Rotary Tool reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 185 Reddit reviews across 27 subreddits and 48 posts to rank the best Rotary Tool brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/Tools, r/metalworking, r/Woodcarving, r/DIY, r/BeginnerWoodWorking. Top-rated brands include Dremel (4.0/5), Foredom (4.8/5), Proxxon (4.6/5).
Stats
Reviews185
Subreddits27
Posts48
Brands36
Products80
185 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Dremel
4.0
(92)
"A dremel is the tool you’re looking for for."
"For small stuff dremel is your best friend."
"Get the Dremel EZ Lock™ mandrel (EZ402) and the relevant EZ Lock™ cutting discs to save your sanity."
"Dremel also makes an EZ Lock™ Sanding Drum Mandrel (EZ407SA) for sanding."
"Get the Dremel EZ Lock™ mandrel (EZ402) and the relevant EZ Lock™ cutting discs to save your sanity."
"There are several versions of Dremel discs for cutting metal, including EZ456, EZ409, EZ506HP, EZ545HP, and SC545."
"Dremel also makes an EZ Lock™ Sanding Drum Mandrel (EZ407SA) for sanding."
"A Dremel 4486 Keyless Chuck helps a lot if you need to swap accessories of different diameter shafts."
"All polishing/buffing tools are functionally identical and can be interchanged."
"The Dremel brand is the best, and I would buy that big kit just to have 1 of everything."
#2
Foredom
4.8
(21)
"I picked one up from woodcraft with a flexible shaft and foot pedal. It’s been a dream to use."
"It is a precision tool and will run on a battery for a good while."
"It blows Dremel out of the water!"
"Foredom With the Foredom splashback kit"
"If you can afford them, these rotary tools are excellent."
"If I wanted a good strong rotary tool I would get a Foredom."
"The professional standard in the jewelry and lapidary industry is Foredom."
"My dad is one of some note. He uses a Foredom as well. He's had the same one for at least 30 years."
"Thanks everyone for chiming in! This was super helpful. I’ll be getting the Foredom in the near future!!!!"
"Once you have a Foredom you'll kick yourself for waiting so long."
#3
Proxxon
4.6
(8)
"I prefer the Proxxon Micromot line to Dremel. The tools are slimmer and easier to handle. Their accessories are also of high quality."
"Best I've seen in the hobby range is Proxxon. Far better than Dremel. Really a good tool and amazing value."
"The Proxxon IBS-E is a step up from any Dremel, with a die-cast frame that is more durable and smoother running."
"Proxxon totally outperforms the Dremels."
"The overall quality is just on a completely different (higher) level."
"Subjectively it was a bit more quiet than the Dremel 3000 while making the exact same things."
"Proxxon IBS/E slightly preferred to Dremel, and both are WAY better than all cheaper alternatives."
"I haven't tried these personally, yet, but they look well made. Proxxon."
#4
Harbor Freight
3.3
(9)
"The harbor freight $6 5 pack of diamond cutting wheels is a can't miss."
"Inexpensive and easily replaced."
"It’s super lightweight and comfortable to use, like a pen."
"I really like this one, its super small, like the diameter of a hot dog maybe."
"It is reasonably well made for the price."
"Other brands are also sold, usually in kits, at Harbor Freight."
"The cheap grinding wheel from Harbor Freight functions as a rotary tool."
"The cheapo harbor freight cutting disks would snap apart with a light breeze. Total trash. Always wear eye protection."
"Stay away from the harbor freight ones."
#5
Dremel Cordless
5.0
(4)
"Get the rechargeable dremel. I have the corded one and the rechargeable and never plug in anymore- and if you have a dog it’s great for doing their nails"
"Bought a cordless Dremel marketed for trimming dogs nails. Works great around the shop/house too."
"I have the Dremel cordless one it's pretty good I love it."
"Dremel, the cordless is pretty nice."
#6
Foredom Flex Shaft
5.0
(4)
"My partner mainly uses a Foredom flex shaft, but also uses a dremel and a knock-off Foredom."
"Foredom flex shafts have been used for this, (and other jewelry related needs) for decades."
"I also use a Dremel with a flexshaft, which is where I started. Though the Chicago Electric too isn't ideal, if that's all that's within the budget, go for it, and save up for the Foredom."
"Foredom flexshaft"
#7
Rotary Tool
4.3
(4)
"My first encounter with rotary tools was this YouTube video for how to replace a pivot shoe lock."
"I got a used ryobi rotary tool for cheap. It seems to have good power for the price."
"Dremol makes a rotary tool that comes with everything you need to sharpen blades."
