The Best Rotary Tools On The Market Today, According To Reviews
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If you don't already have one, you might want to consider adding a rotary tool to your collection of home improvement gadgets. These relatively small tools feature a rotating top that makes them useful for a variety of projects. With different types of tips, you can use them for everything from sanding, grinding, and engraving, to carving, polishing, and more. Because of their compact and handheld design, a rotary tool is often the best choice when precision is needed. You'll have greater control over the tool than you would a larger and bulkier power tool when making smaller markings, cuts, or embellishments.
Now that you're sold on why you should add a rotary tool to your toolbox, the only problem is deciding which one to purchase. With seemingly countless products and kits on the market, it can be difficult to know which is best for your needs. We've worked to simplify that task for you by rounding up a list of some of the best products that are currently on the market. We looked closely at customer reviews — each of our picks has a rating of 4.2 stars or higher and has been reviewed by at least 1,100 customers. Additionally, we aimed to include options to meet the varying needs of our readers. Below, you'll find not only our best overall pick, but you'll also find our recommendations for more specific needs, such as a cordless option, a rotary tool designed for cutting, and one that comes with a large accessory kit to allow for more versatile uses. You can learn more about our methodology at the end of this article.
Best overall: Dremel 4300 5/40 High Performance Rotary Tool Kit
There is a lot to love about the Dremel 4300 5/40 High Performance Rotary Tool Kit, which is why it earns the top spot in our roundup. Featuring the manufacturer's most powerful motor, you'll find several genius ways to use this Dremel around your home. It can help you with cutting, drilling, grinding, sanding, and more. It also has variable speeds between 5,000 and 35,000 RPMs — one of the widest ranges on our list — to deliver power or precision when you need it most. Each kit comes with 40 attachments. But, thanks to the universal 3-jaw chuck, you can also use this tool with any other Dremel accessories that you purchase separately. A few other notable features of this top-performing tool include the pilot light to illuminate your workspace, the ventilation mechanism that helps it stay cool as you work, and the replaceable motor brushes.
According to reviewers, this is one of the top rotary tools on the market. It has an impressive 4.7-star rating, which is based on more than 12,000 reviews. Additionally, 85% of all reviewers were impressed enough to give it a 5-star rating. Many reviewers praise the overall quality of the tool, its versatility, and its ease of use in their write-ups. Here is what one customer, who gave it a 5-star rating, had to say: "This dremel has so many uses and attachments that I would consider it a necessity for any DIY-er, homeowner, artist, or crafter. So much more power than the older models. This dremel is great!"
Best budget buy: Ginelson Cordless Rotary Tool
If you're looking for an option that won't break the bank, then you might want to take a look at the Ginelson Cordless Rotary Tool. This model retails for only $21.78, making it significantly cheaper than the other tools on our round-up. The next cheapest product on our list retails for about $13 more, and all of the other models are at least $35 more expensive (with many being at least $50 more expensive). Despite its low price, you'll find that the 70-piece accessory set allows you to find several uses for this tool. It can help you with everything from sanding your next DIY project, drilling a hole for hanging a picture, or engraving that creative housewarming gift that you crafted for a friend.
By and large, customers are pleased with their decision to purchase this budget-friendly pick. It has been reviewed by more than 1,100 customers and has a 4.2-star rating. Additionally, 81% of reviewers gave it a 4- or 5-star rating (63% gave it 5 stars and 18% gave it 4 stars). In their write-ups, customers highlight this tool's included accessories, speed settings, and overall value for the money. "Came with a lot of attachments, charges fast and stays charged for a long time. Have been using for quite some time with no issue. Great value for the price," shared one satisfied customer.
Best for features: Dremel 8240 Cordless Rotary Tool Kit
When you're looking for a rotary tool that comes jam-packed with features to help with everything from refinishing an outdated table to sharpening your lawn mower blades to sanding intricate DIY projects, look no further than the Dremel 8240 Cordless Rotary Tool Kit. This cordless model offers variable speeds between 5,000 and 35,000 RPMs, allowing it to meet the specific needs of each project type. Another key feature is the EZ Twist Nose Cap, which can help you quickly change accessories (including the five attachments that come with the tool or other Dremel accessories that you purchase separately) with ease. This model also offers a 360-degree grip zone for comfortable handling, ventilation openings to keep it quiet as you work, and an LED indicator to let you know when you need to recharge the battery.
Customer ratings for this Dremel are overwhelmingly positive. More than 1,500 individuals have reviewed it, giving it an average rating of 4.7 stars. Moreover, 80% of all reviewers gave it a 5-star rating, with an additional 14% giving it a 4-star rating. Many highlight its build quality, power, and overall functionality in their write-ups. One reviewer shared, "I use rotary tools every day. This is a really good one. It is lightweight and easy to hold. The features are impressive. No vibration. It is very easy to control precisely. Plenty of power. Easy to control variable speed."
