I'm one of Harbor Freight's biggest fans. And I have both the engraver and the rotary tool. Yet...my advice, since I know you're into this hobby with both feet anyway, is to go ahead and ask for that dremel for Christmas. It's a difference maker for me, and gets used 30 times to 1 by me over the HF model.

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Investing in a Dremel Stylus is a smart move...it's #2 in my customizing tools next to an Exacto...

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I actually use a Black & Decker wizard and can use the dremel bits for it. I really don't think the brand matters that much as long as you can use other companies' bits. For $8 that is a great price. And just like paint and paint brushes, I always suggest people start with the cheap stuff to see if they like it and then move to the more expensive stuff if they feel it can help them get better.

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Someone who uses it more can correct me but I think the harbor freight version operates at a low speed primarily. The difference I'm recalling with the Dremel is the variable speed option

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Only reason I suggested the cheaper one is thinking he might not have the money for a Dremel.. I know I don't and I use a dremel like item and it uses the dremel bits just fine....

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Dremel is variable speed, and much bulkier. The smaller size is why I prefer the Harbor Freight tool. I'd retire my HF moto tool, if I could get my hands on a Dremel Stylus.

There's a small array of standard shank sizes, and the HF tool has collets for all of them. I use Dremel bits in mine, all the time. A few of them are a little snug, but otherwise it's fine.

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