Rotary Zip tool

[MiamiCuse]

Fundamentally, what is the difference between a rotary zip tool and Dremel? Is it just a bit more power and it has a plastic ring in the front to control the cutting depth?

MC

[Ralph Mowery]

I would say the zip tool is like a big Dremel. The Dremel is made to be held in one hand and do more percision work where the zip tool is made to do larger jobs. Maybe like an artist brush compaired to a house paint brush.

[Colbyt]

Comparing the RotoZip brand to a Dremel is like comparing a BMW to a Yugo.

They are respectively rotary tools and cars. The class comparisons is about the same.

A lot more power and much better made sums it up. My Rotozip is almost 20 years old and going strong.

[L D'Bonnie]

Rotary zip tool = Chain saw

Dremel = Jig saw

LdB

[SteveB]

From what I see, Dremel is a tool that you can use with a lot of attachments to do various jobs. RotoZip is a tool that uses a side cutting bit to rout around boxes when sheetrocking. Rotozip has a lot of more uses, and accessories, but in my opinion, it is designed to be held perpendicular to the work, and the side of the bit does the cutting. With a Dremel, the cutting or polishing or contact with the work is at more angles, and a lot of Dremels have to purposely use an attachment to make the bit perpendicular to the work. The RotoZip has a base, like a router that runs along the work. The bit is then set to the correct depth for whatever is being cut, mostly sheetrock.

I have seen both RotoZips and Dremels. I personally have a Foredom, which is a shaft drive tool similar to some Dremels. Different things for different jobs.

Steve

[Pete C.]

The RotoZip, as well as the other branded rotary cutout saws (Dewalt, etc.) are significantly beefier and more powerful than a Dremel. A Dremel is a hobby tool for light arts and crafts projects, while the rotary cutout tools are construction tools for tasks like cutting openings in drywall, cement board, etc.

[Art Todesco]

Just to add to all of the answers, I have one of the new Dremel Lithium Ion cordless tools. Even though it has somewhat less power than my plug-in Dremel, I still will use a Roto-Zip bit in it to cut drywall .... works great!

[MiamiCuse]

[Art Todesco]

No, actually the RotoZip standard bit is

1/8" (I think) which is the largest Dremel collet.

[Dave Martindale]

The RotoZip seems to come with both 1/8" and 1/4" collets. The drywall-cutting spiral bits are 1/8", so they'll fit a Dremel. Some of the larger bits are 1/4" and they will not.

Dave