According to a new Amazon product listing, Dremel has a new oscillating multi-tool coming out, MM35.
So, what’s new about the first new oscillating tool that Dremel has come out with in a few years?
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To start, it has a new tool-free blade change mechanism. It looks like the mechanism works by means of a quick-turn knob, but we won’t know for sure until we see a demo video or test one first-hand.
The MM35 features a 3.2° oscillation angle, 3.5-amp motor, and 10,000-21,000 OPM variable speed dial.
Compared to the MM30, the MM35 has a slightly more powerful motor (3.5A vs. 3,3A), slightly reduced max speed (21,000 vs. 23,000 OPM), and the new blade and accessory lock. The ergonomics and switch placements look to be the same, or at least very similar.
The MM35 is bundled with a couple of starter accessories, although not as many as the MM30. It’s also priced a bit higher.
Price: $100
ETA: September 2018
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Buy Now(via Amazon)
Compare(MM30 via Amazon)
Compare(MM40 via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Not to mince words, I’m having trouble finding the MM35 to be compelling, at least from what I can see so far “on paper.” Is there something that I’m missing?
I love tool-free interfaces, especially those that accept other brands’ accessories. But there’s no mention of universal compatibility here.
The new “innovative” tool-free blade change design, with “innovative” being Dremel’s word – how does it work? What makes it innovative? Is it really better than Dremel’s MM30 design?
I suppose that the MM35 being tool-less is significant because the MM30 is not.
But the several-years-old MM40 is already tool-free. It has a swing-lever tool-free blade release. So is the MM45 (which looks to be a slightly more powerful Home Depot exclusive).
The MM30 is less expensive, and the MM40 offers better specs and is slightly less expensive at the moment, and for a bundle that comes with more accessories.
The MM35 is expected to be released in September. Maybe we’ll learn more or see different pricing before then.
Cr8on
I’m not seeing it as a very compelling tool at face value, I mean IF it happens to be Starlock compatible then that would be great, though I’d expect that to be in the description. Sure Dremel is more of a craft/makers brand but why wouldn’t Bosch make them to use their own blades. I’m sorta fond of Dremel’s universal blades, they sit long on my DeWalt OMT and can make some very aggressive cuts.
Charles
I’ll just keep using my Fein. Made in China junk doesn’t interest me. The only “upgrade” might be a DeWalt cordless since I’m in the DeWalt universe.
Travis
DeWalt has a cordless model with a brushless motor.
Joe
For cordless I love my Dewalt, if your going corded, might as well be the Fein, like I have also……..dremel doesn’t interest me
Jim Felt
I barely use my brushless 12v Bosch but when I do it’s very handy. Starloc and all.
But a corded (Bosch owned) Dremel?
Jim Felt
Oops! Mine must be* non brushless as it does have the Starloc? Oh well. Same results for my occasional use.
* I just read the descriptions in Stuart’s links and mine is an older 12v.
satch
I have seen this mentioned before on this blog but it bears going over again. Dremel is jumping the shark with all these ‘new’ products. Just look at the rotary tools. When the 4000 came out it was the ultimate widget yada yada yada. Then we got the 4200 and the same hype. Not a handful of months go by and once again we have a ‘new’ model. The 4300. It is getting a bit old.
Look, I get it. Dremel was purchased by Bosch to be mass marketed at big box retailers. When I was a young guy Dremel tools were sort of elusive. A lot of major retailers didn’t carry them. We all know where this has gone now. Cheapened products that continually need a new marketing campaign. The basic design of the rotary tools really hasn’t changed. A noisy as a choking cat universal motor of about 100-150 watts in a plastic body. Sold in a plastic case with some fairly dodgy attachments here and there. Handy as heck for odd cutting jobs and amateur hobby work/mods. But not a pro tool by any measure
These oscillating tools strike me much the same. Every brand name in the world came out with one when Fein scored big with their infomercials. Yet the Fein tool had beeen around for years. Much like the original Dremels it was a niche product. Marketing is king.
I agree with the poster above who suggested Fein. Menard’s had a version in stock for awhile that was superbly thought out. VERY ergonomic feel, lightweight, etc. I would buy it over many other brands which feel clubbish and over heavy. Bosch would be a second choice for me. Meh to the others. They all feel awkward to me.
Stuart
With the rotary tools, there were differences between 4000, 4200, and 4300 series tools.
The 4200 doesn’t seem to have worked out as well as intended.
