Crafters, jewellers, DIY’ers, and those into lapidary and beading all do work with stones of different types.
From regular stone like quartz (harder) and beach stone (softer), to precious and semi-precious gem stones – you’ll want the right tool to carve and drill stone properly.
The best Dremel for stone carving can be found in the rotary tool range, as a Dremel rotary tool has the ability to drill, carve and much more.
There are both corded and cordless Dremel tools, all different sizes and performance to suit all-around, or smaller precision and detailed tasks.
We look to save you time and effort researching by identifying for you the best Dremel tool for stone carving, plus listing the best stone drilling/carving bits/accessories and attachments you can use when working with stone.
You will find this information below in the top rated Dremel for Stone Carving List, Best Dremel For Stone Carving Reviews, and the Best Dremel For Stone Carving Buyer’s Guide & FAQ.
If you’re running a little short on time, you can check out the top rated Dremel for stone carving list immediately below.
Otherwise, you can read the guide and reviews in full.
NOTE: if you are a crafter, or you’re into jewelry making, we have also written guides for those activities which you might like to read:
Best Dremel Tool For Crafters: Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Best Dremel Tool For Jewelry Making: Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
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Top Rated Dremel For Stone Carving List
Best Electric Dremel For Stone Carving – Dremel 4000 2/30 Kit (on Amazon)
Best Small Electric Dremel For Stone Carving –
Dremel Stylo+ Craft Tool (on Amazon)
Dremel 200 1/15 Kit (on Amazon)
Best Specialised Electric Dremels For Carving and Detailed Projects –
Dremel 9100-21 Forti-Flex (on Amazon)
Best Cordless Dremel For Stone Carving
Dremel 8220 1/28 Kit (on Amazon)
Dremel Lite 7760 Cordless Rotary Tool (on Amazon)
Best Dremel Attachment For Carving
The flex shaft attachment comes both by itself (and can then be attached to a compatible Dremel rotary tool), or, in a kit with a tool (like the Dremel 3000 or 4000 models) …
Attachment Only – Dremel Flex Shaft Attachment (on Amazon)
Attachment + Tool – Dremel 4000 with Flex Shaft Attachment (on Amazon), or, Dremel 3000 with Flex Shaft Attachment (on Amazon)
Best Dremel For Stone Carving Reviews
We have reviewed both the electric and cordless range of Dremel rotary tools in:
Best Electric Dremel Tool: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Best Cordless Dremel Tool: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
However, below are specific reviews for the Dremel tools and bits/accessories when it comes to stone carving and drilling.
When choosing the best dremel for stone carving and drilling for your needs, making the following considerations are important:
1. Do you want a tool that can perform stone carving and drilling, as well as other home and job based finishing type tasks (more of an all-around Dremel rotary tool)?
2. Do you want a tool designed and optimised for Stone carving only (more of a smaller precision/detailing type Dremel rotary tool)?
Whether you choose an electric, cordless, bigger, or smaller Dremel – you should keep these two questions in mind.
For additional information on choosing a cordless or corded Dremel, you might like to read Corded or Cordless Dremel? 15 Practical Buyer Tips
Best Corded/Electric Dremel Tools For Stone Carving
Dremel 4000 – Best All-Around Electric Dremel Tool For Stone Carving
View On Amazon
What Is This Dremel Tool In A Nutshell?
1.6 Amp, High Performance, Variable Speed Electric/Corded Dremel Rotary Tool
May be the most popular of all Dremel’s Rotary Tools – certainly presents a good design and value for money
Accepts all Dremel bits/accessories and attachments.
Along with the Dremel 4300 and Dremel 3000, may be the best Dremel for jewelry drilling (when used in conjunction with a Dremel workstation)
Does not have foot speed control. Refer to the Dremel Forti-Flex (below) if this is a priority for you
What Accessories/Bits & Attachments Does This Dremel Tool Come With For Stone Carving (in the 2/30 kit)?
Comes with Flex Shaft Attachment
You’ll have to buy diamond bits separately.
What Does Dremel Say The Tool Is Designed For?
The Dremel 4000 can use all existing Dremel rotary tool accessories and attachments plus high-performance attachments to complete the widest range of projects.
Examples Of Stone Carving Tasks This Tool Is Suitable For
Drilling holes in a stone for jewelry making – making a necklace or bracelet, or another piece of jewelry
Drilling holes in a stone for craft – hanging up decorative stones
Carving designs and lines into stones for craft – decorating stones
Engrave, cut or polish stones and gemstones – lapidary tasks
What Else Do You Need With This Dremel Tool To Carve Stone?
