By Tom Scalisi, Timothy Dale
Updated on Sep 6, 2024 2:37 PM EDT straight edge diamond wheel
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No workbench is complete without at least one good rotary tool. These amazing devices are capable of drilling, sanding, cutting, glassworking, grinding, carving, and even cleaning. With the right attachments, they can sand woodworking projects and then just as easily polish cutlery. We tested some of the top brands on the market to see how well they sanded and cut, as well as their attachment features.
While most tools are limited to specific purposes, the rotary tool’s almost limitless uses beg the avid DIYer to jump into their next project with creativity and energy. Some have particular strengths based on their power or accessory options. Our Best Overall pick, the Dremel 4300-5/40 Rotary Tool Kit, impressed us with its power, detachable work light, and range of included accessories. Our hands-on testing on this Dremel and the following models was meant to help shoppers select the best rotary tool for their needs. Keep reading to learn about what we found and what to look for in a rotary tool.
During our hands-on testing with the models on this list, we wanted to be sure we were suggesting some of the top rotary tools, so we put them through their paces. Each of the products listed below is organized by category and includes a comprehensive list of pros and cons.
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When it comes to choosing a top-tier, high-quality rotary tool, the Dremel 4300 is certainly near the top of the list. This powerful corded rotary tool features a 1.8A motor with a speed range between 5,000 and 35,000 RPM. This Dremel rotary tool comes with a detachable work light, a universal chuck, and several accessories including grinding and rotary sanding tool wheels, cut-off wheels, carving bits, and more. All of these items fit into a hard case to keep them safe and organized.
During testing, the Dremel 4300 proved to be incredibly powerful. Even when cutting through thick steel, this Dremel tool barely slowed down, meaning it was able to cut through faster than any other model. We really liked the detachable work light on the collar, and removing it and swapping it for other collars was a breeze. It’s also worth noting that this kit came with the best accessories, including Dremel’s “EZ Lock” cut-off wheels, which don’t require a tool for swapping the discs on and off. Our only complaint with this Dremel saw was that when running over 20,000 RPM, there was a noticeable vibration regardless of the accessory in the chuck.
Get the Dremel 4300-5/40 rotary tool kit at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.
Whether it’s for crafting, metalworking, or woodworking projects, the Goxawee rotary tool kit offers an affordable way to get to work. More than 100 attachments and accessories come with this handy tool so users can tackle stone, glass, or metal engraving as well as cutting, wood carving, model making, metalworking, and more. It features a 1.3A motor that generates speeds between 8,000 and 30,000 RPM.
Goxawee’s rotary tool kit was the big surprise in our test. It came with all of the accessories most DIYers will ever need, including cut-off wheels, grinding stones, sanding discs, and polishing wheels. It also came with a guard collar for safety as well as replacement brushes for maintenance. It ran smoothly and had enough power for most tasks, but it was noticeably underpowered compared to some other models when it came to cutting the steel.
Get the Goxawee rotary tool kit at Amazon.
Working with wood can be difficult and it takes more than raw power for a successful project. The Dremel 3000-2/28 variable speed rotary tool kit drops the power to 1.2A but keeps the versatility to reach 35,000 RPM—more than enough for carving wood. The smaller motor makes the rotary cut tool easier to handle for careful, precise cuts but still affords the user enough power to move the tool easily through wood.
When we took the Dremel 3000 in hand, the first thing we noticed was its excellent grip shape. It contoured to our hands nicely, and the rubber grip made holding on to it easy. We also liked that this Dremel kit came with plenty of accessories, including ones for cutting and carving wood (what we feel this tool excels at). Also, the collar on this Dremel 3000 fits over the collet to act as a wrench, meaning bit changes are toolless. The only area we could see needing some improvements is that it’s slightly underpowered for heavier-duty work.
Get the Dremel tool kit at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.
Accurately and easily cutting through material is the only task DeWalt focused on when designing the DW660 cut-out tool. The 5A motor offers more power than most rotary tools need, but it is perfect for cutting through thick drywall, tiles, or even up to 1½ inches of birch wood. It offers 30,000 RPM (nonadjustable) as well as toolless blade changes.
We liked that this DeWalt model is such a powerful and heavy-duty tool, as it truly can handle a variety of materials. We also liked the toolless blade changes, though the mechanism did jam on us once (it was probably a user error). We really liked the adjustable depth of cut as it’s less likely to snag insulation or a wire behind drywall. Our only complaints are that it didn’t come with any bits, and that the tool is really limited to cutting—sanding, grinding, and carving aren’t really an option.
Get the DeWalt rotary tool at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Acme Tools.
Anyone who might prefer a portable battery-powered rotary tool will want to give Milwaukee’s M12 kit a shot. This cordless model uses the company’s M12 batteries to produce speeds between 5,000 and 32,000 RPM. This Milwaukee rotary tool comes with a battery, a charger, a set of heavy-duty cut-off wheels, and a toolless chuck for easy bit changes.
Despite being a cordless rotary tool, this model had power to spare, cutting through steel quickly and easily when compared to almost every other model on the list. While Milwaukee doesn’t specifically mention it, we felt this tool offered “slow starts,” which prevented the tool from jolting in our hands when we flipped it on. We also really appreciated the cordless portability. The things that disappointed us the most were that this kit didn’t come with many accessories and the plastic collar vibrated loose a few times during use, forcing us to stop and tighten it back up.
Get the Milwaukee rotary tool kit at Amazon.
