Shopsmith Forums

Thinking hard on buying a Sonicrafter by Rockwell. Seen them on TV and read all the reviews on Amazon. and have seen that it comes highly recommended by most owners. Amazon owners are mostly people who have one project they have used the tool for or are home hobbiest and have not put the tool to the real test. Reviews by these type owners can be miss-leading due to their somewhat lack of tool usage therefore, looking for reviews from wookworker and home repair tool users such as yourself. After all who better to ask then Shopsmith owners who know their tools inside and out!

Would appreciate any comments and or reviews you may have to the Sonicrafter before I take the leap! Thanks

doug45601 wrote:Thinking hard on buying a Sonicrafter by Rockwell. Seen them on TV and read all the reviews on Amazon. and have seen that it comes highly recommended by most owners. Amazon owners are mostly people who have one project they have used the tool for or are home hobbiest and have not put the tool to the real test. Reviews by these type owners can be miss-leading due to their somewhat lack of tool usage therefore, looking for reviews from wookworker and home repair tool users such as yourself. After all who better to ask then Shopsmith owners who know their tools inside and out!

Would appreciate any comments and or reviews you may have to the Sonicrafter before I take the leap! Thanks

First I've heard of this unit. Looks like a Dremel Multi-Max equivalent (~$100). Rockwells website offers the Sonicrafter for ~$130. Considering that they are both backed by a 2-year warranty.

I noticed the Sonicrafter has a 2.3 amp motor whereas the Dremel has a 1.5 amp. This difference seems significant (~50% greater than the Dremel) but I don't have the expertise to comment on what this would mean as far as power difference at the working surface. If the rating is anything like automobile horsepower, you have to make sure you understand the fine print behind the rating. Maybe some of you electrical guys can comment here.

They both have a similar speed range. (~10k to 20k opm).

Soooooo, I guess for me, I would base my decision on power difference and reliability. Dremels are usually around long after the 2 year warrenty. I don't know about Rockwell products.

Thanks for the repy and the link to an older post.. Tried a search before posting this topic but nothing came up for me or I wouldn't have started the topic all over again. Sorry bout that.

BTW the Rockwell Sonicrafter advertised on TV shows that it comes with a "plastic" carry case but Rockwell does not show this on their webpage. They only show a carry "bag". So, I called the 1-800 number as shown on the TV and was told they do infact send the unit out to you in a plastic case till supply runs out. Future supplies comes with the cloth carry bag as the Rockwell Sonicrafter being shown on TV is "first generation" meaning earily units included the plastic case, later production changed to the "bag".. Not a big deal for me, just thought I would tell ya what I learned.

If anyone has ever had a broken bone and a cast removed, the tool (saw) the Dr. used was very much like the Soniccrafter!! So the idea has been out there for a long time!

No sonicrafter experience, but I did pick up the HarborFreight knockoff of the Fein for $30. It works.

Over on the Festool owners forum there was a comparison of the Fein, Sonicrafter, Bosch and HF units. They had videos of the units running. The HF was terrible, the Fein the best. I'll see if I can find where it was and msg back because it was an excellent in depth comparison of all the units.

i just bougt a harbour freight multipurpose tool fot 39.95 that equals the rockwell multicrafter in every way.

fixitman11 wrote: i just bougt a harbour freight multipurpose tool fot 39.95 that equals the rockwell multicrafter in every way.

For just 39.95 almost anyone can afford to experiment. Harbor Freight is too far away from me.. 60 miles at least so it would be costly for me to go there without loading a cart with tools... just to make the trip worth while

BTW how about the replacement cutters (blades) for the Harbor Freight model... are they also avail?? Thanks

putttn wrote:Over on the Festool owners forum there was a comparison of the Fein, Sonicrafter, Bosch and HF units. They had videos of the units running. The HF was terrible, the Fein the best. I'll see if I can find where it was and msg back because it was an excellent in depth comparison of all the units.

Puttn
I would really like to see this please keep looking. I have tried and can't find a thing like what you describe.

Took the leap, bought the Rockwell Sonicrafter. Having a room addition added to my house and my contractor had the expensive Fein Multimaster and he let me play with it. Impressive but highly overcost for my needs. Then I played with the Rockwell Sonicrafter at a hardware retailer. Actually I could find no fault with it compared to the Fein with the exception that Fein has a "quick change" lever for the blades. Purchase the 72pc Rockwell though Amazon and received in 2 days time.

Let my contractor play with it and he was equally impressed with it compared to the Fein MM also.. Yet it problable won't hold up to constant contractor use and abuse as the Fein. Being the only user and occassional user at that the Rockwell will be just fine.

Thanks for all you input guys..