Common items people purchase with this Dremel Tool For Stone Carving are:
Diamond Bits For Stone: SE Diamond Bit Set (on Amazon)
Work Station: Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Work Station (on Amazon)
Keyless Chuck: Dremel 4486 MultiPro Keyless Chuck (on Amazon)
Where To Check Out This Dremel Tool?
Dremel 200 – Best Small Electric Dremel Tool For Stone Carving
What Is This Dremel Tool In A Nutshell?
1.15 Amps, Two Speed (15,000 and 35,000 RPM), Small Electric/Corded Dremel Rotary Tool
Built and designed to be a precision and control type tool
May not be as good for drilling as the Dremel 4000 or Dremel 3000
Does not have foot speed control. Refer to the Dremel Forti-Flex (below) if this is a priority for you
What Accessories/Bits & Attachments Does This Dremel Tool Come With For Stone Carving (in the 1/15 kit)?
You’ll have to buy diamond carving/engraving bits separately.
What Does Dremel Say The Tool Is Designed For?
Its two speed settings allow you to use the low speed setting for cleaning applications and using brush accessories and the high speed setting for routing, cutting and sanding applications.
Examples Of Stone Carving Tasks This Tool Is Suitable For
Carving designs and lines into stones for craft – decorating stones
Engrave, cut or polish stones and gemstones – lapidary tasks
What Else Do You Need With This Dremel Tool To Carve Stone?
Common items people purchase with this Dremel Tool For Stone Carving are:
Diamond Bits For Stone: SE Diamond Bit Set (on Amazon)
Keyless Chuck: Dremel 4486 MultiPro Keyless Chuck (on Amazon)
Where To Check Out This Dremel Tool?
9100-21 Fortiflex Heavy Duty Flex Shaft Tool – Best Specialised Electric Dremel For Carving
What Is This Dremel Tool In A Nutshell?
2.5 Amp, Lower Max Speed (23,000 RPM) + Variable Speed, Flexible Shaft Tool
Built and designed For Detailed Projects – Power-Carving, Shaping and Grinding Applications
Lightweight hand piece is made for control and comfort
Has foot speed control pedal – hands free speed control
Accepts ALL dremel accessories/bits with shank size of 0 In. to 5/32 In
What Accessories/Bits & Attachments Does This Dremel Tool Come With For Stone Carving (in the 1/15 kit)?
7103 Diamond Wheel Point for carving/engraving semi-precious stones and other hard materials
9910 Tungsten Carbide Cutter can surface cut hard materials, and has been used on stone – not specifically designed by Dremel for stone though
Unfortunately the drill bit set included is only for wood, plastics, and soft metals.
What Does Dremel Say The Tool Is Designed For?
Built and designed For Detailed Projects – Power-Carving, Shaping and Grinding Applications
Examples Of Stone Carving Tasks This Tool Is Suitable For
Drilling holes in a stone for jewelry making – making a necklace or bracelet, or another piece of jewelry
Drilling holes in a stone for craft – hanging up decorative stones
Carving designs and lines into stones for craft – decorating stones
Engrave, cut or polish stones and gemstones – lapidary tasks
What Else Do You Need With This Dremel Tool To Carve Stone?
Common items people purchase with this Dremel Tool For Stone Carving are:
Diamond Bits For Stone: SE Diamond Bit Set (on Amazon)
Work Station: Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Work Station (on Amazon)
Keyless Chuck: Dremel 4486 MultiPro Keyless Chuck (on Amazon)
Where To Check Out This Dremel Tool?
View the Dremel 9100-21 Forti-Flex on Amazon
Dremel 290-01 Engraver
When used with the 9929 Diamond Engraving bit, the Dremel Engraver tool can be used on hard surfaces and stone.
If engraving/carving is more what you are looking to do, read a review of the Dremel Engraver tool in Best Dremel For Engraving: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide.
Note, the Dremel Engraver is a stroke action tool, meaning the bit moves up and down to engrave a surface, as opposed to a Dremel rotary tool bit that spins.
Other Electric/Corded Dremel Tools For Stone Carving:
You can find reviews for the following Dremel tools in Best Electric Dremel Tool: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews.
Dremel 4300 (1.8 Amp, Variable Speed, All-Around & High Performance Tool)
Dremel 3000 (1.2 Amp, Variable Speed, All-Around, Value For Money Tool)
Dremel 100 (1.15 Amp, One Speed, Detail/Precision Small Tool)
Best Cordless/Battery Operated Dremel Tools For Jewelry Making
Dremel 8220 – Best Cordless Dremel Tool For Stone Carving
What Is This Dremel Tool In A Nutshell?
