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: Great tool for Old House reno
Summary: 4 Stars
I love the Sonicrafter (Deluxe 72 pc set)! I researched the many brands available and decided on this one - even though there are a lot of critics. Price was also an issue. I am renovating an 1820 Federal style house with a LOT of windows (a lot with original storm windows as well) - all the windows need to be stripped of lead paint and the panes re-glazed. I have done many using a heat gun but found it to be a lot of unpleasant work. With the scraper blade I was able to clean off a lot of paint and the old putty fairly easily. The blade came loose only once - because I put too much pressure. As others have said - let the tool do the work. It is a little heavy but got use to it quickly. I ran it at high speed and had no heat problems. Found the sanding to be fantastic - easily sanded the glass channels. I have a dremel contour sander that does not work as well. All in all I am very pleased - I cannot say that I look forward to the rest of the windows but the Sonicrafter (and my Craftsman multi-speed orbital sander) will make my work a little easier. Attaching a shop vac was easy and worked well. Great carrying bag and blade/sandpaper holder - keeps everything in its place easily! Would recommend for working on windows! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars - it would be perfect if it could do windows by itself!!!Customer Review: Sonicrafter very good, attachments awful
Summary: 2 Stars
I am doing renovations in my condo. Like many vintage places, paint was layered on paint since 1929. I am in the process of stripping the many many layers of paint off the woodwork. I purchased the Rockwell Sonicrafter for the mouldings and to remove the paint which is not removed by normal scrapers. I received it today and reviewed the warnings. There really are not instructions included. I first gave the scraper a try. Although it scraped well, because of the design of the attachment, I had to tighten the attachement 3 times in 10 minutes. It kept coming loose. I had to tighten it so tight that I was afraid the I would soon strip the bolt. It still came loose.
Next I tried the finger sander on some molding. The sandpaper fits on the finger attachment using something similar to velcro. This was secure. I used the finger sander for just over 2 minutes on various moulding surfaces and began to smell something. I looked and the top part of the finger sander attachment had melted. It was then that I decided that the Sonicrafter would not work for me and arranged to return it.
As I stated, the tool itself feels like it is solidly built. The design for securing attachments and the attachments themselves are what have the major flaws. Do not purchase for anything but light work.
Customer Review: You get what you pay for
Summary: 3 Stars
when you feel the sonicrafter you think you have a quality tool but after using it I found it wasn't what they advertise. The best use I found was to sand with it. It performed well. I used the carbide grout cutter to help remove floor tile in a bathroom. In trying to cut the grout lines the tool folded over. Very poor quality. Not what they advertise. I tried cutting nails and was never successful in getting through one nail. Not what they advertise. I was taking out an aluminum framed basement window and thought it would surely cut through this. I think it might have made it but I had to break for lunch. I finally used a sawzall. Not what they advertised. I used it to cut some trim and wood flooring and it performed fair but not what I expected. It cut drywall ok. If I had it to do over again I would buy a Fein. It's costlier but performs as advertised. A friend had one and we tested the two. Maybe if the company had better quality attachments the tools would perform as advertised. As it is now I would not recommend it. One othe comment is the bag that came with my purchase makes finding the attachments extremely hard. The lower priced kit they put together to sell has a hard plastic box with compartments for attachments. Why not with the higher priced kit.Customer Review: Do Not Buy The Rockwell Sonicrafter
Summary: 1 Stars
Rockwell RK5102K Sonicrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit
I gave this tool one star because zero stars was not available.
I have purchased two Sonicrafters, RK5102K, from Amazon.com. I purchased and returned them in sequence, trying to get one that worked. They were each the most expensive model, $179.99.
Both Sonicrafters had the same problem: The hex bolt would jar loose immediately and allow the attachment to fall to the floor.
I am 6' 4" tall, weighing 290. I believe that I am strong enough to tighten the hex bolt. I was afraid that if I forced the hex bolt to be any tighter, I would cam it out, that is, strip the threads of the bolt.
If the machine will not hold any accessories, it is worthless.
I have a woodworking shop with a huge array of tools, most of them purchased from Amazon.com. which has been terrific to work with. But, this Sonicrafter is totally unacceptable.
Amazon.com graciously allowed me to return both Sonicrafter kits and refunded my money. Minus $36.00, of course. Fair enough. I am just glad to be rid of the thing.
Customer Review: Uniquely Useful Tool
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very specialized tool that does a good job for some very specific chores. It does plunge cuts where no other tool could. It does detailed sanding in tight spots. And as the TV infomercial for the "real thing" shows, it can do a lot of other tasks related to remodeling. Overall, I am pleased with the Sonicrafter.
But there are some gripes I have with it. First of all, the little allen wrench used to tighten the screw holding the saw blades is easy to misplace. And more than once it has slipped out of the built-in holder molded into the power cord base. Just have to be diligent in keeping track of the little bugger.
You have to really be careful to fully tighten the set screw holding the blades, or it comes loose as soon as you start to apply pressure to a cut. Just takes some practice.
The bi-metal "universal" blade is supposed to cut nails, but after one galvanized deck nail, the blade teeth were ground almost flat. Not exactly as advertised. My advice: use a hacksaw, instead.
I plan to use the Sonicrafter later to install some hardwood flooring, and I will update this rating after I finish that project.