Rockwell SoniCrafter Oscillating Tool - Review
Of all of the new oscillating tools heading to the market in the wake of Fein's patent expiration, the Rockwell is the dark horse. Everyone knows Dremel and Bosch, but who are these Rockwell guys and why should you drop some coin on a tool from a relatively unknown company when the tried and true fellows have some nice items to offer?
Before using the SoniCrafter, we knew very little about Rockwell, other than that they offer a reciprocating saw with a cool handle and that they produce the JawHorse, an interesting clamping device that is seemingly identical to the Triton SuperJaws (Triton is an Australian company and we're not sure who had the tool first or what the relationship between the two is). But here they are with an oscillating tool. If the tool is a success, it's sure to catapult Rockwell into the upper echelon of tool manufacturers, cementing their name and popularizing their products, if it's a failure, well then, they're just another company that makes passable tools.
The SoniCrafter is a corded tool so it's to be compared mostly with the Dremel and the Fein and not the cordless Bosch. So how does it measure up? Is it a good tool? The answer is 'yes.' In fact, after doing a project with it, it's our favorite of the current crop of non-Fein oscillating tools.
In the hands, the Rockwell has a very solid feel to it, much more so than the Dremel, which doesn't look like it's made to withstand too many falls. The Rockwell, on the other hand, is built to take construction site abuse. It's a nice, heavy tool with some good power behind it. We tested it out a lot, both sanding and cutting, and found that, although it was less powerful than the Fein, it performed better than both the Dremel and the Bosch.
Ergonomically, it's great, succeeding with both one and two hand grips. Other than the head of the tool, the majority of the body is covered with a comfortable rubber grip area. This also prevents the heat of the motor from getting to your hands, which can be a concern with oscillating tools.
Like the Bosch PS50, the Rockwell comes with an accessory carrying case. It's a nice touch and one that we appreciate. There is also one of those little velcro straps on the cord, making wrapping the tool up that much easier; another nice touch.
The dust extraction system consists of a few plastic parts that fit together and form a thin 'hose' that sits along the underside of the tool. Installation only takes a few moments and once there, it doesn't get in the way of tool operation at all. As for success; while it does cut down on the dust, it doesn't completely get rid of it.
One concern we have with this tool has to do with accessory availability. Because each of the new oscillating tools has its own sized 'chuck,' we have to wonder how easy it will be to get your hands on Rockwell accessories. We've never seen the brand in stores, so if you're considering buying this tool, keep in mind that you may be mail-ordering blades, and scrapers.
Rockwell has decided against a hard case for the tool and has opted for the small duffel bag style that comes with a lot of Ridgid tools these days. In our eyes, it's a good call, fitting the tool, the accessory case, and the dust extraction kit all comfortably, making for a small and portable package. One possible problem with this is that the pieces of the dust extraction system don't look particularly durable and if the bag is in the back of the truck and the table saw shifts over on top of it, you might be needing some more parts of the dust kit.
These complaints, if you could even call them that, have nothing to do with the tool itself, which we love. The bottom line is that the Rockwell SoniCrafter is a fantastic entry into the oscillating tool category and should only serve to spread the word about these tools as well as the Rockwell brand specifically. Functionally, it lands between the Dremel and the Fein, which means that it's sturdy enough for a job site, but not of the highest quality like the Fein. The basic kit (20-piece) sells at Amazon for about $120, putting it at $10 more than the Dremel. The 37-piece kit is $140, and the 72-piece goes for $180. If you plan on doing anything more than the very basics, we would recommend the 72-piece kit. It's the only one that comes with the dust extraction system and with the aforementioned difficulty at getting more accessories, you might as well start with a ton on hand, right?
More information (and accessories) at SoniCrafter.com
20-Piece Kit at Amazon
37-Piece Kit at Amazon
72-Piece Kit at Amazon
Read More in: All Reviews | Oscillating Tools
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Posted by Tool Snob at November 10, 2008 5:26 AM
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