At 08:17 PM 11/2/2002, Clive Smith wrote:
>Being a Brit, and Dremels appearing to be an American thing, can I ask...
>
>..wahts the lowdown on Dremels Vs Rotozips which I see in the shops over
>here now. Are RotoZips super Dremels, or a different beast altogether.
>
>Its just that Christmas is coming up... :-)

Roto Zip is basically a saw that uses a modified drill bit (more like an
end mill really) to make blind cuts in wallboard and other construction
materials.  It turns at max rpm around 18,000.  You can get a
flexible-shaft handpiece that will take Dremel-type bits (1/8" shaft
mostly).  <http://www.rotozip.co.uk/indexuk.htm>

Dremel make a tool  that is meant as a general-purpose light-duty handpiece
-- turns 5,000-27,000 rpm, uses a collet chuck to hold 1/8" and smaller
bits.  Enormous variety of burs, stones, brushes, cloth/felt/rubber
polishing wheels, cutoff wheels, sanding disks and drums etc.  Attachments
include right-angle head, drill-press mount, router mount (i.e. converts
tool temporarily into a drill press or router), grout saw and a head that
converts it into a light-duty version of the Roto
Zip.  <http://www.dremel.com/Europe.html>

Both very useful tools -- Roto Zip is much more powerful, turns slower,
basically a special-purpose construction tool that has turned out to have
versatile possibilities.  It's only been around for a few years, probably
will keep on getting more versatile.  Dremel (and Black & Decker imitation)
smaller, lighter, faster -- extraordinarily versatile but only good for
small work.  I think many people who get Dremel tools tend to expect them
to do larger/faster work than they're actually good for, and are initially
disappointed.  I certainly was, twenty years ago or so.  Haven't been
without one since... <g>.  N.B.: the bits are expensive, both in themselves
and per-use.  To me the best deal are the cutoff wheels, which if used very
gently have uses far beyond just cutting off.  Because they mount on a
mandrel instead of having their own, a tube of 36 (maybe a half-cubic-inch
of material?) is as cheap as a couple of mounted stones.  If Dremel still
make a sleeve-bearing model I'd pass it up for the ball-bearing
version.  My sleeve-bearing one wore out in a few years.

david

--
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"