Dremel 4300 vs 4000: Which Tool Model is Best for You?

The Dremel rotary power tools have a well-deserved reputation of high quality, durability, and constant improvement. Dremel offers products, accessories, and features that often exceed the users’ expectations.

There are several Dremel models currently available, so which one is the best?

Here I compared two of the most popular models, I looked at the Dremel 4300 vs. 4000, and see where they differ and how far they’re alike. Read on to find out more about these two stellar tools, and discover the ultimate winner. 

Overview

Dremel became a generic name for rotary power tools since its start.

Dremel power tools currently lead the market with their technology and innovation.

A long time ago, Albert J. Dremel, who was an Australian inventor, came to America and started a small company to sell his handheld inventions. He started with a razor blade sharpener. That was in 1932. Then, they shaped the history of small power tools.

The main difference between Dremel’s handheld tools and the bulkier drills is that Dremel uses higher speeds to drive the drill bits, while other tools employ more torque. This substantially changed the design and applications of these tools.

Innovation is another part of the Dremel culture. Take a look at the successive generations of Dremels, and you’ll see right away a consistent increase in the capabilities of each successive tool. They don’t just get facelifts.

By 1993, the company became big and influential enough in the industry to catch the attention of the big guys, Robert Bosch promptly acquired it. It’s currently a division of their Tools international operations.  

Dremel makes combo kits, which is the flagship product. The latest in the market is laser cutters and 3-D printers. They pay a lot of attention to DIY’s and artistic work, so there’s a strong line of crafting tools, that’s constantly upgraded and developed.

There’s also the handyman’s little arsenal with the cordless screwdrivers, mini-saws, rotary tools, and oscillators. In addition to all that, they offer a cute little power tool, the ‘Dremel PawControl’ used for pet grooming.

They manufacture a few more tools, mostly handheld and highly innovative. Their website also displays the projects these tools can create.   

Dremel 4300

The Dremel 4300 is the ace of the Dremel 4000 family. It’s the most powerful, well endowed, and it comes with lavish kits to complement its glamour.

It has a powerful 1.8 Amp motor, with a generous speed range going from 5,000 RPM to 35,000 RPM. This gives an easy cutting of a metal chain, precise and quick drilling, thorough polishing of almost any surface, and generally good performance with handy tasks. 

It measures about 9 inches by two across and weighs around 1.18 pounds. It’s a lightweight device, and that adds a lot to its versatility.

It’s easy to grip, and you can hold it in many different ways. There’s also an extra attachment that you can use as a handle. It’s triangular and tapered near the tip, so you can hold it like a pencil if that’s going to make your job easier.

The pivot light near the tip is one of its unique features. It can light up an especially detailed piece, or a hard-to-access spot you need to work on, and the extra light helps in both cases.

It comes with a wide array of accessories, in this Dremel 4300 9/64 kit, it’s 9 practical attachments, 64 durable accessories, and the brilliant flex shaft. It has a special mechanism that makes changing all these accessories a breeze, the “3-Jaw Chuck”, which is unique to this model.

This last piece, the flex shaft, is popular with craftsmen and handymen who need to work on delicate pieces. It gives a lot of free space when you’re working. It’s also easy to hold and easily reaches everywhere.

The pivot light is a great option when you’re with the main handle. Adding the flex shaft gives more flexibility but stops the pivot light option.

​The Dremel 4300 is a powerful tool with many uses, from drilling wood to cutting acrylic, all the way to polishing a metal or wood piece. You can use it in crafts, projects, or minor home improvement tasks.

Pros

• ​Powerful motor
• Pivot light helps with detailed work and tight spaces
• Universal adaptor for accessory-attachment “3-Jaw chuck”
• Sturdy carrying case with organized storage spaces
• Quiet operation
• Good for precision and power work
• Several useful attachments in the kit
• A broad range of accessories
• Versatile applications 
• Doesn’t need extra tools for accessory changing

Cons

• The carrying case drawer gets jammed occasionally
• The grip is a bit bulky for precision work
• There’s no pivot light when using the flex shaft attachment  

Dremel 4000

The Dremel 4000 is the basic model in the 4000 generation of rotary tools, with the 4200 and 4300 offering more perks, accessories, and muscle power.