"If you have milwaukee 12V gear I'd suggest their rotary tool."
#8
WEN
3.8
(4)
"I have a wired Wen brand rotary tool, its good for wood carving, its just beefy and wired so I cant really use it for what I need"
"I've got the wen. So far so good. Get the Chuck attachment for it and you're good until you decide you like it or want something better."
"WEN 2305 rotary tool, about $20."
"Wen and Avidpower have offerings on amazon. I have no experience with either but they are atleast recognizable "brands" that you can maybe find real reviews on"
#9
Unknown Rotary Tool
3.5
(4)
"I also think the lathe/chuck style rotary are better than the hot dog ones if you can get one"
"I would recommend an adjustable speed as well."
"If you are serious, buy serious tools."
"Are you asking for a rotary or a dual action polisher?"
#10
Fordom
5.0
(2)
"They have a TX model that is even more powerful."
"It's great and surprisingly powerful."
#11
Saeyang
5.0
(2)
"This is a nice micro motor, I use a few of them in the workshop and can recommend!"
"This is a nice micro motor, I use a few of them in the workshop and can recommend!"
#12
Milwaukee M12 Rotary Tool
4.5
(2)
"I have the Milwaukee M12 dremel tool and really like it. Cordless is a big advantage."
"If you have any milwaukee m12 tools they have a rotary tool. Plus there’s a brushless version coming out in the near future."
#13
Vevor
4.5
(2)
"I got a Vevor SR and it worked wonderfully for me."
"I got a stand alone flex shaft grinder from Vevor myself."
#14
Makita
4.5
(2)
"The Makita 18v die grinder outperforms the Dremel, making it feel like a toy."
"I paid $400 for makita drill + circ saw + sander + recip + impact + flashlight + 2 batteries."
#15
AliExpress
4.0
(2)
"Buying sandpaper drums in large amounts from AliExpress is worth it."
"I mostly don't see a difference in performance from the actual brand names to the knock offs."
#16
Milwaukee
4.0
(2)
"A mini die grinder could be a better answer depending on what you're doing."
"The Milwaukee M12 rotary tool is decent, especially if you already have other M12 tools."
#17
Tacklife
4.0
(2)
"Great value for the price, especially with the included attachments."
"I would go for the Tacklife due to the flex shaft attachment and the inclusion of the depth cutting attachment."
#18
Amazon
5.0
(1)
"I bought a set of 40 or so diamond bits off amazon for like $3."
#19
Worx
5.0
(1)
"It’s really nice. It has all sorts of other tools you can use with it."
#20
Lindsay
5.0
(1)
"Lindsay airgraver is best in the business."
#21
Hanging
5.0
(1)
"It's much more powerful and reliable than anything else I've used. It has an adjustable chuck for various burrs."
#22
RA2
5.0
(1)
"I use the RA2 without any issues."
#23
Lee Valley
5.0
(1)
"The Lee Valley router bits are superior to the Dremel ones; they are expensive, but they really do a great job."
#24
Pneumatic Tools
5.0
(1)
"Pneumatic rotary tools last much longer than dremels."
#25
Kutzall
5.0
(1)
"Lasts much longer than Dremel HSS equivalent burrs."
#26
JD
5.0
(1)
"I find it smoother and easier to handle than a dremel. Foot pedal is a plus."
#27
Flex Wand
4.0
(1)
"Get the flex wand, it helps a lot."
#28
Ray Foster
4.0
(1)
"A ray foster polishing motor and proper lessons from awci or something."
#29
TOBTOS
4.0
(1)
"I’ve been using mine regularly since 2021 and have no complaints."
#30
Hanging Flex Shaft Tool
4.0
(1)
"Get a hanging flex shaft tool. You can get a decent one for cheap enough on Amazon."
#31
Parkside
4.0
(1)
"Lidl Parkside, cheap and good."
#32
Porter-Cable
4.0
(1)
"Porter-Cable imo."
#33
TACKLIFE
4.0
(1)
"TACKLIFE Rotary Tool Kit with MultiPro Keyless Chuck and Flex Shaft."
#34
Jeweller's Saw
4.0
(1)
"You will need a jeweller's saw, blades, files, tweezers, pliers, burrs, drill bits, hammers, mallet, a steel block, a ruler and a square, compass, calipers, a tracing tool and maybe some other tools."
#35
Dremel Rotary Tool
3.0
(1)
"I've tried microsanders, and dremels, and every wet dry sanding technique til my arm hurt."
#36
Dremel Style Tool
3.0
(1)
"Any Dremel style tool should be ok."
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