Anybody bored? Let's talk rotary tools

[kaneboats]

I don't have one of those Dremel or other rotary tools. I have a couple of jobs I could do if I had one and I'm thinking about getting one. So I thought I'd ask the brain trust around here for recommendations. So ...

What do you use yours for?
Is cordless better or does it even matter?
Are some too bulky so staying smaller is good?
Or, are some too weak to get the job done?
Are there brands to avoid? Cheapo ones that are excellent?

I really know nothing about these so I appreciate the input.

[mikenehrkorn]

I'm not sure about all the other brands, but I have a Dremel that I have had for probably 7-8 years and it works great. With all the attachments you can get (that I have very few of) it can pretty much do anything you want -- I mainly use mine for cutting drywall. Mine is corded and very light and easy to operate with one hand.

What are you planning to use it for? I suspect that could help with answering many of your questions.

[jmvotto]

my dremel burned out cutting my heater plate in the OBV , wish I had another one..

oh yeah I have a rotor zip too. works great

[viking]

I have a cordless Dremel tool with multiple attachments. It's great for little odd things here and there. You can cut, sand, drill ect. But mine would not word to cut drywall. It would be way to hard on it. I have a RotoZip for that an it's corded. That thing is a beast.
Also have an air cut off tool and probably will get an air dremel for bigger metal work.

In the end it really depends on what type of jobs you are looking to do?

[kaneboats]

Some small woodworking stuff; as a router to cut out for hinge plates in a door frame; maybe with blade to trim palm tree fronds. I think any one of them would do most of this stuff.

[sandm]

I have a rotary and have only used it a few times. found the dremel to be much easier to use and gets into wierd angles easier. I would not go cordless as a few times my dremel has bogged down cutting something wierd and I would think with my prior experience with cordless equipment I would get 90% thru the project and battery would be dead.

although most tools are a 2-beer charge and go so might not be a bad thing depending on how much of a hurry you are in :)

now if you want to talk routers, I have one that is 14years old and never been ran. I don't have the first clue how to use it and tried to sell it a couple of times..

[deerfield]

...RotoZip ...is a beast.

Agreed. It's my one rotary tool. Works well.

[maxpower220]

I use my multitool a lot more than my dremel. Now that more blade options are coming to multitool, you can do a lot more. Cordless on the multitool, corded on a dremel.

[bergermaister]

I use my multitool a lot more than my dremel.

2nd this. My rotary, although a cheapo, doesn't have the power I want/need - ever. My air grinder used like a rotary drains the compressor too fast. But my Craftsman multi-tool makes it look like I know what I'm doing. And the 2nd battery interchangeable with the drill is sure nice.