Best cordless: Wen Variable Speed Lithium-Ion Cordless Rotary Tool
A cordless rotary tool can come in handy for a variety of tasks. You might want to consider the Wen Variable Speed Lithium-Ion Cordless Rotary Tool if you want the freedom to work away from a power outlet or want to execute creative pumpkin carving ideas or other tasks that demand working in tight spaces. In addition to its cordless design, this tool is also lightweight — weighing just over half a pound — which will also aid in the ease of maneuvering it as you work. However, while it does offer variable speeds, it can only adjust in increments of 5,000 RPM between 5,000 and 25,000 RPM, so it doesn't match the options of some of the more premium picks on our list.
This Wen rotary tool has a 4.3-star rating, which is based on feedback from more than 23,000 reviewers. Roundabout 84% of those who took the time to review it gave it a 4- or 5-star rating (67% gave it a 5-star rating and 17% gave it a 4-star rating), with many praising its ease of use and overall performance. "This rotary tool is a game-changer for DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike. Its compact size and cordless design make it incredibly convenient to use for a wide range of projects. With its intuitive controls and ergonomic grip, this tool is incredibly easy to handle and maneuver, allowing for precise and effortless work," wrote one happy customer.
Best for light-duty work: Dremel Light 7760 Cordless Rotary Tool
The Dremel Light 7760 Cordless Rotary Tool might be the best choice for those who are looking to do light-duty work. While it offers a narrower range of speed settings than other models — from 8,000 to 25,000 RPMs — it can still come in handy for a range of tasks. Its lightweight and cordless design, for example, could make it an asset when using your homemade copper and brass polish on metal accessories, sanding a DIY project, or engraving a gift for a friend. The tool comes with 10 accessories. But it also features Dremel's EZ Twist Nose Cap, which is compatible with other tips from the manufacturer.
The model's 4.6-star rating from more than 10,000 reviewers shows that it is a solid pick for a variety of light home improvement or crafting tasks. More than three-quarters (77%) of reviewers gave it a 5-star rating, and an additional 13% gave it a 4-star rating. Users share that they appreciate its compact and lightweight design as well as its overall ease of use. One reviewer who gave this rotary tool a 5-star rating wrote, "If you like doing your own small fix jobs at home, this Dremel is perfect for you. Very handy and well worth the price."
Best for cutting: DeWalt Rotary Saw
While many rotary tools come with attachments for cutting, they may not be the best option for everyone. If you need greater precision or are looking to primarily use the tool for making cuts, then you might want to look at the DeWalt Rotary Saw, which is designed specifically for such tasks. It offers a powerful 5-amp, 30,000 RPM motor, which allows it to cut through a variety of materials. This tool is also designed with ease of use in mind. You can shut it off easily when you need to stop the blade from moving using the bump-off switch. Additionally, when you need to replace the saw blade, you can do so with ease, and without requiring any special tools.
According to the high customer reviews, this rotary saw performs well. It has been reviewed by more than 3,700 customers and holds a 4.5-star rating. In their reviews, many praise the rotary saw's power, cut speed, and overall ease of use. "This DeWalt rotary tool is a beast! It's got plenty of power to tackle any job I throw at it, from carving wood to engraving metal. The variable speed control is super handy, and the included collets make it easy to switch between different bits. It's a bit heavy, but the build quality feels rock-solid. Definitely a worthwhile investment for any serious DIYer or hobbyist," wrote one customer.
Best for included accessories: Depstech Cordless Rotary Tool Kit
If you're looking for a rotary tool that includes a lot of accessories to help you accomplish a range of tasks, then the DEPSTECH Cordless Rotary Tool Kit might be for you. The kit comes with 127 accessories, including tips for grinding, sanding, drilling, polishing, and cutting. Each purchase also includes a cutting guide for increased stability and accuracy, a storage case, and a USB-C charging cable. The tool's five variable speed settings — between 5,000 and 30,000 RPM — will help you make the most of each attachment as you complete DIY and home improvement projects.
Reviews for this rotary tool kit from DEPSTECH are mostly positive. Many highlight it as a good value for the money, sharing that they appreciate the assortment of attachments that come with it. Here is what one satisfied user wrote: "I was quite surprised by this assortment of attachments for my rotary tool. I'm just starting some DIY projects and the original rotary tool didn't come with many attachments so this is like walking through a candy store. I didn't even know some of these pieces existed."
Methodology
To compile this list of the best rotary tools, one of the first things we looked at was customer ratings. We used these ratings to help us narrow down the extensive number of options on the market, only selecting products that had a minimum rating of 4.2 stars. We also looked at the overall number of ratings, and only considered products that had a minimum of 1,000 reviews to give us more confidence in the trends, comments, and concerns shared by customers. The breakdown of reviews (i.e., the number of customers who gave each rotary tool a 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-star rating) was also considered. At least 80% of reviewers gave each of our selections a 4- or 5-star rating. Finally, we thought about the various needs of individuals who might be shopping for a new rotary tool. We aimed to include a range of product types, features, and accessories to address the different needs and budgets of each of our readers.