12 Volt Lithium Battery, Re-chargeable, High Performance, Variable Speed Cordless Dremel Rotary Tool
As of December 2016, Dremel’s most powerful and high performance cordless Dremel Rotary Tool
Accepts all Dremel bits/accessories and attachments
Battery charge time is 3 hours
Battery can drain faster with extended use or heavier use (not a problem with electric Dremel tools) – consider an extra battery
Does not have foot speed control. Refer to the Dremel Forti-Flex (below) if this is a priority for you
Not as much of a drilling tool as the Dremel 4000
What Accessories/Bits & Attachments Does This Dremel Tool Come With For Stone Carving (in the 1/28 kit)?
You’ll have to buy a flex shaft attachment separately, as well as diamond bits for stone work.
What Does Dremel Say The Tool Is Designed For?
The ability to use all current Dremel rotary tool accessories and attachments let the Dremel 8220 complete a wide range of projects
Examples Of Jewelry Making Tasks This Tool Has Been Used For
Drilling holes in a stone for jewelry making – making a necklace or bracelet, or another piece of jewelry
Drilling holes in a stone for craft – hanging up decorative stones
Carving designs and lines into stones for craft – decorating stones
Engrave, cut or polish stones and gemstones – lapidary tasks
What Else Do You Need With This Dremel Tool For Stone Carving?
Common items people purchase with this Dremel Tool For Stone Carving are:
Flex Shaft Attachment: Dremel 225-01 Flex Shaft Attachment (on Amazon)
Diamond Bits For Stone: SE Diamond Bit Set (on Amazon)
Keyless Chuck: Dremel 4486 MultiPro Keyless Chuck (on Amazon)
Spare Battery: Dremel B812-02 1.5Ah 12-volt Max Lithium-Ion Battery for Dremel 8200, 8220, and 8300 (on Amazon)
Where To Check Out This Dremel Tool?
Other Cordless/Battery Operated Dremel Tools For LIGHT Stone Carving
You can find reviews for the following battery operated Dremel tools in Best Cordless Dremel Tool: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews.
Dremel 8100 (Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery, 8 Volt, Variable Speed, All-Around Tool)
Dremel 8050 (8 Volt Lithium Battery, Re-chargeable, Variable Speed, Small, Cordless Dremel Rotary Tool)
Dremel 7700 (Nickel Cadium Rechargeable Batteries, Nickel Cadmium, 7.2 Volt, 2 Speed, Mini Tool)
Dremel 7300 (Nickel Cadmium Rechargeable Batteries, 4.8 Volt, 2 Speed, Mini Tool For drilling, sanding, shaping, detailing and other light-duty jobs)
Dremel 7000 (Replaceable Alkaline Batteries, 6 Volt, 2 Speed, Micro Tool for drilling, sanding, shaping, detailing and other light-duty jobs)
Best Dremel Accessories & Attachments For Stone Carving
Flex Shaft Attachment: Dremel 225-01 Flex Shaft Attachment (on Amazon)
Diamond Bits For Stone: SE Diamond Bit Set (on Amazon)
Best Dremel For Stone Carving: Buyer’s Guide & FAQ
What Is Stone Carving?
Stone carving and drilling is the activity creating grooves, lines, shapes and holes in different types of stones with different properties (hardness is the main one you should know about, apart from what the stone looks like of course).
Those that carry out stone carving and drilling can include crafters, jewellers, DIY’ers, and those into lapidary and beading.
Stones can range from softer stones like beach stones – sand stone and sedimentary stones are 3-5 on the Mohs scale), quartz is around 7.
Gem stones such as diamonds are at the end of the scale with a hardness of 10.
Bestcrystals.com has a Mohs Hardness Scale of different stones if you want to head over and check it out.
What Is A Dremel That Is Used For Stone Carving?
The best Dremel tool for stone carving and drilling would be a model from Dremel’s rotary range of tools.
A Dremel rotary tool has the advantage of being equipped with different types of bits/accessories and attachments – so it can perform a range of tasks and is very flexible.
Dremel tools come in both corded and cordless models, and some are all-around higher powered tools, whilst some are smaller models designed specifically for lighter tasks and precision/detailing tasks.
Dremel rotary tools are best classified as finishing tools.
What Is A Dremel Used For In Stone Carving, and What Does It Do?
