[Dull Knife]

I imagine that this old news to you carvers, but I like to use the long Roto=Zip bits to get into places where my regular bits can't go, like between legs, in arm pits and down the throats of the bears that I've been working on. Now if I can just figure out how to get the picture of my latest bear on this here forum, I'll be a happy carver.

[Eddy Smiles]

Just hang on to that motor because if that Roto-Zip bites in it will remove more than a pant's leg!

[Thomp]

I bought the rotorzip old style with the metal base, for making them christmas yard decorations, like full size, santas and sleighs, and reindeer..
after wrecking a santa and going through several packs of them spirial bits on one santa made from 1/2 skip sheeting plywood, changing to a 1/4" straight router bit helped, but i finished the project with a new jigsaw., at a loss of $150.00 but i had 2 new tools.

i soon found the rotorzip, usless the bits are too long and are too limber for cutting wood. there a scinch on drywall and drop celing material, or cardboard, my son-in-law swears its just the thing for cutting around tubs and pipes in tile floors,

but i wouldnt risk a carving to the havvoc a rotor zip can cause,
a hand saw would be better if you dont want to take the time to make crotch cuts with a knife,

rotor zip dont have a place amoung my carving tools

[sbirkes]

I just bought one on sale at Lowes. Been waiting for the chance to use it. Sounds like I may be waiting quite a while.

[Thomp]

Steve the rotor zip ain't a total piece of junk but don't expect to zip through a double layer of 1/2 plywood or a sheet of 3/4" for that matter,

you can change out the 1/8th" collet and use regular router bits in it. and its a pretty good trim router of sorts,

but when doing 1/4" stuff with 1/8th" bits it dose somewhat better, expect some bit wobble as it can wonder especially if your using the very end of the bit length, especially if the bit dulls, the limber blade whips, and will leave a wide kerf if you move too slow, but if you work too fast you break the bits,,,

but then too you get some wobble from a jigsaw especially if your cutting double layer of 1/2" plywood its noticeable on inside sweeping corners as the lower arc will be of less than the top sheet.

all tools have some drawbacks,

[Just Carving]

I have the Rotozip tool and I added Rotozip's flex shaft. Now I can use any 1/16" or 1/8" bits for cutting wood or metal--which is what I use it for more, i.e. fine tuning blade and tool shapes for knives and tools. I get better results than when using a grinder. The only thing is I wish the flex shaft was a bit longer.

I agree about the wood cutting bits. They're good for drywall, and thin wood like paneling or luan plywood but anything over 3/8" thick tends to wear out the bits fast unless you use a 1/4" bit. Like any tool, it has its limitations.

http://www.rotozip.com/Shop/Category...=19&HID=188052

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Thomp

I bought the rotorzip old style with the metal base, for making them christmas yard decorations, like full size, santas and sleighs, and reindeer..
after wrecking a santa and going through several packs of them spirial bits on one santa made from 1/2 skip sheeting plywood, changing to a 1/4" straight router bit helped, but i finished the project with a new jigsaw., at a loss of $150.00 but i had 2 new tools.

i soon found the rotorzip, usless the bits are too long and are too limber for cutting wood. there a scinch on drywall and drop celing material, or cardboard, my son-in-law swears its just the thing for cutting around tubs and pipes in tile floors,

but i wouldnt risk a carving to the havvoc a rotor zip can cause,
a hand saw would be better if you dont want to take the time to make crotch cuts with a knife,

rotor zip dont have a place amoung my carving tools

I don't have the Roto-Zip tool, I just use the bits in my battery operated Dremel. At a low speed setting those bits really do a nice job of carving and at a higher speed they help clean out areas that I can't get to with regular bits.....so far, I've not had any problems that you all are describing.....I guess it's just a matter of choice and how one uses the tools.

[Thomp]

its funny that most flex shafts are just so simular to speedometer cables from cars and trucks,, seams a ingenious person hasent came up with them way before now.

i bought a fordom like tool from harbor freight central electric, i know ill have a heck of a time getting parts for it but i just couldnt justify $200. bucks for a tool i didnt know i would use often,, but i wish i would have gotton a better hand piece this thing is like a drill chuck and i keep loosing the chuck key, i went as far as putting it on a link of chain like bath tub stoppers goes on, found it hanging on my grand sons neck after a 2 hour hunt...


now im thinking of another one, so i dont have to chande out bits so often,,

[wchips]

Hi all
I recently purchased a set of small bits from Grizzley that resemble roto zip bits but are mutch smallerThey work real good for taking out wood in small places ,like between legs ect,Cost something like $10.95 for box of 50. They brake farley easy when you put pressur on them. I was carving in some cottonwood bark, hit a hard spot and broke one. Just thought i would pass it on


Have a nice day Lee

[Thomp]

harbor freight has some little bits in there online site,
i use a lot for cutting peach seeds and such, item number 34640-2vga link click here

the link brings you to the page but you have to put in the item number

50 PC.SOLID CARBIDE MICRO BIT GRAB BAG you can buy several boxes of these and not get the same bits so expect that,
they are hard as glass and break easily, but with given light pressure they work better than anything ive found for detailing some are finer than hair,

at 12.99 a pack you cant beat them, to get a variety collected fast,,,