Top 10 engravers

Eh, and after all Bosch sometimes knows how to please! You’ve probably already got used to the fact that we regularly write “batteries are not included in the price” in the list of minuses for the “blue” series battery power tools. Well, today, with a purely symbolic price difference with Dremel, we get both a box and two batteries for 2 ampere-hour each.

It is curious that, despite the transition to a 12-volt battery, Bosch says that all new tools and chargers are compatible with the old, designed for 10.8 V. That is, if you already have any " blue tool, then the likelihood that its batteries are useful and when working with a new engraver, only increases. Nowadays, when manufacturers seem to be competing in who comes up with more incompatible standards, this is definitely nice.

According to Bosch ergonomics, if it is inferior to Dremel, then very little, and this impression may well be caused by the habit of “dremely” forms. The thinner Bosch engraver is uniquely more convenient for fine work if you are not using a flexible hose. Moreover, there are still no sleeves in the kit ...

But this engraver is of little use for artwork: it is not only heavy (1.8 kg!), But it also thoroughly outweighs the battery, and acts as a cage in all directions. But the battery here is already 18 volts, which means that there is a choice of decent capacities, and unification with the other “blue” tool will not be superfluous either. Moreover, the bundle includes only one, in this case, by 4 ampere hours (an option is also available with a five-amp battery, but, naturally, more expensive).

The overall impression of the engraver, however, is good (not for nothing is it included in the rating?). Due to the maximum revolutions lowered to 22,000 rpm and the “fleshy” linings on the body, it does not tire with vibrations, and the mass itself also works for the benefit. The four-pole electromotor develops a good torque and is equipped with overload and overheat protection - in the plumbing work it will not be superfluous. The maximum diameter of the collet is 8 mm, although out of the box the engraver has only 6 mm: strange savings, considering that it is just such a low-speed engraver that will most often be used with thick nozzles, which usually have an eight-millimeter shank. However, the nozzles offered by the Bosch catalog are all like six millimeter picks, so the manufacturer seems to tactfully remind you: “buy the original.”

Hmm ... Perhaps, let's take back our words about the ergonomics of the BOSCH GGS 18 V-LI: the engraver of the Metabo GA 18 LTX is far less convenient, and it also weighs 300 grams more. Of course, due to the “all-wideness” due to the long nose of the case, it comes forward, but in the end it still becomes too specialized a tool.

Okay, let's and about the good. Do not take away a powerful motor from a Metabo straight grinder, moreover, a brushless motor: paired with a 5.2-ampere-hour complete battery, it perfectly shows itself in hard work. The motor is equipped with all the necessary protections — for example, turning it on when the spindle is locked will not work. There is even a protection against power failure that is not typical for a battery tool: if you disconnect the battery “on the move” and reconnect it, the motor will not start without switching the switch to “off” and back to “on”.Working with both hands is comfortable enough thanks to a soft rubber pad that forms a kind of “forend”. And it is worth noting the three-year warranty on branded batteries: their inevitable aging when used professionally can make a serious contribution to the total cost of operation. Bosch, for example, on the same 18-volt lithium-ionics gives a guarantee of only 2 years.

Nevertheless, in the ranking of the best engravers, Metabo finally let the price down: no matter how good it is in some types of work, it is one of the most expensive engravers in our stores.

This engraver is a much bigger tool for a home craftsman than for an artist, which is clearly hinted at by the dumbbell-shaped body and the rather big weight (1.7 kg). The collets here are also “adults” and allow you to use tooling with a shank from 3 to 8 mm - these are, as a rule, large cutters for metal processing (welds, joints, etc.), cutting discs and disk cutters.

In principle, if we consider “Makita” as a purely metalworking tool, it is quite good. The following points fail: first, a heavy 18-volt lithium-ion battery is used, significantly shifting the balance of the instrument back and thus loading the fingers. Secondly - this battery is NOT included in the package, as there is no charger for it. At this point, the author asks to turn away from the monitor of children and women who accidentally read this article, because without sophisticated curses it is impossible to describe such a manufacturer’s decision: when buying a BGD801Z, you will have to immediately purchase at least two expensive batteries and a charger for them, as a result, the amount purchases will increase significantly compared with the seemingly attractive figure on the price tag - the BGD801RFE kit, in which all this already exists, costs three (!!!) times more expensive. For this alone, “Makita” is worthy of a noticeable reduction in the score.

