Dremel has launched a new 3-in-1 Digital Laser Distance Measuring Tool, with the tag line point it, pull it, roll it.
In their customer newsletter, Dremel says that one tool measures up in 3 unique ways, and can be used for measuring distance, area, circumference, curves, and also uneven surfaces.
At its core, the Dremel 3Z Laser Measurer, model HSLM-01, is a laser distance measuring tool with 65′ range and ±1/8″ accuracy.
The Dremel laser can be used in much of the same ways as other basic laser distance measuring tools, for taking point to point measurements where a conventional tape measure might be too short or clumsy to use.
The laser operation is simple, with just one button. It can store 2 measurements at a time and has a built-in area calculation function.
But, there’s more to it than just the laser distance measuring functionality.
The Dremel 3Z Laser Measurer comes with two attachments – one has a roller and the other a measuring tape.
Both the roller and tape measurement attachments said to have 5-foot measurement ranges.
The Dremel wheel attachment is described as being used for measuring the distances between two points in interior areas.
The tape adapter can be used for measuring circumferences, such as of vases and pipes, or the lengths of freestanding objects, such as TVs, shelves, and other such interior areas.
It looks like both attachments can quickly measure uneven shapes without having to improvise or do any math.
The tape has a negative LCD display with backlight, and is operated by 2xAAA batteries (included).
Dremel ships the laser with both attachments (wheel and tape measure).
Price: $79.97
This laser is part of Dremel’s Home Solutions collection and looks to be launching as a Home Depot exclusive.
Discussion
If you’re looking for a basic laser distance measuring tool, the Bosch 65′ GLM20 is a solid recommendation.
I find a couple of things to be curious.
First, Dremel recently released a new cordless rotary tool with built-in Bluetooth connectivity. I would have expected them do the same here, but they didn’t.
Second, Dremel advertises the new 3-in-1 laser alongside their “4V cordless USB tools” in their introductory consumer newsletter, but this tool does not come with a built-in rechargeable battery. Instead, the Dremel laser measurer is powered by 2xAAA batteries.
I am pleased with both design decisions, although I would have expected for one or both of these features in an $80 tool.
Dremel is a Robert Bosch company, and so they likely leveraged Bosch’s laser distance measuring tool tech for this product. (That’s another good thing.)
I can understand why the laser is sold as a kit with both attachments, but $80 seems steep. As an aside, Dremel does not show or describe a case, but I hope the measurer comes with one, to help users avoid losing the attachments.
The 3-in-1 functionality seems a little gimmicky, but it could work. There’s a fine line between gimmick and innovation, and I think that Dremel landed firmly on the innovation side.
Let’s talk about the price.
$80 is more than enough for a standard-style tape measure or two, a soft tape measure, and a great basic laser distance measuring tool, but it might be difficult to match the roller wheel attachment’s functionality.
There are a couple of things differentiating the new Dremel laser distance measuring tool from other one-button basic laser measurer devices, but the attachment interface and 2 included accessories are going to be the biggest deal.
I find this to be an interesting and unexpected launch. Dremel’s marketing language very strongly suggests that I am far from their target audience here. However, while this isn’t the type of tool that would appeal to me, I definitely do see how it might appeal to homeowners and other such tool users.
