Up for review today I’ve got a neat little tool, it’s like a mini Dremel really, but it’s called an engraving pen and it’s from a company called Paratek. I have a regular electric Dremel and a battery operated one and both work fine but the battery operated one is a bit hard to use for detail work as it uses four AA batteries which are housed in the back making it back heavy. The Paratek engraver pen can be used to engrave yes but it can also use Dremel style bits to trim and cut and do other detail work. I use my Dremels quite a bit for finishing 3D printing projects and this pen makes a great addition to my tool box. Read on to learn more….
Specifications and Features
The small clear plastic case has two extra engraving bits inside of it and I found that the screwdriver can also fit inside of the case to keep it safe.
The engraving pen is well made in my opinion, it has a metal barrel and a plastic hand hold section. It’s about six inches long without the bit installed, about the size of a pencil really.
The front is where the bit goes in and there’s a red button for power, as long as you hold the button down the motor will run and spin the bit. The front is ergonomically shaped to make using it like using a pencil and it’s not very heavy at all, and it’s well balanced. The bit goes into the front section and there’s a small screw that holds it in place, you used the included hex screwdriver to loosen the screw to change the bit. You can use any 2.34mm bit or smaller. You can use smaller but it’s not the best idea as then it doesn’t sit centered in the chuck and sort of wobbles.
The engraver uses two AAA batteries for power and they go into the back end which screws off.
Conclusion
I like the Paratek engraver pen a lot but it’s not perfect. Yes it works well and it seems well made overall.
I’ve been using the pen quite a bit for numerous projects and found that it’s a bit underpowered but it works well once you figure out its limitations.
One thing I don’t like about the pen is that there is no safety or guard over the button, if I put it in my drawer or bag or wherever it can easily be activated as you just push the button. You can sort of solve this problem by unscrewing the battery compartment a couple turns, it works but it’s not he best solution.
Another small issue is the chuck or what holds the bit in place, it uses a screw on one side so really only 2.34mm sized bits fit perfectly centered in the chuck. You can use others but they will be off center and that might not work the best as it wobbles.
Despite the limitations of the Paratek engraver pen I do like it and it’s actually found a spot right next to my 3d printer to keep it handy for use when I need it.
Pros:
+Simple to use
+Well made
+Fits many bits
Cons:
+No real off switch
-Can really only use one size bit
| Grading | Scores Out of 10 |
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Disclosure: This product was given to me for review by the company for review purposes only for free or at a discounted price.
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