It’s a compact-sized rotary tool with a length of about 6 inches, and it’s just 2 inches across. It weighs around 1.3 pounds, so it’s pretty easy to carry, especially if you’re working on a piece that needs concentration and takes a while to finish.

The motor runs on 1.6 Amps, with a variable speed ranging from 5,000 RPM to 35,000 RPM. This is quite powerful for light wood carving projects, but a bit lacking if you attempt cutting a metal piece. It’ll do the job, but there’d be a bit of overheating, sparks flying about, and it might take a little longer to finish up.

The new generation of Dremel tools all come with easy-change mechanisms, and this one is no different. It has a simple and pretty straightforward process, plus a quick change attachment.

The rest of this Dremel 4000 6/50 kit is what truly adds value to the rotary tool. The package comes with the Dremel 4000 rotary tool. It has a flex shaft, which is enormously useful in the workshop. This kit also contains 6 practical attachments. They cover most applications so you’ll use them at some time or another. There are also 50 essential accessories for abrasion, cutting, polishing, etc.

The carrying case is a joy when you open it up. It’s the closest thing to the Christmas gift. The toolset you’ve been asking Santa for all year long.

It wouldn’t be too hard to keep all your bits organized. The case has multiple spots with varying sizes. This will come in handy for the proper classification of accessories. 

​The correct usage of the Dremel 4000 is what gives it the best value. Its motor is less powerful than its siblings, but that lets it have a more compact design and be lightweight.

You can Use the Dremel 4000 for light, handy tasks, woodworking, and similar crafts. This will be optimal, and using the higher and more powerful models would be overkill. 

Pros

• Slim ergonomic design
• It’s a light-weight power tool
• Easy-grip for detailed precision work
• Highly compatible with accessory sets
• Easy accessory changes

Cons

• Not very good with metal cutting
• Might heat up after a long session
• A bit noisier than the Dremel 4300

Dremel 4300 vs. 4000

I’ve covered the company, the brand, and the details of the Dremel 4300 and 4000, now let’s compare their features and see where exactly they differ and whether one has a strong advantage.

Similarities

​Not only are these two tools from the same brand, but they are also from the same product line (the 4000 series). This makes the Dremel 4300 and 4000 very similar. ​Here is an overview of what you get from both models. 

Speed

They both have a variable speed range, going from a minimum of 5,000 RPM to a maximum of 35,000 RPM.

Speed is the secret ingredient behind the compact size and high performance of the Dremel power tools in general, as it doesn’t need to be as bulky as the other motors that count on torque to drive their power tools. 

Accessory Compatibility

They’re both highly compatible with the commercially available accessories, but it was observed that the 4300 is pickier than the 4000 when it comes to accepting ‘other’ accessories.

This is usually a minor inconvenience, but forcing the wrong bit could be potentially risky if it doesn’t catch well in the tip. This situation can easily be surmounted by purchasing the correct accessory kits or packages. 

Air-Flow System

Both devices have the same airflow adjustment mechanism, which is supposed to give a quieter operation.

The process seems to work better with the Dremel 4300 though; it’s considerably less noisy than the Dremel 4000.

Electronic Feedback

This feature is also in place on both devices. It should contribute to a smooth operation free from bumps, stops, and surface-related issues. Electronic feedback is simply an optimization process to give the correct amount of power as needed by the task at hand.

It works nicely in the Dremel 4300 and the 4000

Warranty

There’s a 2-year warranty policy for the whole 4000 family, and most of the Dremel tools actually.  Dremel is known to stand by their products, and I expect that they’d be helpful and responsive if the situation calls for further assistance.