Ergonomic high performance engraver - short and precise definition for the Dremel 4000-4 / 65. Its 175-watt engine develops up to 35,000 revolutions per minute and has good torque. Unlike cheap engravers, where revolutions are regulated by lowering the voltage on the motor windings and with it the torque decreases significantly, here a full-fledged revolving system is used - depending on the load, the voltage can automatically vary, and even at minimum revolutions the engraver perfectly pulls the tool.

In addition, there is an excellent delivery package: there is a flexible shaft, which many branded kits lack, and a milling protractor, and a stand for sharpening various cutting tools. The only pity is that they are not made in the best way, and in most cases only flexible shaft will be useful - but, unlike cheap Chinese, it is not overheating and does not play.

Not to mention certain problems with the quality of the assembly, more precisely, the installation of the brushes: many users have noted either a strong swimming speed or a clear decrease in torque. However, this defect of assembly manifests itself, if not immediately in the store, then in the near future, so that if there is a guarantee, it will not cause problems, and with our own hands at worst, we can easily eliminate it. But on the Internet you shouldn’t buy Dremel 4000-4 / 65.

For a tool with a specific grip like engravers, ergonomics is one of the main selection criteria. Elitech is good in this respect - although the engraver weighs 0.75 kg (for a 170-watt holder this is a bit much), it is quite comfortable in the hand and especially - when installing a removable handle that definitely exceeds the comfort of other manufacturers.

As for unconventional solutions, this is the only engraver with a digital (!) Indication of turns. If the setting itself has already been met on the Dremel Micro with the plus and minus buttons, no one else uses the display. This feature or useful feature is up to you, but the operation of the digital speed controller really deserves praise. The delivery set is also quite good - there are a lot of nozzles, and a flexible sleeve with a stand for the engraver's suspension.

Enough controversial model engraver. It is far from the most powerful (130 W) and not the most resourceful (rotational speed - 30 thousand revolutions per minute), not the easiest (0.65 kg). On the other hand, here, in comparison with Chinese competitors, there is a much more reliable engine, which does not overheat until the appearance of the smell of burning plastic, like the "Calibers" and begin to flood the counters of Ryobi.

All controls are rendered on a mini-stick pistol type. The decision is controversial, since in reality you can only hold onto it with two fingers, while holding the case, the power key is between the hand and the handle. The engraver is much more convenient when hanging on a barbell and working with a complete flexible shaft.

By the way, about the set: it was she who became the reason for the price. Instead of the usual mini-case, the “Bison” is packed in a whole suitcase, which in addition to it contains a huge number of different attachments.A more complete set of “buy and start working immediately” in our market has not been encountered. So, if we had the nomination "The best engraver for beginners," "Bison" could claim it.

It looks bright and inexpensive - we think you should not specify the country where this engraver is made? Therefore, the moments that need to be paid attention to when buying are common to cheap engravers of “yellow” origin. Immediately in the store, it is definitely worth giving the engraver to work at high revs: let it give you an insufficiently high-quality balancing, if the instrument is released with such a flaw, and the “itchy” engraver is better to put aside. You can feel the quick heating in your hands too.

If the specific instance that has come across does not have any obvious assembly problems, then it is quite possible to take it: its ergonomics is not bad, and a 160 W motor will suffice for most of the works. The main thing - do not forget to grease the flexible shaft, and the nozzles should be bought more qualitatively. Alas, there are no miracles for “inexpensively”, although the author, who has been waiting for 10 years, when the purchased “literally“ sharpen ”the“ Caliber ”just once, wants to note that China is not always so terrible.

Engraver Sturm! drew attention with an unconventional solution to illuminate the working area - instead of the LED mounted near the spindle, there is a removable mini-flashlight on a flexible base. In some cases, it is really convenient, but the backlight can always be removed.

With its 170 watts, the Sturm engine gives out up to 32 thousand revolutions per minute, however, as on all models with a primitive adjustment of revolutions, here the torque decreases at a low rotation frequency. What exactly will not please anyone in the engraver is its weight of almost one and a half kilograms, it can be used for engraving only with a flexible shaft. The same shaft that comes in the kit, noticeably backlash and overheating under load, as with most Chinese engravers.

So best of all this engraver is suitable for small joinery and plumbing works - drilling, cutting, grinding, but for the artist he is unsuitable.