The newest Fein and Bosch Starlock oscillating tools are quite a bit more expensive. The Dremel versions always seemed to have appealed with DIYers shopping on price. There’s a convenience factor as well, since most hardware stores carry a tool or two, plus a selection of accessories.
A lot of people like the Dremel tools, and I would argue that there’s a place for them in the market. But I’m having trouble finding the selling points for this particular new model.
satch
Stuart, what are the major differences in the rotary tools? I think one comes with the EZLock devise installed and one came with the keyless chuck(really an adjustable collet to me). These options are a few dollars apiece as addons and hardly warrant a new model tool.
I would wager there is zero difference in any of the internals of the 4XXX series. One might have a slightly different controller to help maintain rpm under load but I suspect they all have the same motor, bearings, bushings, etc.
This really isn’t anti-Dremel. They are marketing their name and there is nothing wrong with that. I just don’t want them to go full Black & Decker and essentially send their brand to irrelevance because of confusing models and quality control. I vaguely remember some issue with the 4200 but cannot place it just now.
This new oscillating tool is much the same to me. You provided links to two perfectly suitable Dremel models at good prices. Like you, I would ask; where does this fit.? You can walk into any Menard’s and buy a Performax or Masterforce oscillating tool of similar quality for about 40 – 80 dollars.
Retail at Menard’s for the Dremel oscillators runs 109 to 189 depending upon model. MM 30 at the low end, MM40 at 139, and the Veolicty at 189. So significantly higher than your good Amazon links. At th3 Amazon price points I could live with the more proprietary blade mount system. At the big box retail prices I would definitely move up to Bosch or Fein.
satch
Gents, as quick aside, Menard’s has the Fein MultiTalent on sale right now. 179 retail, on sale for 119. Add in then11% across the store rebate and it comes to $105! The entry model butmfor my use, perfect. And it has the StarLoc attachment. Will probably bag one. Comes with sander pad, nine sanding sheets, and five blades. Carry bag too. A deal.
fred
When Fein still had their patents in force – it was buy their Multimaster or (later on) a Supercut – or buy nothing. It was sort of like the situations with phones when AT&T / Western Electric dominated the landscape. The phones were good – but you had little choice. Once competition came in – with phones – and now OMT’s – we have lots of choices, different price points and varying quality. The OMT market seems to be getting saturated – so hype may be creeping in to replace real innovation. I’m happy with my corded Fein – especially considering how much or little I use it these days.
Stuart
Going to the 4200, the selling point was the new tool-free collet/chuck.
Then, the 4300 brought back a collet but was bundled with a drill chuck. Without looking at my post, I believe it’s smaller size is also a benefit compared to the 4000.
There’s no reason why they wouldn’t update the rotary tools and multi-tools over time.
For the most part, the changes sometimes seem to be iterative, but that’s okay. It’s the same for many tool brands.
fred
Back in May you posted about a Dremel 3000 rotary tool kit on a good sale ($45) on Amazon. I bought one as a gift – and (yesterday) thought to check with the recipient. Well – his was apparently defective – stopped working within the first hour of use – and got returned for a refund.
Amazon is good with their refund policy – but I wonder what’s up with Dremel/Bosch. I guess that QA/QC and/or cheapened designs that tend to fail or cause manufacturing issues in China have struck again.
I have an old Dremel 280 – that I used a lot (before I invested in Foredom stuff) with a Dremel 219 speed controller, #223 stand and #225 flex shaft. The 280 is probably something like 40 years old, made in the USA, had its brushes replaced but still works. I probably paid as much for it (much more if you convert the 1980’s dollars to 2018) than I paid for the #3000. Dremel built their reputation on tools like the 280 – but If my experience with the 3000 is any indicator – that reputation is being severely tarnished by spotty tools out of China.
Since most Amazon reviews for the 3000 were 5 stars, I thought to take a chance with what I thought was a good sale. It was good – only in that the recipient tried it out quickly so that he could return it. I expected better – not some “HF quality” rotary tool with a Dremel name on it with a price to match.
