Hello!

My Dremel tool suddenly decided that it wanted to stop working this evening. One minute, it was spinning at full power; the next, it was as if someone had pulled the plug.

Just to make sure that I didn't blow a breaker, I tried plugging the Dremel into a wall socket that I knew was okay, and no change.

Is there an internal fuse or circuit breaker? Or could this mean that I need to replace the commutator brushes? Or do I get to send it in (it's barely in the 5 year warranty period, if I can find the receipt)?

Thanks in advance

I would be lost with out my dremel, I have the variable model as well as a single speed ,I love the variable speed model.was then any hot smell or smoke before it stopped? Have you checked the brushes an omn off swicth. I would take it apart and have a look at the componets........

William Rogers.........

You can see a slotted screw on the side of the dremel that you can open with a coin I bet theres a 99% chacne the brushes are shot.

The good new is they cost a whopping $5 and can be replaced in 1 minute.

Good luck,,.....

-The Dremel King.

I was wearing a respirator when I was actually cutting with the Dremel, but I didn't notice any unusual smells when I took the respirator off (almost immediately after it died).

I actually did pull the brushes, and to my untrained eye, the looked okay. There's about 1/4" of material left, although it's gray (I thought it was supposed to be copper?)... Given the price, I'll just buy a new set and see if that makes a difference.

Mine's a variable model, and I haven't disassembled it yet. I'm going to try and avoid disassembling it myself unless I find out that I can't get a repair covered under the warranty (possible; still haven't found the original receipt)...

Thanks I'll update when I get the new brushes in...

Brushes are carbon graphite. They sure wouldn't last long if they were copper. ..

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

They do have a thermal overload if you are really working it they usually trip on come back on once the tool is cooled.

MM, I actually had originally guessed that that was what happened...only problem is, the tool's nice and cooled-down now, and still isn't coming back on. New brushes didn't make a difference. (actually, the new brushes were no longer than the old ones were)

Any other obvious things to check on, or do I get to dig for the receipt now? According to the manual, it's got a 5 year warranty, which will be up at the end of this year IIRC...

Thanks again!

Oh oh oh.... I know! theres a fusable link between the power cord and the switch.

http://www.dremel.com/board/index.asp

MM, thanks for the link Just re-posted the question over there...but I'll ask here as well anyways I assume that I get to take the case apart to get to the fusible link; will that kill the remaining warranty? Also, will the blown fusible link be obvious, or do I get to drag out my ohmmeter?

Thanks again

If it has a replacement warranty I would dig the receipt out and swap it out. You'll get 5 more years, too. If you fix it, you'll be kicking yourself next year at this time if it fails again...

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

I just got it packaged up; it's going to go out today.

Here's to hoping that they cover it *fingers crossed*