We’ve been using the Dremel Versatip for craft projects for a while now. We’d like to share our experience with this tool and why it should be in every crafters toolbox!

The Dremel Versatip is a highly diverse piece of kit. While usually aimed at the DIY market, there are endless possibilities of uses in crafts too. The Versatip even has a number of additional interchangeable ‘tips’. With a few hours of experimentation, you can achieve some great results! See what we’ve done with it so far here.

Gas Power vs Electric:

There are many standard pyrography tools that are the preferred choice for pyrographers. Therefore this tool may not be an obvious choice but there are so many great features you should know about.

Unlike the electric equivalents, the Dremel Versatip uses butane gas as its ‘power’ source. This is great for a number of reasons; firstly it means this tool is cordless! The Versatip is portable and you’re not restricted by having to plug it into a socket! The freedom to craft anywhere!

Having no trailing wire makes the Dremel Versatip a joy to hold and to use. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to get a good hold on the tool when a wire restricts your natural hand movement. On top of this it also means that you can hold this tool like you would a pen, or a marker.

Ease of Use:

If, like me, you have awkward socket placements in your house, something simple like plugging a tool in to use can be frustrating. This is especially annoying if you then need to use an extension lead because the cord isn’t long enough! This “setup” time quickly kills the fun and becomes a chore. Well, with the Versatip you can simply pick it up, spark it up and you’re good to go!

The reasons above demonstrate the main advantages of the tool. Also, here in the U.K., butane gas is relatively cheap. It’s available from most corner shops for less than £2 for a 200ml can. However, do bear in mind, the bigger or more detailed your project, the more gas you will need. The Dremel Versatip also has a low to high setting. This varies the amount of gas used and the temperature that the tips can reach. Some pieces of wood can be hard to burn, therefore, I would use a higher temperature. The tool is so easy to refuel. This is done by pressing the nozzle of the can into the valve on the base of the tool until it starts squealing at you. You’ll know when it’s nearing full capacity when the fuelling sound changes and gas begins to lightly spray from the can.

Some Tips about Tips:

Changing the tips is super easy and can be done with the spanner, which is provided. You simply twist and tighten with the spanner.

Always switch off and leave the tool to cool down for at least an hour before changing the tip. This tool can reach up to 1000 degrees centigrade and would happily melt through pretty much anything, including your skin, if you’re not careful. Always be mindful of how hot the tip could still be even if it’s not visibly red hot. If in doubt use the damp cooling sponge and put hot bits in the metal tray provided where they can cool own their own.

It’s worth pointing out; don’t be fooled into thinking the bits can only be used for their intended purpose. For example, I found that the cutting tip and the glue removal tip can be used to create interesting patterns and shading techniques.

Peppers top tip: Never run the Dremel Versatip under a tap or submerge in water to cool off the tips. The mechanics of the tool are exposed at the end and water damage will ruin the product beyond repair.

It’s definitely worth taking some time to familiarise yourself with the additional uses for the Dremel Versatip. Using scrap pieces of wood, to try out the different bits, will help you understand quite how diverse this tool really is.
Some additional uses include:

• Home DIY
• Cutting – Including pipe, rope & string, card, wire & plastics
• Welding
• Soldering
• Blow Torch
• Glue Removal

Where to buy:

We bought ours from Amazon, which offered a much better deal at the time we purchased. Not only that, Amazon stocks a multitude of accessories for this tool as well. So if you’re looking to purchase your next crafting tool it’s worth investing in some additional extras as well, for maximum fun!

I highly recommend buying from here:

[amazon_link asins=’B000QGC6XW,B017XWC9W4,B005NHXGNS,B0035PXX38,B0014GYQHC’ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’pepperscrafts-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’20638510-d13e-11e7-8812-5f93700caa46′]

I’ve got some other craft tool reviews coming soon so stay tuned, and see you next time!

Pepper x