ToolOfTheTrade
I’m not sure if innovative is the best way to describe a new version that is not as good as the older version but costs more. Other than an unnoticeable motor tweak and a few cosmetic changes, it’s basically been the same thing since dremel started making these. And Bosch and dremel are the a big part of the reason why multi tool blades aren’t universal and I bet that it doesn’t come with the adapter. I had the mm40 and it seemed decent until I used it on plaster & lath in addition to a tub surround with mudbed for a bath reno.(Customer was very sensitive to dust and requested it to be minimal which is why the multi tool.)Bought a bunch of new blades and that POS dremel quit on me a little more than halfway through the demo and I had to make an emergency purchase from Walmart for some dirt cheap brand x hypetougher multi tool which was like $12.99 (big box stores closed at 7 that Sunday) and it got it done and still works to this day. That mm40 was less than 90 days old from when I purchased it. So that should tell you how shitty dremel and their innovations are and it definitely speaks volumes about the inferior quality and methods dremel products are made with. I can’t speak for the sawmax, I’ve never used one. But if they really want to be considered innovative, they should bring back the dremel Motoshop all-in-one bench grinder/disc sander/jigsaw/buffer/flex shaft rotary tool and the motosaw power coping saw. Mototool. Old school built to last with today’s tech would be badass and definitely innovative. But with the poor choice of materials and inferior methods they use to manufacture today, it would probably be a total disaster because they’d try cheap it out with plastic parts and there’s no way a machine like that could perform properly with cheap crappy parts. Anyways, the mm35 seems unappealing but more expensive.
Bigglesworth keith
Just love my porter cable corded from England
Bigglesworth keith
Love my por
satch
Gents, while the Fein MultiTalent is still on sale at Menard’s it is not as good as yestefday’s deal. It is still on sale at 119 but yeterday ended their 11% storewide sale. I missed out but may still get one anyway at this price.
Menard’s lists it as discontinued but I believe it just means from their stores. It still shows up as a current product on Fein’s site. At 119 it is still the best value in OMT…this week. And it comes with the StarLoc fitting.
Redcastle
The existing Dremel OMT accessories available in the UK are not compatible with other manufacturer’s tools unless you purchase a special adaptor (priced accordingly). There are some accessories they make which fall in to the weird and occasionally useful category however they would not be useful enough to warrant purchasing the Dremel tool which is very expensive over here. I missed the debate on the PB Swiss medical tools which is of great personal interest to me as my left foot currently contains a s”large amount of scaffolding” according to the surgical team (they should know they put it there.) and I passed on the article from Toolguyd as one of the screws is in the process of unscrewing itself which I am much more concerned about than they are. The tool used to remove my cast which happens every two weeks is an OMT with a very special blade developed by a firm in the USA (Stryker) which cuts plaster and bone but not soft tissue. Stryker’s website claims that they invented the OMT which seems unlikely to me as all the people I know at Fein are adamant that it was them. With regards to the closeness between medical procedures and carpentry a number of physicians were recommending amputation as the solution to my problem and that has to be the closest comparison.
Adam
Ill go to my dad’s office and take a pic of the blade on his machine this week. Just knowing how long casts have been cut off, and in the same method, I’m leaning towards Stryker designed the OMT, well maybe not multi, as it really only had one purpose. So from that perspective, I could see Dremel doing the ‘multi’ portion.
satch
Redcastle, sorry to hear of your injury. I am glad you seem to have escaped the amputeer’s saw. It would be interesting to see the Styker blade you speak of.
I know Fein held a great many patents on the oscillating tools but I wonder if Stryker(I am not familiar with thart name regarding tools) may have invented the blade type?
As to Dremel, it gets confusing. Since Bosch owns it there is much ado about what gets distributed where. Dremel’s core identity was decent quality rotary and other hobby tools aimed at amateur tinkerers, makers, and even semi-professional jewelers. They made serviceable if unremarkable rotary tools, scroll saws, soldering irons, and a few other items. Decent stuff at reasonable prices.
After Bosch bought them things changed a lot. Don’t grt me wrong. All platforms need changes and good updates. But now we see Dremel tool models come and go at an alarming pace and the quality is very suspect. Bosch(my opinion) intentionally keeps much if not all the Bosch ‘green’ products out of the U.S. and keeps Dremel pricing too high in Europe and the UK.
And no one seems to know how much of Bosch design and manufacture is in Dremel tools and how much of Dremel is some Bosch branded items. Here is an example. The 10.8v/12v Bosch batteries are the obvious parentage of the type used in the Dremel 8220 rotary tool. You can find YouTube videos show ing how to easily interchange the outer shell to make them work either way.
Yet you can go right back to YouTube and see a Russian bloke freely interchanging the Dremel batteries with Bosch batteries from Europe in the green persuasion. So here in the States, if you want extra or replacement batteries for the 8220 you are likely to pay a lot more for them than comparable Bosch ‘blue’ batteries which don’t fit out of the box. For plug and play you have to have Dremel branded batteries and no one here can sell us the comoatible ‘green’ ones. Very irritating and I am a big Bosch fan.
satch
Sorry, should have been; compatible gren batteries.