Nything a rotary tool can do that a oscillating multi-tool can’t

powertools

I've got a decent chunk of change to spend on tools, and after cleaning the corrosion off of 96 battery terminals with scouring pads last week, I couldn't help but to think that a rotary tool (e.g. a RotoZip or a traditional Dremel) or oscillating tool (i.e. Fein MultiMaster) would make the job a lot easier. After thinking about it, I figured the oscillating tool would probably be better at the job than a rotary tool… seems a lot safer, too.

I struggled to think of something that a rotary tool would be better at, and the only things that I could come up with is drilling into tile/granite and cleaning other miscellaneous holes out (since a drum-shaped attachment would be perfect for that type of job.)

Anyways, other than drilling/cleaning out holes, are there any jobs that a rotary tool would be superior to a oscillating tool for?

Best Answer

A few things I've done/do with my rotary tool that can't be done with a oscillating tool:

  • Etching numbers/letters with a diamond point (in very hard materials; such as marking serial number/ownership on a bicycle frame or tool).
  • Polishing; many rotary attachments are made for polishing fine items.
  • Routing. There are several router bit setups for roto-zips and dremels for doing very fine (i.e. gingerbread) work.
  • Curved work, such as fitting tile or wooden flooring around a small curved spot.

Overall, the oscillators have their uses, and replace other tools, but the blades can be hideously expensive. The bits can be cheaper for a rotary tool, and sometimes they're just better suited for a job -- cutting holes in drywall to fit an electrical box is one great example of a task where you can do it by hand, you can do it with an oscillator or even a reciprocating saw, but once you do it with a rotozip and the right bit you're just going to hate doing it any other way.

Related Topic