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Whether you are a hobbyist or a professional tradesman, something that you were always going to need is a good set of tools. Now, if you don’t already have your tools, what you might be looking for here is what the best tool brand around is.
Well, two of the most ones out there at this time include Dremel and Bosch. Both are fantastic tool brands, but of course not at all the same. Let’s get right to it and compare both of these brands on a side-by-side basis to figure out which one is best for you.
A Brief History of Dremel and Bosch
What we need to clarify right off the bat is the fact that Dremel is indeed a brand name. Many of you when you hear the word Dremel might think of a rotary tool which is fair after all. The Dremel rotary tool is by far the most popular product from this brand, not to mention the most popular rotary tool in the world. For this reason, the terms Dremel and rotary tool are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same things.
As a brand, Dremel was first started by an Austrian immigrant by the name of Albert J. Dremel. When he moved to the United States, he founded the Dremel brand in 1932, in the city of Racine, Wisconsin. Dremel is still headquartered in this location to this day. Albert Dremel experimented with many types of power tools and electronics, some pretty far-out stuff, as he was quite the inventor. However, it was not until he made the hugely popular rotary tool that the brand really took off.
What is interesting is that Dremel introduced its first lithium-ion battery-powered rotary tool in 2003. Keep in mind that this company was owned by Dremel until 1973, when it was sold to Emerson Electric, which then sold it to the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in 1993. Yes, the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation is the parent company that owns both of the brands that we are comparing today. In terms of size, Dremel currently has under 200 employees with estimated annual revenues of roughly $37 million.
Dremel
Bosch, on the other hand, is a very old company, one that was founded by Robert Bosch in Stuttgart, Germany, all the way back in 1883, thus making it one of the older power tool producers in the world. Bosch as a brand is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, as it is officially known today. The company currently has its headquarters in Gerlingen, Germany.
Bosch is well-known for producing an impressive array of power tools, although the company does also service other market sectors including mobility solutions, industrial tech, consumer goods, energy and building tech, and more. In terms of product selection and size, this is by far one of the largest power tool producers in the world, and in fact, one of the largest companies worldwide as a whole. As a company, at this time, Bosch has somewhere in the neighborhood of 400,000 employees, with estimated annual revenues of nearly $100 billion. Yes, that is billion with a B.
Bosch
Dremel vs. Bosch: Which Offers Better Quality?
In terms of tool quality, what can be said about Dremel is that it might just be one of the very best and highest-quality tool brands in the world. Across the board, people are very impressed with the comfort, durability, and functionality of Dremel tools.
Whether it comes to basic use at home or professional use on the job site, you will be very hard-pressed to find higher-quality tools than these. Yes, Dremel tools, in general, are expensive, more so than most other brands, but that big-time price tag is well-justified. There is no denying the fact that Dremel makes only a very limited number of products, but they’re all top-notch.
On the other hand, when it comes to Bosch, the opposite is the case, at least generally speaking. What we mean is that Bosch produces a massive amount of tools. For instance, in 2018, Bosch produced well over 50 million power tools. In terms of quality, Bosch tools are known for being average, with some tools being mid/high-end, and with some also being mid/low-end.
People do say that Bosch tools are quite functional, comfortable, versatile, and durable, particularly cordless tools, but they just are not the best in the world. For the most part, Bosch tools are seen as being best for hobbyists, homeowners, and DIYers, but not really for heavy-duty and constant use for professional applications.
Let’s keep in mind that Bosch makes its tools, the majority of them, in Taiwan, China, Malaysia, and Mexico, with some being made in Switzerland, Germany, and the USA. Across the board, those tools made in the USA, Switzerland, and Germany are considered the best of the bunch.
At the end of the day, Dremel does have the higher quality products, although a very small selection.
Which Offers a Better Warranty?
Bosch features a one-year limited warranty on most power tools, with the ability to register the tool for a second year of coverage. All Dremel tools come with a two-year guarantee, one year if it is being used for professional applications. Yes, Dremel has the better warranty.
Dremel vs. Bosch: Which Has a Better Product Portfolio?
Dremel produces three specific types of tools, these being rotary tools, multi-tools, and saws (as well as 3D printers). This is everything Dremel makes, and within each of those categories, you will be hard-pressed to find more than ten products. Dremel is all about quality, not quantity.
Bosch is the exact opposite, well, for the most part anyway. Bosch produces a herculean number of tools on a yearly basis. Simply put, if you can imagine a power tool, then Bosch makes it, as well as much, much more.
Which of the Two Brands Should You Choose?
If you are looking for a high-quality rotary tool or multi-tool, and you are willing to pay for it, then Dremel is the way to go. For everything else other than those two things, as well as 3D printers, Bosch is the better choice.
Summary
When it comes down to it, both brands are great, but one, Dremel, is all about high-quality rotary and multi-tools, whereas Bosch is all about producing a wide variety of tools and products at affordable prices.