Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: Rotozip as alternative to Dremel ?
balidey

posted on 22/12/10 at 11:25 AM Reply With Quote
Rotozip as alternative to Dremel ?

I have a cheap crappy dremel type copy that was never great to begin with, but got worse, the collets don't grip and it slows badly when asked to cut anything.
So I was on the look out for a proper branded Dremel as these seem to get more favourable reviews when directly compared to copies.
But I am now wondering about a Rotozip.
I see that the price of a used Rotozip on ebay seems to be about the same as a Dremel, but the power rating is several times that of a Dremel. Just a quick google search comes up with about 125 Watt motor in a Dremel and about 600 Watt on a Rotozip.
It looks like you can buy various sized collets for Rotozip and even though its designed to be mainly used as a plunge cutter, if it can handle tough masonary work then a cutter disc should see it go through a bolt like knife through butter.

I don't have any particular need or job in mind for these, but I have decided that in the new year my old dremel copy will be replaced.

So have I missed something here? If the Rotozip is so much more manly, why don't more people use or recomend them as an alternative to a Dremel?

Any thoughts or opinions?

Anyone use one as a Dremel type tool rather than a plunge cutter?





Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
RazMan

posted on 22/12/10 at 12:19 PM Reply With Quote
The first impression I get from the Rotozip is that it is quite a bit bigger than the Dremel and more like a router. It is possibly not suitable for the smaller jobs that the Dremel was designed for. It certainly looks very capable and worth the extra cost if you need a more 'industrial' tool.

I've got the B&Q version of the Dremel which seems ok and good value for money - 5 years on it is still going strong. They also do some really cheap accessory kits which are surprisingly good value when compared to the proper Dremel stuff.

[Edited on 22-12-10 by RazMan]





Cheers,
Raz

When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
jossey

posted on 22/12/10 at 12:55 PM Reply With Quote
I have the woolworths version of the dremel and its ok but the tools with it are cr*p.

dave

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
RAYLEE29

posted on 22/12/10 at 01:19 PM Reply With Quote
dont laugh but halfords do a £15 dremel type thing with tools and it doesnt look like a really cheap one
i havent used one so dont blame me if it turns out to be crap
Ray

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
balidey

posted on 22/12/10 at 01:44 PM Reply With Quote
The one I have is from Woolworths. And it too 'looked OK' but I am not going to make that mistake again. I want its replacement to be gruff and manly and not go 'zzziiiiiinnnnnnggggg bbbbbuuuuurrrrr' when I try to cut something with it. And a Rotozip seems to be like a more heavy duty item. So I am surprised its not mentioned more when people ask about Dremels. The usual response is 'well I got one for £10 and its fine'.





Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
interestedparty

posted on 22/12/10 at 01:59 PM Reply With Quote
I bought a real Dremel, and wished I hadn't. I suppose it would be ok for models and stuff, but hasn't got the power to do anything much on a real car.





As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list-- I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed-- who never would be missed!

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
ashg

posted on 22/12/10 at 02:00 PM Reply With Quote
i got one in costco many years ago, looks a bit abused because it has been but still going strong dont remember the make off the top of my head, will have to look when i get home.





Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!

Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
matt_gsxr

posted on 22/12/10 at 02:29 PM Reply With Quote
Dremels are brilliant.

I had a few "looky likey" and they were rubbish.

Agreed a Dremel isn't a quick as an angry-grinder but in small spaces, or something fiddly, then they can't be beaten.

Matt

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
Davegtst

posted on 22/12/10 at 03:30 PM Reply With Quote
I've just bought a dremel type tool from Maplin to replace my Halfrauds one. The speed controller on the Halfords one was playing up for a long time until it just stopped working. It's cheaper than Halfords and comes with loads more accessorys and even a wall mountable storage box. I do abuse it quite alot but when this one breaks I won't be getting a Halfords one again.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
will121

posted on 22/12/10 at 03:49 PM Reply With Quote
ive been working with a normal 600w drill and a reasonable 'greasable' flexi drive which you can use mosts tooling with, might take a bit of getting use to positioning of the flexi drive to get the best angle of attack on things but generally works fine with chuck head smaller than a dremmel and plenty of power
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
AndyW

posted on 22/12/10 at 04:12 PM Reply With Quote
I got a JCB one from argos about 7 years ago. The accessories were cr*p, I used to port and polish 2 stroke race engines with it so it worked very hard. The bearings are now very noisy but still spins up to 18,000rpm! sounds like its going to explode But I too have to face facts that if I need to do anything on the car, the "old" one is only going to last so long.....
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
robinj66

posted on 23/12/10 at 03:38 PM Reply With Quote
Try Tool Station for a cheap but reasonable quality copy
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Peteff

posted on 23/12/10 at 06:22 PM Reply With Quote
I bought an Aldi bargain 240v one with a flexible drive and tools for about £12.99 and it proved invaluable for a few different jobs. Although I haven't used it for a while I bought another to eventually replace it as it was such a bargain.





yours, Pete

I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.