A rotary tool is great at multi-tasking. Popular for use by professionals and hobbyists alike, it comes with many different attachments which can be used to complete a myriad of different tasks, including sanding, carving, polishing and cutting.
Once you get used to using a rotary tool, it’s something that you will not want to be without. There is nothing that even comes close where versatility is concerned. Experts like Rotary Tools Guy recognise the benefits of being able to get rid of many different power tools and complete every task by simply changing the attachment on your rotary tool.
Check out the different attachments that you have
The first thing that you need to do, before you start to use a rotary tool, is familiarise yourself with the different attachments that are available; there can be in excess of fifty different pieces, depending on which tool you buy. The attachments will normally be grouped according to their use.
All you need to do to use each attachment is to pull out the collar of the tool which holds the attachment in place and slide the attachment you want to use into the slot.
Some of the attachments that you can expect to find include:
- High speed cutters – you can use these attachments to shape and hollow wood and most types of metal.
- Tungsten carbide cutters which have a longer useful life than the high speed cutters which are usually made from steel.
- Cut-off wheels which are ideal for tasks that involve slicing pieces of plastic or metal.
- Diamond wheel points which are most useful when dealing with ceramics and glass.
- Small engraving cutters which can be used for engraving details on various surfaces.
- Grinding stones made from different materials. The material you choose depends of which type of material you want to grind; for instance, hard materials such as steel normally require the use of a grinding stone made from silicon carbide.
- Wire and bristle brushes for cleaning and polishing work.
These are just a few of the attachments you can use with a rotary tool; the type of attachments that are available varies from tool to tool.
Jobs you can complete using the tool
If you need to sand a rough surface so that it is smooth, you can use a buffer wheel to complete the task. You should find that you have different grades of buffer wheel available that create different types of surface, from rough to super smooth.
You can cut different materials using the cutting wheel attachments. There are different wheels for cutting concrete and metal. Having to cut in tight corners is no problem when you use a rotary tool; it makes the task a lot easier.
The burr bits which often come with a rotary tool are perfect for cutting dry wall. You can even cut complex patterns and in hard to reach areas.
These are just a handful of the numerous tasks that a rotary tool can be used for. Take time to get to know the tool and the various attachments, so that you can make best use of them.
