Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've wanted a Dremel tool for years but never really needed one. Lately, some of my hobbies called for the things that a Dremel can do. After reading every review on Amazon (and elsewhere) I have come to believe that Dremel is living off its reputation. Then again, it seemed that unless you can spend several hundred dollars, these rotary tools are all junk. What the heck. For $25 I though I'd give the cheapest Dremel a try. Based on the reviews of the more expensive models, it seemed as though the weakest link was the variable speed control. As the 7300 has only 2 speeds, that might just eliminate the issue. After using the 7300 for a few months, I have to admit that it meets my meager needs and meets them very well. Don't mistake this for a "kit". It comes with a few accessories, but be prepared to spend a lot more for the accessories you'll need. Actually, you'll spend more on accessories than you did on the tool itself. The battery is a NiCad. Old technology that should have been discontinued years ago. Most people don't know that you have to let a NiCad battery completly die before attempting to recharge it. Do otherwise, and it takes less and less of a charge each time. That's why so many folks complain about poor battery life. Look, this is only a 4.8v battery. It's not going to give long run time and isn't going to provide the torque of a more powerful battery. If you need more power, you will have to spend more money. I get about 15 minutes run time before needing to re-charge and have two options. I can be patient and wait for the battery to charge or I can buy a second battery. Yeah, the second option seems to make more sense, but it's $16 and the entire tool only cost $25. Also, unless you use the tool often, you're going to find your batteries pretty much dead anyway. This tool does what it's supposed to do, which is to provide lite duty performance for short periods of time. If you need a heavy duty tool, go spend a few hundred dollars and buy a professional model. Personally, after reading the reviews, I would never buy a more expensive Dremel than the 7300.