RotoZip or Dremel?

[Frankie]

After unsuccessful attempts to get rid of water damage on some hardwood floor planks I decided to put my brand new RotoZip RZ20-4500 to good use and replace the damaged portions. It lasted exactly 28 cuts before it died. It won't come on any more. Is RotoZip a shitty product or is it my particular one that had a flaw? Should I have bought a Dremel instead? Do you have personal experience with either tool?

(BTW, it was actually purchased as a Norooz present about 15 months ago. I just had never needed to take it out of the box until yesterday. So it's probably past warranty. )

[Bwana]

Quit screwing around and invest in one of these.

[notorious]

Are you replacing the planks?

In that case a small circular saw and chisels should do the job.

This is the saw I use when I don't want to kick up a lot of dust and only have to replace a few boards.





It's on sale, too.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-1...=1340059557155

[notorious]

Be careful, though. I melted the first one that I bought due to overuse and no cool-down.

[loochy]

Whatever you decide to get, get a quality brand that you know will hold up. You don't want it to break apart in mid air or something. That would be scary!

You know what they say about "right tool for the job"? Neither a Rotozip nor a Dremel is the right tool for that job. In fact, the marketing picture that depicts a rotozip cutting a long line of ceramic tile is pretty much crap too.

[mlyonsd]

I received a dremel as a Christmas gift 5 or 6 years ago. It's still in the box. Somewhere. In the shop.

[Bugeater]

Dremel is ok for certain odds and ends, I've never found anything that the RotoZip does well.

[rad]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Dremel is ok for certain odds and ends, I've never found anything that the RotoZip does well.

I used mine to cut out the hole for my sink in a countertop. Worked good for that. Only used 3 blades, too.

[notorious]

Dremel is good for sheetrock. That is nearly it.


Seriously, you could rip out wood planks with just a chisel, hammer, and flatbar if you are patient and careful. That's exactly how I used to do it. Just don't crack the next board's groove.

[jspchief]

Try blowing the rotozip out with compressed air. You may just have sawdust in the switch.

Then get a saw to do the job you're trying to do.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Phobia

You know what they say about "right tool for the job"? Neither a Rotozip nor a Dremel is the right tool for that job. In fact, the marketing picture that depicts a rotozip cutting a long line of ceramic tile is pretty much crap too.

What's better than them for precise cuts? Any suggestion?

Originally Posted by notorious

Seriously, you could rip out wood planks with just a chisel, hammer, and flatbar if you are patient and careful. That's exactly how I used to do it. Just don't crack the next board's groove.

What you are suggesting is good for ripping out planks at their entire length (which is what I may have to do now). I was however taking out shorter portions just where the water stains had occurred. I needed something to do precise cuts without damaging the neighboring planks.

Originally Posted by jspchief

Try blowing the rotozip out with compressed air. You may just have sawdust in the switch.

I did. It didn't work. The thing has just died. The kit is priced at $238 online. You would think I should get more than 28 cuts from it!

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Phobia

You know what they say about "right tool for the job"? Neither a Rotozip nor a Dremel is the right tool for that job. In fact, the marketing picture that depicts a rotozip cutting a long line of ceramic tile is pretty much crap too.

Nitwits don't care.

Originally Posted by Frankie

What's better than them for precise cuts? Any suggestion?

Fein Multimaster is your best bet but you can pick up a knockoff version of it cheaper. I think Ridgid, Milwaukee, Rockwell, and Dremell all make versions of that tool now that their patent has expired.

Seriously though - for the price you're dropping on tools this project could have been done by a pro, faster and better. I don't know people don't believe that. I mean, the entire floor wouldn't be cheaper but if you had a pro come in and patch in the damaged planks he'd be in and out in < half a day. You're going to spend at least twice that amount of time and more money buying specialty tools you'll never use again.