We’re big fans of the affordable Wen tool brand, but when we tested the Wen 2305 Rotary Tool Kit With Flex Shaft, it failed miserably and was downright dangerous. The kit doesn’t come with a guard for the cut-off wheel, and the wheels Wen supplies with the kit are very brittle and of low quality. Two wheels broke during cutting, sending chunks flying everywhere. Thankfully, we were wearing safety glasses. As a result of this, we would not recommend the 2305 kit.
Testing these rotary tools was a lot of fun. First, we took a look at the accessories and components that came with each tool and compared their quality and versatility. Then, we put them to work.
We started by cutting off pieces of scrap 10-gauge steel we had around our shop. Then, for those that came with them, we fitted each model with a rotary polishing tool wheel to give the steel some shine. Next, we used the rotary tools that came with sanding drums to sand through a layer of primer on some pine. Finally, we (poorly) carved our names in the pine. For the DeWalt, we grabbed a few scraps of drywall and wood to test its cutting ability.
Based on these tests, we had a good idea of what each model could handle, allowing us to put together our list.
When looking for the best rotary tools, you’ll want to consider the power, RPM, construction, and included accessories to know whether or not a given model will suit your needs. Read on to see some more considerations to think over before buying a rotary tool.
The power output of a rotary tool is determined by the motor amperes or the battery voltage (V). The lowest output generally comes from cordless models with a battery voltage of 4V or less. These rotary tools are good for light jobs and tend to have lower max RPM, making them great for engraving.
Higher power outputs can be seen with 12V cordless models that can reach 35,000 RPM or corded rotary tools with 1.8A motors. These more powerful models come with heavier motors and can be cumbersome in hand over long periods of use. If the additional power isn’t necessary for cutting or carving, an intermediate model is best.
Similar to the power output, RPM is a good measure to reference when deciding what rotary tool is appropriate for you.
Higher RPM (35,000) are best for jobs that require a lot of force. These can include sanding, grinding, cutting, and carving, among others. However, a higher RPM often can come with a higher price tag and is not great for working with softer materials. Lower RPM (5,000) speeds are useful with soft materials and can also polish and buff.
Most rotary tools now come with a variable-speed setting that allows for selecting the appropriate RPM for the project at hand, though lighter models will have a hard time reaching anything higher than 28,000 RPM. A weaker tool won’t be effective at working with harder materials. Before deciding, make sure that the rotary tool is able to handle the RPM that the job will require.
Some manufacturers now produce a cordless option that can offer several benefits that the corded version does not. Cordless rotary tools are more versatile and allow the user to get into tight areas that corded tools just can’t. Their easy use makes it simple to quickly grab the rotary tool to touch up a larger project without having to search for an outlet or an extension cord.
However, corded models are still around for a reason. Cordless rotary tools tend to have lower RPM and a lower power output. Their cordless design also means that at some point they will need charging. For a full day of work, that means dragging a charger around and finding an outlet to plug it in.
The accessories for a rotary tool are many and varied in their purpose and design. Buffing or polishing bits need a small amount of wax or polish to make almost any surface shine. Carbide bits and cutting wheels can etch, carve, or cut straight through metal. Rotary tools also come with some more familiar pieces, such as drill bits and sanding drums for the more ordinary projects on a to-do list.
For the artistic hobbyist, diamond-point wheels can carve, etch, and engrave glass, while a more practical accessory, like a sharpening wheel or wire wheel, can sharpen metals or remove rust from metal surfaces. When considering which rotary tool kit is best, it may be safer to opt for a larger kit with more accessories rather than settling for a smaller kit.
Rotary tools kits tend to highlight their various accessories, their power output, and their RPM, relying on the variety of the included parts to bolster their appearance. However, some models incorporate additional features, like an ergonomic grip that is more comfortable to work with or a USB charger to replace the standard charger. While the USB charger option hasn’t caught on with the best models, it might be a feature that is great for the occasional user who isn’t looking for a professional tool.
Even with that background and overview of rotary tools, there might still be some questions spinning around. The following section aims to answer those queries, as it’s a collection of the most frequently asked questions about these tools. Be sure to check for an answer to your question below.
For many people, rotary tools are definitely worth it. Their small size, lightweight design, and relatively low cost make them great tools for beginners. They’re also portable, easy to use, and precise.
The Dremel brand is one of the most popular and successful manufacturers of rotary tools, leading many folks to refer to all rotary tools as “dremels.” The truth is that many other manufacturers make rotary tools, and Dremel makes tools other than rotary tools.
Yes, you just need special bits or cutting wheels. Many manufacturers produce diamond-embedded cutting wheels and diamond burr bits specifically for rotary tools.
It depends on the material, but the answer is generally no, most rotary tools—regardless of how powerful they are—can drill holes. A sharp, high-quality bit matters more than the rotary tool’s output. However, if your rotary tool is underpowered, it might take longer. Rotary hammer drills have the kind of power needed for heavy-duty drilling and even light demo work.
Yes, with the right accessories, rotary tools can indeed cut through steel.
No, but they do require regular maintenance. These tools should be kept clean and lubricated, and replacing the accessories when they are worn out is key. Owners will also want to sharpen blades and bits.
Tom Scalisi is a full-time DIY and construction writer for many of the largest websites in the industry, including BobVila.com, This Old House, Family Handyman, and Forbes. He also owns and operates a pest control blog, RiddaBugs.com.
Additional research provided by Timothy Dale.
Tom Scalisi is a freelance writer, author, and blogger with a passion for building. Whether it’s a DIY project or an entire website, Tom loves creating something from the ground up, stepping back, and admiring a job well done.
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