Rotary tools function by spinning/rotating a bit like a drilling bit for example at both slower and higher speeds (RPMs).
This is in comparison to some engraving tools for example which force a bit up and down (called a stroke, and measured in strokes per minute).
Specific example of using a Dremel rotary tool for stone carving and drilling might include:
Drilling holes in a stone for jewelry making – making a necklace or bracelet, or another piece of jewelry
Drilling holes in a stone for craft – hanging up decorative stones
Carving designs and lines into stones for craft – decorating stones
Engrave, cut or polish stones and gemstones – lapidary tasks
Types of Dremel Tools and Models For Stone Carving
Dremel’s rotary range of tools are best suited for stone carving.
There are models from both the corded (electric) and cordless (battery operated) that would suit stone carving and stone work tasks.
Dremel Stone Carving Bits & Accessories
Dremel lists their full range of Dremel rotary tool bits and accessories on their website.
For stone carving, you’ll want to use a diamond cutter bit for carving and engraving on stone (check the instructions of use for the bit before purchasing).
These bits include the diamond engraving points – 7103, 7105, 7120, 7122, 7144 and the 7123.
There are also the Diamond wheel points – 7134, 7150.
For drilling, you’ll want to use either a solid, twisted or hollow core drill bit with a diamond tip – these usually work best, but there are other types.
If Dremel don’t have the bit for your application, you’ll have to use third party bits – particularly for the drilling bits, as Dremel’s drilling bits are not too diverse.
There is the Dremel 664DR diamond drill bit – but, you’ll need to use that bit with the Dremel workstation (Dremel bits are usually not designed to be used free hand)
NOTE: Dremel’s bits and accessories tend to be more expensive that most third party seller bits. Sellers other than Dremel can produce bits which are weak, or wear out very quickly.
The best approach with bits when first starting is to buy cheap, or buy one expensive bit, and buy more of whatever works for you from an economical and performance perspective.
Dremel Stone Carving Attachments
A flexible shaft attachment with a small hand piece is best for stone carving.
The Dremel Forti-Flex tool comes with an in built flexible shaft and suitable handpiece for detail/precision tasks.
For most other Dremel rotary tools, you’ll need to purchase a Flexible shaft attachment to use with the Dremel tool (unless it comes in the kit you buy).
Also, when drilling stone, you’ll need to use the Dremel workstation with a Dremel tool equipped with a drill bit.
If you try to use a Dremel rotary tool with a drill bit freehand, the bit usually breaks or wears out easily.
Make sure you use drill bit lubrication if required.
How To Choose A Dremel For Stone Carving
It’s important to choose a Dremel based on:
1. Do you want a tool that can perform stone carving and drilling, as well as other home and job based finishing type tasks?
2. Do you want a tool designed and optimised for Stone carving only?
Whether you choose an electric, cordless, bigger, or smaller Dremel – you should keep these two questions in mind.
Best Dremel For Stone Carving…
Best Electric Dremel For Stone Carving – Dremel 4000
Best Small Electric Dremel For Stone Carving – Dremel 200
Best Specialised Electric Dremel For Carving – Dremel Forti Flex
Best Cordless Dremel For Stone Carving – Dremel 8220
Features To Look For In A Dremel For Stone Carving
Features to look for in a Dremel for Stone Carving might include:
Variable speed – speed is often more important than power. Drilling with lower speeds is crucial for putting little pressure on softer stones. You’ll want to choose a Dremel with multiple speeds available
Design – is the tool an all around rotary tool, or designed specifically for lighter precision/detailing tasks
Bits/Accessories and attachments it can accept – can it accept all bits and attachments (including a flex chaft attachment and carving/cutter point bits, as well as drill bits), or does it only accept a small range of bits and attachments?
Can the tool be used with the Dremel workstation? – mainly for those looking to drill
Safety Tips For Using A Dremel For Stone Carving
Wear eye protection – usually clear lens glasses
Wear gloves – especially if the hand piece gets hot (although its better to break when this happens to prevent the tool from overheating)
Keep rags and cloths away from the bit while in operation
Wear a dust mask if necessary
How To Use A Dremel For Stone Carving
Attach the stone carving bit of your choice – carbide, or diamond bit (for harder surfaces)
Set the speed of the tool (when working with stone, speeds of 2000-3000 RPM tend to work best, but see what works for you).
Attach a flex shaft or set up the Dremel workstation if required
Secure your stone in place
Begin working
Best Dremel For Stone Carving Resources
1. https://www.dremel.com/en_US/
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