Dremel Engraver

Verdict: A way to decorate your PC with prescision

When it comes to decorating a computer, some of the best effects can be achieved by etching a design on your case's side window or paintwork. Normally, the best way to do this is to use Dremel's Multitool with an engraving bit. However, for such a delicate task, a full-sized Multitool can be quite unwieldy and the rapidly spinning cutting bit exaggerates even the slightest mistake.

Dremel's new Engraver tool makes the task a lot easier. Instead of having a rapidly spinning blade that cuts using abrasive action, as with the Multitool, the Engraver has a carbide steel tip that vibrates rapidly and hammers lots of tiny indentations into the surface on which you're working. As a result, instead of spinning and jumping in your hand the way the Multitool does, the Engraver produces far less vibrations and is therefore much easier to control.

As the Engraver is designed only to engrave, Dremel has been able to make the tool easy to use, even for first-time users. You simply cradle the tool's rubber grip between your thumb and index finger, just as you would hold a pen. It may not look elegant, but it feels as though you're just holding a large marker. The weight and the drag of the cable are almost unnoticeable, and don't interfere with the action of the tip.

We tested the Engraver on glass, plastic and metal surfaces, and it inscribed each material perfectly - we even tried it on a Cola can and it didn't break the can's surface. Although we approached the task of engraving glass with some trepidation, the tool engraved the glass very precisely, only chipping away a tiny amount of material, even on the highest cut setting.

Unlike the Multitool, the Engraver has a range of power settings that enable you to control the depth of the cut. When we tested the Engraver on glass, we used both the lowest and the highest settings. Although the high setting cut almost twice as deep as the lowest setting, it didn't crack or damage the pint pot at which we were hacking away. However, we found that the tool is incredibly sensitive to pressure when used on glass. Anything other than the lightest touch caused large chunks of glass to be chipped off, turning a smooth line into a jagged, hacked trail of destruction. The Engraver definitely rewards a gentle touch.

Conclusion

Dremel's Engraver yields precise results, and it's also simple to use, making your chosen task a great deal easier. It's cheap enough to be worth buying for a one-off project, and you may find it so enjoyable to use that it will encourage you to undertake many more jobs.