 8000 - 30,000 rpm. This improves the accuracy of work on materials of various densities.
• The device can be mounted on a bracket or tripod, which increases ease of use and frees both hands to fix the workpiece
• The rotation speed is regulated by a switch mounted on the housing with divisions from one to seven, which allows you to select the required operating mode for each specific material.
• It is possible to quickly replace the brushes without disassembling the tool. It is enough to open the plastic cap on the device case
• The presence of a flexible shaft makes it easier to work with the tool in the most inaccessible places, especially on the inner surfaces of small objects.

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Engravers: Universal

Universal / Home / Electric

Today, one of the most popular types of work in the decoration and production of jewelry is engraving. If we talk about the tool used, then in most cases an electric engraver is used for engraving, which is also called a dremel, drill or mini-drill. Consider what electric engravers are, which one to choose for home, which one for professional work, where it is used and the criteria by which they are divided.

The design and characteristics of the engraver

The tool is a modification of an electric drill enclosed in a case held with one hand. It is somewhat reminiscent of a large fountain pen, at the end of which a working nozzle rotates. Anyone who has seen a drill in a dentist's office already knows how this tool works.

In the case of the device are assembled: an electric motor, a gearbox, a spindle. A working tip (nozzle) or a flexible shaft of different lengths is fixed into the spindle (in this case, the nozzle is located at the end of the shaft). To cool the electric motor, a fan impeller is located on the axis, blowing the engine through special air intake openings.

The principle of operation is almost the same as the operation of an ordinary drill. As a rule, electric engravers weigh about a kilogram, which allows you to work with one hand. Any tool has a set of characteristics by which the user chooses a specific model. And if the supply voltage of the device corresponds, most often, to the mains voltage, then such properties as the speed of rotation, the presence and length of the flexible shaft, and the mass can differ within a fairly wide range. Serious differences can be in the systems for adjusting the frequency of rotation of the working tip, the number of nozzles included in the kit and other options.

Purposes and scopes

With the help of an electric engraver, many different operations can be carried out. In general, its scope covers many professional works and hobbies in various fields of activity, where the use of conventional power tools (drills, grinders, screwdrivers) is limited due to their coarser action. For example, if you need to drill a hole with a diameter of 0.2–0.4 mm, not everyone can do it with a standard tool accurately. With the help of an electric engraver, this work can be done more accurately. The same applies to the operations of grinding, cutting, milling various materials.

Several areas of use of the tool:

• engraving on almost any material (jewelry, design, decoration);
• modeling;
• watchmaking;
• production and improvement of fishing lures;
• domestic use for various operations with small parts and objects;
• cleaning of seams, polishing of a surface in hard-to-reach spots.

It is clear that the list of works for which electric engravers are used can be much longer, but it makes no sense to describe all possible applications.

Intensity of use as one of the selection criteria

In the selection process, the question is often raised: according to what main parameter should the instrument be divided? For some, the main criterion is the price, for others - the manufacturer. However, behind the technical characteristics, cost and well-known brand, one moment is often forgotten - how often and with what intensity will the device be used? Sometimes the answer to this question determines the choice of a specific model, the required equipment, the need for additional functions. It is clear, after all, that a device professionally used for engraving on metal, stone, glass every day for 5-6 hours should differ from what is used for crafts or hobbies a maximum of 1-2 times a week.

Since there is no shortage today, the tool can be chosen in such a way that it ideally matches the tasks set and at the same time does not have redundant, unnecessary functions. For amateur and domestic purposes, a tool with a power of 100–200 W is enough; for professionals, units from 250 W are more suitable. You should also choose the functions inherent in the desired model - in terms of whether these features are really needed. After all, there are a lot of parameters that electric engravers can be equipped with today, which one to choose is not an easy question. Common sense should be followed here. It's a shame when from the list of options, consisting of three dozen positions, 2-3 of the simplest ones are actually used.

The appearance of the engraver and the comfort of work

Not always, but often enough, the determining factor in the choice is the appearance and ergonomics of the tool. Before buying, you must definitely hold the engraver in your hand, see how comfortable it is to hold it. If the tool lies comfortably in the hand, isn't it too heavy? Is it possible to work with it for several hours, will the hand get tired? It would be useful to look at the quality of materials, the accuracy of assembly, whether the switch and adjustment controls are conveniently located. The comfort of use depends not only on the tool, but also on the data of the person working with it. Therefore, the device must be selected for a specific user in order to work with it as conveniently as possible.

It also makes sense to pay attention to the convenience and speed of changing nozzles, the tightness of the flexible shaft, the softness and quiet operation. If squeaks and knocks are heard from a new instrument, perhaps you should consider whether there is a need to buy it.

Of the two absolutely identical devices with identical characteristics and even the shape of the body, in most cases a person will choose the one that looks better. Simply because it is more pleasant to work with a beautiful instrument.

Since electric engravers are usually light in weight and dimensions, the noise level and vibrations are also low. The tool is several times quieter than a standard drill. Accordingly, the comfort of its use is higher.

Manufacturer and cost

Power tools are manufactured by many companies today. Many of them have earned themselves an outstanding reputation, due to the quality, reliability and accuracy of assembly. These are Defort, Makita, Bosch, Dremel, DWT. Good engravers make Skil, Sturm, Einhell. AT recent times domestic producers - Zubr, Energomash, Whirlwind - have also proven themselves well.

It is clear that the price of a tool, depending on the class, manufacturer and destination, can differ quite significantly. Here you need to decide on the necessary properties, compare several models, and then make a choice. If the engraver is used infrequently, then there is no point in overpaying for a professional model. With caution, you need to treat only very cheap devices, unknown manufacturers, without providing a guarantee.

In the end, the choice may not be difficult. You need to spend some time on the reviews of the owners and the recommendations of professionals, compare the necessary parameters with those that the interested models have, indicate the cost limits - and the number options will noticeably decrease. Not the last role is played by the equipment of the device, as well as the number of nozzles supplied with the tool. Not bad if the engraver is completed in a case containing special sockets for nozzles, a flexible shaft and other accessories. It is convenient for transportation and storage, everything is in its place.