Reddit reviews Dremel 4000-3/34 120-Volt Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit

I know plenty of folks will disagree, but I have an old school dremel that I use all the time on small projects. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-4000-3-34-120-Volt-Variable/dp/B002L3RUVQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1347740478&sr=1-2&keywords=dremel+4000

A good hammer, I'd avoid wooden handles and while 16oz is fine if you're just tacking into drywall, 20 or 21oz hammers will make a difference if you're driving nails into studs or lumber.

Corded drills are cheaper, often more powerful, and can get where they need to go with an extension cord. If you can afford a high powered cordless drill (as mentioned, not Ryobi) look for one that shares the same battery pack with other tools. You can always add to your collection later but having a consistent battery across is nice. I'd also suggest getting at least one spare battery pack as inevitably you'll run out of power in the middle of a project and it's a pain to have to wait for a recharge.

For "until I can afford something better" picking up some of the packaged mechanics kits can get you a good starter set of wrenches, pliers, wire strippers, socket wrench, punches, etc. They won't be the best by any means, but they'll do for now until you can invest in something nicer. They also tend to cover most home assembly projects pretty well. I can't vouch for the Kobalt line of tools having never used them, but I started off ages ago with something like this http://www.lowes.com/pd_228548-25428-86215_4294707909__?productId=3697806&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=

If you're going to do big projects, circular saws are great. You can get a hand saw and a miter box (but if you find you're doing a lot of angled cuts getting a compound miter saw is handy, but they take up space you might not have).

Good luck!

After seeking the guidance of all you gurus (https://www.reddit.com/r/XWingTMG/comments/4tkx3v/taking_the_plunge_with_magnets/), I finally went ahead and did it.

Components:
Ring Magnets https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=R421
Ball Bearings https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=R421
Gorialla Glue https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-7805001-15g-Super-Glue/dp/B001IY82FM
Dremel 4000 https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-4000-3-34-120-Volt-Variable/dp/B002L3RUVQ
X-Acto Knife http://www.michaels.com/10223579.html#q=x-acto&start=10
Pliers http://lmgtfy.com/?q=pliers

My process for the ships was as follows:

• Remove the peg carefully with pliers
  
• When necessary, modify the ship with Dremel 4000
  
  • T-65 X-Wing engines cut
    
  • HWK-290 sanded bottom
    
  • TIE Phatom engines cut
    
• Apply Gorilla Glue and ring magnet (K&J's R421)
  
  My Process for the stands was as follows:
  
• Cut the nub off the peg with an X-Acto knife
  
  • For the B-Wing stand, instead apply the peg removed from the B-Wing
    
• Use an engraving bit on the dremel to make a divet for a ball bearing
  
• Grasp the ball bearing (K&J NSB3) with pliers and quickly sand it against a piece of sand paper
  
• Apply gorilla glue to the top of the stand, and place the ball bearing in divet
  
• Quickly run a paper towel around the base of the bearing to catch excess epoxy
  
• Power sand (with dremel) once set

Which would be easier to start with? I see the benefit of both. Do you have a rotary tool that you would recommend? I've browsed around and was thinking about the Dremel 4000 here but part of me wants to go the hand route....I can do that inside my house without pissing anyone off as much with a rotary. Any recommendations on knives and micros? What about there and here. I'd like to stay under or around $100.00 on my first go of tools. Thanks again