One question that I frequently encounter is, "Which engraver should I buy?" Having personally acquired and tested over 10-15 drills, and engraved on countless items, I've found that, in essence, they all perform similarly.
However, there are crucial factors to consider before making a purchase.
It's important to recognize that any nail drill essentially functions as an engraver, and there's no necessity to opt for a specific branded drill for engraving purposes.
One key distinction to assess is whether the nail drill is brushless or brushed. Brushed drills, typically connected to a power source or running on batteries, tend to be less reliable for extended onsite use. They often lack speed control, can be bulky and noisy. Therefore, it is advisable to choose a Portable Brushless Drill operating at a speed of 35,000 RPM. Look for features such as a lightweight handpiece for better control, lower vibration for quieter and smoother operation, and a prolonged battery life of 15 to 20 hours.
Considering the price range, most of these drills are priced between INR 8,000 to INR 20,000 at maximum. Hence, you can select a drill that aligns with your budget.
Lastly, reading reviews can provide valuable insights into the performance and reliability of the chosen drill.
For the Indian audience, here are some recommended drills.
My first preference : Amazing drill so far. I have a older version but it works just the same, just looks different. Once charged works for 10 -15 days without a charging. Light weight, slim hand peice.
Yokefellow: Light weight hand peice, great battery life.
Melody Susie: Light weight hand peice, bulky but it's a good back up peice. Battery life is for 8 hours.
New one on the block: has amazing reviews. I haven't tried it so you need to read the reviews and decide. Plus a great price point.
For those who reside outside India
If you want to learn engraving, our Engraving & Beyond course is a comprehensive with lifetime access that will equip you to work on any surface confidently.
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This is a lot of very valuable information. Thanks so much for sharing it here and in the Engraving course. I wanted to know if you could provide any signs we could look out for when engraving, that suggests that a burr needs replacing. What are the tell tale signs?