When it comes to the world of power tools, two of the most popular brands that you might run into are Dremel and DeWalt. Now, both of these brands are extremely popular and are widely used by both hobbyists and professionals worldwide.
With that being said, they are very different brands and they do not at all produce the same types of tools, at least not in the grand scheme of things. Let’s figure out what the major differences between the two are, so you can make an informed decision about which one to go with.
A Brief History of Dremel and DeWalt
Something that we need to say right from the beginning is that Dremel is a brand name, not just a tool. Yes, when many people hear the word Dremel, they imagine that classic rotary tool that this brand makes. The words Dremel and rotary tool have become synonymous to the point where people don’t even realize that Dremel is an actual brand that produces more than just that rotary tool.
The Dremel brand was first started by a man named Albert J. Dremel, who was an Austrian immigrant that moved to the United States. He moved to the city of Racine, Wisconsin, where he founded Dremel in 1932. In the beginning, Albert Dremel experimented with many different types of technologies, and he invented a wide variety of tools, many of which were seen as quite insane and very unique. Albert Dremel’s first real success was the invention of the Dremel rotary tool, which is still very popular to this day, with the first lithium-ion powered rotary tool being introduced in 2003.
Dremel sold the company to Emerson Electric in 1973, which then in 1993 sold it again to the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, which to this day is still the parent company of Dremel. At this point, Dremel has somewhere around 200 employees, with annual revenues estimated at roughly $37 million.
Dremel
As a company, DeWalt is a little bit older than Dremel, as it was founded in 1923 by Raymond E. DeWalt, the same man who invented the world’s first radial arm saw, which then of course became one of the flagship products of DeWalt. By 1947, the company had been incorporated as DeWalt Inc.
What is interesting to note is the DeWalt was sold to the American Machine & Foundry Co. in 1949, which then sold it to Black & Decker in 1960. Black & Decker then merged with Stanley Works to become Stanley Black & Decker, which is the owner of DeWalt to this day.
DeWalt is generally considered to be the higher-end line or brand of tools sold by Stanley Black & Decker. DeWalt is a huge company known for making a very wide variety of tools and lawn and garden equipment. According to recent stats, DeWalt has somewhere in the neighborhood of 13,000 employees, with annual revenues estimated at over $4 billion.
DeWalt
Dremel vs. DeWalt: Which Offers Better Quality?
First off, we have Dremel, which when it comes to tool quality, is seen as one of the best, if not the very best tool brand in the world. Now, what you need to know is that Dremel does not make very many tools, not at all.
The lineup of Dremel tools is perhaps one of the most limited in the whole world, but with that said, what you get with Dremel is quality, not quantity. Home hobbyists, DIYers, and professionals alike are more than happy to use all sorts of Dremel products. In terms of durability, longevity, functionality, comfort, and versatility, Dremel products are seen as being some of the very best out there.
Of course, Dremel products are not cheap, not at all. However, once again, we think that they are well worth the investment due to their extremely high level of quality. The vast majority of Dremel’s products are made in the USA, Mexico, and China, with those made in the USA being decidedly superior.
In terms of DeWalt, this is regarded as a fairly high-quality brand of tools and related equipment. In the grand scheme of things, it is a fairly well-respected brand that is regarded for producing tools that are used by a variety of people, including home hobbyists, DIYers, contractors, and other professionals alike.
For the most part, DeWalt tools are considered fairly versatile, durable, and long-lasting. Now, they might not be the number one durable tools in the world, maybe not the best for extremely heavy-duty and long-term use, but for the most part, professionals are happy to use them day in and day out on the job site.
What is interesting to note is that although this brand is known for producing fairly high-quality products, the prices are fairly reasonable. No, the tools are definitely not the cheapest in the world, but also not the most expensive.
In terms of where these tools are made, this brand does make a lot of its tools overseas in the Global South. With that said, there are also a lot of Europe- and USA-produced tools, which in the year 2014, accounted for about 62 million pieces. Yes, the tools that are produced both in the USA and in Europe are seen as the best ones, and these include things like impact drivers, drills, grinders, and reciprocating saws.
All of the countries in which DeWalt tools are made include Mexico, Brazil, China, Italy, United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and the United States.
Which Offers a Better Warranty?
All Dremel tools come with a two-year guarantee, one year if it is being used for professional applications.
With DeWalt, not only is the warranty info a little hard to find, but it also depends on the specific product in question. DeWalt offers 30-day money-back guarantees, 3-year limited warranties, 7-year warranties, limited lifetime warranties, and even full lifetime warranties.
It does appear as though DeWalt has the better warranties across the board.
Dremel vs. DeWalt: Which Has a Better Product Portfolio?
The most important thing to note here is that Dremel is very limited in terms of product selection. This brand really only makes a small handful of tools including rotary tools, oscillating multi-tools, small handheld saws, and 3D printers. Between these categories, you won’t find more than 100 products.
DeWalt, on the other hand, makes literally thousands of products, all sorts of power tools, mechanic’s tools, handheld tools, and lawn and garden equipment too.
Which of the Two Brands Should You Choose?
If you need a really nice rotary tool or multi-tool, then Dremel is the way to go, particularly if you are after quality.
However, for virtually everything else, it is DeWalt that you want to go with.
Summary
When all has been said and done, both of these brands are perfectly fine options to go with in their own respects. Which brand you choose is going to be determined primarily by your purpose.