Differences

​While these Dremel’s have a lot in common, they do have some differences. The following features are probably the most important as you’re considering which model to buy. 

Power

The 4300, as expected, has the advantage here with its 1.8 Amp motor, compared to 1.6 Amp for the Dremel 4000. The difference doesn’t seem to be much as a number but watching it in action, for example, while cutting a metal chain, shows what that difference really means.

The 4300 is more than able to chop through it, while the 4000 struggles a little and fires up a lot more sparks as it fights its way through.

When they work through the wood, this difference isn’t as drastic, and they get the job done quite nicely.

The 4000 motor also tends to overheat a little when it’s put through tough challenges, so it’s best to choose each tool according to the job at hand.  

Accessory Attachment

They both employ quick and easy processes to mount and dismount accessories, but there’s a slight difference in the patented mechanism each model employs.

The Dremel 4300 has a “3-Jaw Chuck” mechanism, while the 4000 uses an “EZ Twist Nose Cap”. This is hard to count as an advantage for either one of them, and it usually comes down to personal style and preference.

Pivot Light

The Dremel 4300 has a pivot light at the tip, which has already made the lives of many craftsmen so much easier. It’s better, of course, to see where your working, this extra visibility reflects directly on the quality and precision of the work that you do.

I give a lot of marks and applause for the 4300 on this one!

Carrying Case

The carrying case of the 4300 seems a little more sophisticated and sturdy, but it’s not significantly different from that of the 4000.

Actually, both are pretty good. 

When to Use the Dremel 4300

Use this power-tool if your work is varied, so you need to work sometimes with metal pieces, and other times wood.

Its high-power motor, quick-change mechanism for the accessories, and pivot light, all make it perfect and versatile for varied tasks with high power requirements.

When to Use the Dremel 4000

The Dremel 4000 would be a perfect tool if your work is predominantly on wood, and you need a slim tool to help you with detailed and high precision work.

Recomended Dremel Kits

These are some available kits to fit individual needs.

Dremel 4000 2/30 kit

This is the most basic package in the 4000 series, it has the rotary tool, plus 2 attachments, and 30 accessory bits.

The Dremel 4000 2/30 kit is more than enough for routine woodwork, and it could be a perfect starter kit or a gift idea for a new crafts enthusiast.

Dremel 4300 5/40 kit

This kit contains the rotary tool, 5 different attachments, and 50 good quality accessories. It doesn’t contain a flex shaft, but otherwise, it’s quite comprehensive and naturally less expensive than the 4300 9/64.

Dremel EZ725 All-Purpose Accessory Storage Kit, 70-Piece

This is a kit that you can purchase separately from the rotary tool. The accessories are compatible with most Dremel tools. This package offers extra bits when the old kit is worn out. It also provides new parts you might need for a specific project. 

The Dremel EZ725 is an all-purpose kit with 70 different pieces, all of them are made from premium quality materials, and in time you’ll probably use most of them. You’ll find that there’s more of the bits that I tend to use more often. 

You can put it on the bench or hang it vertically. It’s totally accessible and easy to organize.

Dremel Rotary Tool Accessory Kit 710-08,160 Accessories

This is also an extra accessory kit, assuming that you purchased a basic kit and later on required more pieces, or in the natural course of events when the bits wear off after a while and you need to replenish your toolset.

It has 160 different accessories that you can use in an assortment of tasks; they’re premium quality and will serve you well in your projects.

The carrying case can also be used for storage. You can place it on a flat surface or hang it on a vertical wall. It’s versatile and accessible both ways. 

Verdict

The Dremel 4300 is clearly the more powerful and versatile tool. It’s also quiet and offers the much-appreciated feature of extra lighting.

It might in some situations become an overqualified tool. Tthis applies to most woodcarving applications, where the Dremel 4000 would be a much better and economical alternative.