Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit
by Rockwell
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List Price: Our Price: $159.00 You Save: $40.99 (20%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $79.99 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit
Customer Review: Rockwell Sonic Crafter
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought the Rockwell Sonic Crafter about a year ago because I needed a "multi-tool" type device and thought that the Sonic Crafter looked like a more affordably-priced alternative to the Fein Multi-Master. I have several older, Rockwell Delta power tools which have given excellent service, so I chose this Rockwell tool partly based on that experience. Mistake. As others have noted, here, Rockwell evidently "ain't what it used to be".
The Sonic Crafter worked well for a while, performing light tasks such as notching baseboard, cutting wiring access holes into sheetrock and detail sanding. Then, as if on cue (right after I spent $50 on replacement blades) the trouble began. As has been noted by many other reviewers here, the issue involves the mode of blade attachment. At first, the attachment allen bolt would only rarely vibrate loose. Now, the tool has been rendered totally useless by the fact that this bolt vibrates loose within less than a minute EVERY TIME I try to operate the tool, regardless of how tightly I cinch it down or what speed setting I'm on.
It's a shame that Rockwell is apparently disinterested in rectifying this obvious design flaw (too many people are complaining about this for my experience to be deemed just a fluke), because the device is otherwise a decent, reasonably-functional tool. I am not a contractor, so my Sonic Crafter received only light-to-moderate use before this problem rendered it utterly worthless.
I plan to attempt contacting Rockwell about this but, given the stonewalling others have reported running into in that regard, I am not particularly optimistic that satisfaction will be forthcoming. Sorry, but I expect better quality and greater longevity for almost $200. I'm unlikely to buy any other Rockwell tool in the future and advise other, prospective, multi-tool buyers to cross the Sonic Crafter OFF their list of candidates.
Customer Review: great tool accessories are expensive but?
Summary: 4 Stars
I seen the commericial for the rockwell, I do allot of home improvments from floors to plumbing to electrical to framing and this tool keeps me from having to bring all my tools with me. The multi speed is really not nessessary because most of the time you need fast But buy the 72 piece set because the price difference for one attachment pays for all the extras you get with the 72pc. the accessaries cost 20 to 30 dollars a piece. I purchased mine at the time I just started to refinish some wood chairs. Which I knew it had a lot of dole work and I thought the finger tip sander would work great for that; while the larger triangle would do the larger area. Let me tell you I used a stripper to get the varnish off because when I tried to sand with 40 grit it did well but you will go through the sandpaper allot which cost allot to replace. Which cause me to find a great idea to fix that expense. You can save money buy using other velcro sandpaper and cutting it to the right shape and It works well like the gator paper you can find in hardware stores. More cons are taking the head off with an allan key every time you change the head but you are stuck doing that with all of the tools. Don't take the sandpaper off and on to much because it will not stick after a while, and watch out if the sandpaper moves off the pad a little it will melt the pad to where the velcro wont stick, so be careful. and remember thay are expensive. But don't get me wrong the pro's are you don't have to press hard to do any of the projects. it is quick and easy to use. It does what it claims. so those little tasks that make you break out all them tools this tool will take care of it. I do love it but wish we could get rid of the allen key and have a lever or something for quick head changing. I lost my allen key after my second project even being careful not to. great product don't miss out. Michael M port angelesCustomer Review: Solid as a Rock
Summary: 5 Stars
It was a toss-up between this and the Dremel, since Lowes had the Dremel (sort of, every store in the area was sold out!) locally, while nobody has this Rockwell locally (yet!). But after reading this other Amazon review, I went with the Rockwell. I expect to get a lot of use out of this in refurbishing my old 27 foot sailboat, and have a bathroom to redo too, so decided I'd go with the extra power of this Rockwell over the Dremel. I'm a big fan of Dremel, but it has a 1.5amp motor, vs. the Rockwell SoniCrafter's 2.3 amp (the original Fein tool has a 2.5amp I believe)...so figured I was basically getting Fein's power for less than half the price. (I got the 72-piece Rockwell set).
