Dremel vs. Black & Decker: Which of the Two Brands Is Better?

Dremel vs. Black & Decker: Which of the Two Brands Is Better?

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If you are planning to buy some new tools, one of the most important considerations that you need to keep in mind is the brand. Of course, there are dozens of power tool brands to choose from, so much selection that it can give you a headache.

Two of the most popular tool brands out there include Dremel and Black & Decker. Both are very popular and reputable tool brands, but they’re not at all the same. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between these two so you can figure out which one is better for you.

A Brief History of Dremel and Black & Decker

First off, we have Dremel, which as opposed to what many may think, is actually a brand name. Yes, the Dremel brand is best known for producing rotary tools, ones that are so widespread, common, and popular, that the rotary tools are often called Dremel. In other words, the terms Dremel and rotary tool are often used interchangeably, whereas one is actually a brand and the other is a type of tool.

Dremel as a brand was first founded by an Austrian Inventor by the name of Albert J. Dremel. He immigrated to the USA, where he founded the brand in 1932. He did so in the city of Racine, Wisconsin, the same place where the brand still has its headquarters today.

The company was independently owned for quite some time, until 1973 when it was sold to Emerson Electric. Emerson Electric then sold Dremel to the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in 1993. Dremel is to this day still a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bosch. On an interesting side note, Dremel introduced its first lithium-ion battery tool in 2003.

 

Long Story Short…

Dremel

Dremel is an American power tool company that was founded in 1932. It is best-known for its rotary tools with which it has become synonymous.

 

On the other hand, we have Black & Decker, an American power tool manufacturer which was founded by Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker in 1910, hence the name. When it was first created in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, it was originally called The Black & Decker Manufacturing Company.

Keep in mind that in 2010, Black & Decker joined forces with Stanley Works to become Stanley Black & Decker. It can be a bit confusing, but what you need to know is that Black & Decker is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker, the same parent company that also owns several other power tool brands including DeWalt and Craftsman.

In terms of popularity, Black & Decker is definitely up there, as it is known for producing a wide assortment of power tools, accessories, lawn and garden equipment, hardware, home improvement products, and fastening systems. Black & Decker is truly a behemoth in the world of tools, with well over 30,000 employees and estimated annual revenues of nearly $12 billion.

 

Long Story Short…

Black & Decker

Part of the same group as DeWalt, Black & Decker makes entry-level tools. Its products are affordable and of a good enough quality for home use.

 

Dremel vs. Black & Decker: Which Offers Better Quality?

Let’s talk about Black & Decker first, a brand that is known for making some pretty high-quality tools. For the most part, people can agree that these tools are above average in terms of durability and functionality. People seem to agree that Black & Decker tools are lightweight, functional, and quite durable.

Another big selling point of these tools is that they are quite affordable. These tools are marketed as being mid/high-end tools that come in at mid/low-end prices. They are marketed mainly towards DIYers, hobbyists, and people looking to do some home repairs and improvements. However, Black & Decker tools are generally not considered ideal for long-term and heavy-duty daily use for professional purposes.

Yes, some people still use them on a jobsite, but they probably are not the number one tools for heavy-duty daily use. The main reason why Black & Decker can sell its tools for so cheap is that most of them are made in China. Yet, when it comes to Chinese-made tools, these do appear to be some of the best.

Black & Decker Jigsaw

On the other hand, we have Dremel, which in all reality, is seen as one of the highest quality tool brands out there. Yes, the selection is very limited, perhaps more so than with any other tool brand, but what Dremel focuses on is quality. What you get here is a conscious choice of quality over quantity. Whether we are talking about Dremel rotary tools, multi-tools, or handheld saws, they are all excellent, perhaps the very best in the world.

Of course, this super high level of quality does come with a cost, a very high cost, but you get what you pay for. Just in case you are wondering, Dremel tools (for the most part), are made in the USA, China, and Mexico, with the USA-made tools generally being the best of the bunch.

Which Offers a Better Warranty?

Dremel offers a two-year guarantee on all tools used for home use, and a one-year guarantee for all tools used for commercial applications. Finding the warranty info for Black & Decker is not easy. However, from what we have managed to gather, it offers limited lifetime warranties on some products, as well as two-year limited warranties on many of the tools.

If there was more warranty info available about Black & Decker, we may say that it has the better warranties, but as it stands, the two-year guarantee that Dremel offers on all of its tools just cannot be beaten.

Dremel Tool in Use

Dremel vs. Black & Decker: Which Has a Better Product Portfolio?

What we need to stress here is that Dremel is all about quality. All in all, its site only has four sections. These are rotary tools, multi-tools, saws, and 3D printers. Within each category, there is not all that much selection. When it comes down to it, Dremel produces a very limited number of products, but once again, performance and durability are world-class.

Black & Decker on the other hand has many product categories and many products within each category. In terms of hardware, power tools, hand tools, mechanic tools, lawn and garden equipment, and more, it’s one of the best brands in terms of selection worldwide.

Which of the Two Brands Should You Choose?

If what you are looking for are top-quality rotary tools, small power saws, and multi-tools, then Dremel is the way to go (if you are willing to pay top dollar).

For everything else, Black & Decker is the better choice.

Black & Decker Drill

Summary

There you have it people, everything you need to know about Dremel and Black & Decker to make an informed decision between the two.

How Do Dremel and Black & Decker Compare with Other Brands?

See how Dremel compares with: BoschDeWalt | Makita | Milwaukee | Tacklife

See how Black & Decker compares with: Bosch | Craftsman | DeWaltKobalt | Makita | Milwaukee | Porter-Cable | Ryobi | Skil | StanleyWorx