New Dremel 4300 Rotary Tool

Dremel has come out with a new generation of rotary tool, the 4300. You can find it at Amazon, and it should be available elsewhere this quarter.

So what’s so different or special about the new Dremel 4300?

Dremel has offered a 3-jaw attachment for a very long time, and it remains a popular accessory (from what I’ve seen). Each rotary tool works with a collet system as standard, with the 3-jaw attachment being an optional add-on.

The new Dremel 4300 rotary tool kit can be used with a collet or 3-jaw accessory. A 3-jaw chuck is included in both 4300 kits currently available, and the tool is shown equipped with the 3-jaw chuck in each and every product image.

It’s emphasized in the description to, as a Universal 3 Jaw Chuck.

I asked Dremel about this, and they said that:

Adding the 3-jaw chuck is all about simplicity…

Feedback from our consumers tells us that using the collet represents a significant learning curve for many people and they would rather that collets be done away with. The 4300 represents ease of use, simplicity and providing consumers what they have asked for.

Generally, 3-jaw chucks are great for vertical (perpendicular) loads, and collets for side loads. That’s why you’ll see drills with 3-jaw chucks and tools like routers with collets.

I asked Dremel about this, and they said:

The same engineering standards for run-out and side-load apply for the 3-jaw chuck as they do for our collet system. While some users hand-tighten the chuck, it is made to accept our wrench and the wrench should be used to tighten the chuck for proper securing of the accessory.

We include collets with the 4300 so users have a choice of whether to use the chuck, or if they prefer to use collets for any application whether it has a heavy side-load (such as routing) or not.

That makes me a little more open-minded about the 3-jaw chuck, but I’m likely to stick to my generalizations.

The 4300 can work with standard Dremel attachments, such as their detailer’s grip, and also comes with a rotating Pivot Light LED worklight.

This LED worklight module can be used with any standard Dremel rotary tool, as it’s held in place by the threaded nose cap, and so we might see it sold as a separate accessory later on.

Features & Specs

• 1.8A motor with electronic feedback (Dremel’s most powerful motor yet)
• 5,000 to 35,000 RPM variable speed
• Slim, ergonomic body with 360° grip zone
• Redesigned airflow system for cool, quiet, smooth operation

Amazon’s tool comparison table shows the Dremel 4300 alongside 4000 and 3000 series rotary tools, and the Fortiflex flex-shaft tool, but not the 4200.

Right now, the 4300 will be sold alongside the Dremel 4200, but my guess is that the 4300 might replace the 4200 and its innovative tool-free collet mechanism.

At launch, you have 2 choices of Dremel 4300 kits.

Dremel 4300 5/40 Kit

This kit comes with the rotary tool, 5 attachments, and 40 accessories.

Attachments include:

• Pivot Light
• Lawn mower and gardening tool sharpener (675)
• Guard attachment (A550)
• Multipurpose cutting kit (565)
• Sanding/grinding guide (A576)

The accessories list includes some nice stuff, including EZ Lock sanding discs and cutting wheels.

Price: $120

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Dremel 4300 9/64 Kit

This more featured, and pricier, kit comes with 9 attachments and 64 accessories. The attachments include:

• Pivot Light
• Garden tool sharpener (679)
• Guard attachment (A550)
• Multipurpose cutting guide (565)
• Sanding/grinding guide (565)
• Flex shaft (225)
• Detailer’s grip (A577)
• Circle cutter and straight edge guide (678)
• Right angle attachment (575)

There’s a greater selection of EZ Lock accessories here, including the EZ Change sanding drum, polishing wheels, and a wood cutting wheel, just to name a few.

Price: $200

Buy Now(via Amazon)

First Thoughts

When Dremel came out with their semi tool-free collet wrench nosepiece, I thought that the learning curve for beginners was dramatically reduced. And with the EZ Change accessories, it’s never been easier to work with Dremel rotary tools.

The Dremel 4300 is the first Dremel rotary tool to allow tool-less and collet-less accessory changes with the inclusion of the three-jaw chuck. The chuck accepts all Dremel accessory shank sizes for fast and convenient accessory changes without ever using a wrench.

Dremel’s marketing rubs me the wrong way. The Dremel 4300 is NOT the first Dremel rotary tool to allow for tool-less and collet-less accessory changes. All they did was throw their standard 3-jaw chuck in the box, and then pose the 4300 equipped with the drill-style chuck for all of the product photos.

This 4300-series tool is now Dremel’s most premium model, going by the model number and new powerful motor.

My contact at Dremel specifically mentioned that the [included collet wrench] wrench should be used to tighten the chuck for proper securing of the accessory. But it can be hand-tightened, perhaps for light duty tasks. But that’s more than a little different from the without ever using a wrench claims.

I’ve seen some great work done with Dremel rotary tools, and have used them in more ways than I’d try to remember.

I’m happy to see them marketing towards beginners, and more casual users. But I would also like to see some more products aimed at more experienced and demanding users.

I think that the 4300 shows some promise, and the new grip looks interesting.

If I were to buy a rotary tool right now, it’d likely be a 3000 series kit, unless it was more economical to get a 4000, 4200, or 4300 series kit with specific attachments and accessories I wanted.