I think what sold me on the Rockwell was when I noticed this strange, long black tube pictured as included in the 72-piece set, and realized (and read somewhere) that it's a vacuum attachment for hooking to your ShopVac. I have a mini-ShopVac that'll be perfect for that use, so this feature, along with the extra power over the Dremel sold me.
I fired the SoniCrafter up as soon as I opened the box, and I can attest to the quiet, smooth motor, and really solid-as-a-rock construction. And, speaking of the case, I was very impressed with it's solid construction, particularly the hinges. One common weakness of the typical plastic tool case is the pathetic plastic film used as a so-called "hinge." We all know what eventually happens...that little film of plastic eventually breaks, and you end up with two case halves you stick duct tape on where the hinges used to be, to try and make the case usable. Well, I was very happy to see this Rockwell case has actual hinges...so this whole setup looks like it's going to last a very long time. I'm happy I spent the extra for the SoniCrafter over the Dremel.
Customer Review: Sonicrafter: Disappointing Substitute For Multimaster
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this as an Amazon Warehouse deal. I saved about $9 over a perfect model. The description was "new", but with a damaged outside box. Unfortunately, Amazon didn't tell me an elephant stepped on it, though the tool looks unused. Although I haven't used this tool I gave this tool only 2 stars because of the following.
1). Don't be fooled by the Rockwell name. This is not the Rockwell that once made those legendary woodworking tools under the Delta name. Rockwell power tools are now part of the Positec Group of companies, a Chinese manufacturer of hand power tools. They make OEM hand power tools under various brands. Their American headquarters is in North Carolina, as is Rockwell's.
2). The manual is grossly inadequate and UNACCEPTABLE for a power tool that can do serious damage both to the user and the project. After a couple of pages of the standard safety warnings, the operating instruction consists of 2 pages of wordless line diagrams and a couple of pages of text. There is also a foldout sheet of accessories, with a very a brief description of their use. The Rockwell web site adds very little how-to information. Compares this with the highly detailed Dremel instructions for their Multi-Max.
3). Both the Sonicrafter and the accessories that are in the box are made in China. I have not tried the tool, But the accessories accompanying the tool look and feel cheap in terms of both appearance and materials. I question their durability. The tool itself is hefty. But that is not a measure of either durability or performance. See what others say. There is a 2 year warranty for the Sonicrafter. From the copyright date on the box of 2008, there may not be enough experience with the Sonicrafter to evaluate its reliability over the long run.
Customer Review: Works well, but not all-powerful
Summary: 4 Stars
I've used this tool for three things (so far):
1) Plunge cutting drywall. Works great with a semi-circular general purpose blade. Cuts a pretty clean straight line, and is not at all hard to eyeball a straight and level cut either. Does not cut like a hot knife through butter, you need patience. It cuts smoothly.
2) Plunge cutting wood. I need to cut a notch out of a piece of fence located in an awkward area next to the wall of my house. I was able to lean in with this tool and the straight blade cocked over at a 45 degree angle and cut right through. Once again, it cuts smoothly, but not like a hot knife through butter and I didn't try jamming on it with a lot of pressure.
3) Grinding out old grout from bath wall tile. The walls have undergone settling and the corner grout has cracked and separated. I tried using the semi-circular grinder instead of a hammer and chisel. I ground out quite a bit, but this was slow. Also the thickness of the grout was such that the tool ground a thin line through it. In the end, I used a hammer and chisel to do most of the work.
I haven't use the scrapper blade or the sanding pads for anything yet. I feel like this tool will be mostly useful for odd situations or modifying something that is already built like drywall, framing, fences, etc.
You need to torque down the screw that holds the blade on extremely tightly. It comes with a spare screw in case you strip it. I feel like the mask could have been a little deeper to give the blades more clutch or grip to the tool, then the screw wouldn't have to be so tight to keep the blades from slipping. If you do not tighten the retention screw enough, the blades will slip with just a little lateral pressure.