Customer Reviews

Rotozip 101225 Revolution Spiral Saw Kit

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This tool has come in very handy for me and my workers. It's been great for removing cracked ceramic tile in showers (using masonary disk), cutting stucco, etc. If you get one, make sure you ALWAYS wear safety goggles. The one time I didn't I had a piece of stucco hit my eyeball and it was extremely painful (am fortunate it hit the white part of the eye).

What I dislike about this tool is the on/off switch. It is so bad that I could see someone having an accident with it. The switch is a slippery piece of plastic that you have to pull to turn it on and it's not easy to get a grip on.

I also don't like the cheesy plastic case. The mfg. should include a metal case or at a minimum a quality plastic case.

I haven't had great luck with the bits (they always seem to break).

Even though there are a couple negative things about this tool, I would definitely buy it again. It has become indispensable to me and gets used regularly in renovating apartment units.

Tool cuts about anything as advertized. Care must be taken when installing bits to ensure small portion of smooth shank is visible (bits break easily otherwise). The 4.5 amp rating is actually 5 amp UL rating (notice comes with spiral saw). If you want to cut floor tiles you must buy the diamond zBLADE used by the Zipmate attachment (additional 19.99 to 24.95 depending on where you get it). No other way with this saw to cut floor tiles reliably.

...It in not a heavyduty tool. I did not see any adjustment in speed by the electronics to keep the speed constant. There was a lot of play/vibration in the bearings. The metal cut off disks are [costly]and do not last as long as the ones on my other tools, and you have to buy their brand to fit...

I was one of the guys who got suckered in by watching the TV infomercial. But after purchasing this unit, I am 90% satisfied! The quality and durability of this unit makes it a valuable tool for anyone who already owns a Dremel. I owned my Dremel tool since 1993 but I do still use it. The Rotozip comes in where the Dremel fails, heavier duty work.

I used the cut-off tool to cut stainless steel and iron! The Dremel would've made me wait 20 times longer and with a dozen more of frustrations. The Rotozip does have some flaws, but not enough to render it useless. The head-attachment for cutting, etc. has a poorly designed spline gear. The gear that you insert into the collet to use the head-attachment "creeps" up and chews into the plastic of the head-attachment. Luckily Rotozip sent me a new head to use.

Sometimes the collet doesn't squeeze the spline gear enough, so removing discs or pads can be cumbersome. The adjustable air vents always close up on me. This is caused by the excess vibration when cutting metal, etc.

The built in LEDs are extremely useful, especially in hard to see areas. The LEDs light up the work surface, but only when using the spiral saw bits.

Trigger is very easy to use, much easier to use than my pneumatic cut off tool!

I have been using the Revolution spiral cut tool for a few months in a professional capacity, previously using the Dremel for drywall cuts. The Revolution shaft lock has be redesigned which is good news, the old design would fall apart with minimal useage. I am on my third Revolution now within 5 months. Its a great for cutting drywall, however if you use the tool for harder materials such as plywood, hardyboard, OSB, or particle board expect a drastically shortened tool life. I use this tool because it will not crack or split Formica. Heat generated while cutting, travels up the shaft and begins to melt the plastic fan blade. With the fan's tight tolerance to the housing, it begins to drag causing more noise and quicker failure from wobble at 30,000 rpm. A few countertop sink cutouts is all this tool can handle in 3/4" particle board before failure, with changing the bit 3 or 4 times for each sink to insure a sharp bit. Maybe if you could allow the tool to cool for 30 minutes for every 5 minutes of cutting, it would last longer, however this in impractical with a customer standing over you. And there is only a one year warranty from original purchase. Since they replace the tool and not repair it, the warranty should begin a new period. This would force them into incorporating a billet aluminum fan blade more quickly. Its hell to be at customers and have a tool failure. Maybe I should become a dealer and carry a few Revolutions in stock on my truck and perhaps even bill the customer for a new tool each time i use it, under consumables. ALWAYS WEAR EAR PLUGS AND SAFETY GLASSES WHILE USING THIS TOOL.

If you want to cut electrical outlets in drywall and have extra [money] lying around by the saw. The bits dull remarkably fast. It has a great deal of kick back as do most rotorary tools like the dremel, which I find unsafe. Cutting metal pipe is tricky at best, the sanding is mediocare compared with any dedicated sander and as a grinder it is underpowered. Cutting wood is extremely slow if you don't want to break the blade which means you need hearing protection it whines louder than my exwife. it is very difficult to make an accurate cut. does fine for rough stuff.

I just wanted to confirm what a few others have said here. The Zip works great with one problem, the fan. If you buy one of these and actually use it more than the average Joe be ready to fix the fan. I have had two and exactly as stated in prior reviews, the unit gets hot and the glue holding the fan in place loosens allowing the fan to slip down the shaft and into the housing. The first time this happened I just had it replaced. The second time I had read these reviews and decided to open it up. I found exactly what other reviewers have stated. I too am using bearing retaining compound to glue the fan back in place. You can get it from Loctite. I recommend using the kind for high heat.

I am not a contractor nor claim to try to be one. I'm a weekend warrior who does most of his own home improvements minus additions. I have owned this tool for 6 months and it has become absolutely indespensible in my arsenal. It has basically replaced my angle-grinder, my Dremel, and in some instances my circular saw.

I was skeptical at first... especially with the circle and Zip-Mate attachments, but both work amazingly well and are easy to use. The Zip-Mate is incredibly handy and does just about anything an angle-grinder can do.

My only complaints are with the switch, as mentioned below, and the cost of the accessories. The switch turns on and off easily if you're not careful. Also it occasionally sputters in trigger operation mode. The cost of the proprietary accessories is annoying. And some bits and wheels wear out quickly. But overall, this tool is well worth the price.

After woodworking and building for 30 years, I finally purchased this tool. It outperformed my expectations. This should have been the third tool purchased, right after a circular saw and drill. Over the years, this would have saved so much frustration and time wasted using other tools the Rotozip accomplishes immediately with so little effort. The ease of cuts and accuracy when installing sheet products makes the job a lot easier and quicker.

I've had mine for about 4 months and am amazed at how often I use it, and in how many different scenarios. Its sort of the one tool that I like to have with me because it is so versatile.

When I was trying to decide which model to buy, I went to 3 Home Depot's and this model was always sold out. I asked why and was told that contractors bought them as fast as they came in.

My experience has been very positive and it is a tool I reach for frequently.