Ok, I just bought one of these, but haven't opened it yet.
My good friend McNair (I think he is registered over here under that) had some random post on his facebook about an issue with some bolts on his truck and the threadjacking started and tools came up. I mentioned that I bought a rotozip as an easier solution to make more of these:
(http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/jshoward11/DSCN6389.jpg)
I want to make one for my brother and my Mom. I've made three of them in total. First prototype went to a sort of co-worker, then I made one for Greta and then a small one for our little buddy in Heaven, Alex.
I cut all those with a jig saw. I'd post a picture of Alex's, but it is in a special box with all his toys and things. Those are his and I can't get them out and need to stop babbling about this as I will cry. His was so hard because it was tiny. It was for a little 7lbs Chihuahua. God, he loved his food station. It even had a Ducati sticker on it.
It was a mothermake the beast with two backser. I spent so long trying to guide this jigsaw to get the bone shape. Then I spent a shit ton of time palm sanding the edges to be safe and straight for the dogs. Hours and hours.
So I bought the rotozip as it looks easy to use and carve out what I want.
Then make the beast with two backsing Mcnair called himself a pussy for admitting that is the only tool he is scared of and won't use. He had one, used it, and threw it away. It scared the shit out of him as it was hard to control. It was a pretty funny exchange.
He said it might be that just he is a pussy and got scared or it is a hard tool to use.
Anyone have one and can confirm or deny the allegations of ghey mcnair's wimpyness?
Its a tool. Real men are supposed to be handy with tools. ;D
Rotozip Saw?
I know what a rotozip is, never heard of it referred to as a Rotozip saw.
It's just a high powered dremel.
And jigsaws are actually neat tools, but figuring out which blade to use sucks and thats where most people go awry.
Buy a plasma cutter and make them out of metal.
What says man more than electricity and fire cutting metal? [evil]
Or bettter yet, find a friend with a water jet............no sanding required.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on May 10, 2010, 07:04:04 PM
(http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/jshoward11/DSCN6389.jpg)
snipped............I want to make one for my brother and my Mom. I've made three of them in total. First prototype went to a sort of co-worker,
I cut all those with a jig saw. I'd post a picture of Alex's, ..........
Judd, I am picturing the family gathering on Thanksgiving.... ;D ;D ;D
The key to using a RotoZip is to not start moving the tool to cut until the stop plate thingy is flat against the board you're cutting. Then they work great.
If not, they can be a little spooky.
Quote from: Speedbag on May 11, 2010, 02:30:51 AM
The key to using a RotoZip is to not start moving the tool to cut until the stop plate thingy is flat against the board you're cutting. Then they work great.
If not, they can be a little spooky.
+1
Unless it's flat it will try to walk all over the place (in 3 dimensions) and then snap the bit. Also make all your cuts clockwise.
Quote from: PhoenixS4R on May 10, 2010, 07:17:23 PM
Rotozip Saw?
I probably made that up. I am calling it a saw because I am cutting wood like a saw would do, but maybe in the tool world (which I am not a part of) they are just referred to as Rotozip's.
Quote from: Speedbag on May 11, 2010, 02:30:51 AM
The key to using a RotoZip is to not start moving the tool to cut until the stop plate thingy is flat against the board you're cutting. Then they work great.
If not, they can be a little spooky.
I am cutting on a flat surface, so I figured the key was to keep the stop plate guard flush and flat against the surface to make the cutting easier.
hell, the box says it is easy to use..............
Quote from: RAT900 on May 10, 2010, 11:03:57 PM
Judd, I am picturing the family gathering on Thanksgiving.... ;D ;D ;D
1. My name is Jud, not Judd. If you are my Mother or wife, you can call me Judson.
2. Bite me ;D
If you are cutting something precise, use a guide of some type. And you have to cut in the correct direction in regards to cutter rotation, otherwise its like a Ouija board, the roto zip just goes where it wants to, and where you don't want it to go.
I am cutting out dog bone shaped food stations pictured at the top.
Maybe there is a better tool out there I am not looking at?
I basically have a 4x4 piece of wood.
I had some engineers at work print out a paper template for me on their big ass printers.
I double stick that to the board, trace with a sharpie, and then make my initial cuts. I usually do the bowls in the center first and then the outline.
Then I have to cut out another dog bone, then cut in half for the legs.
Then secure it with metal brackets and some wood dowel inserts with wood glue or more recently, I am hooked on Gorilla Glue.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on May 11, 2010, 03:57:16 AM
1. My name is Jud, not Judd. If you are my Mother or wife, you can call me Judson.
2. Bite me ;D
Judd
Duly noted
RATT
For a precise, finished, shape, I would recommend a jig saw or scroll saw.
Take the Roto Zip back to where you bought it, doesnt have the Hootz-pah to cut 1/2" plywood easily. Buy an inexpensive router, couple of clamps and a flush trim bit.
Make a jig. They will come out perfect and you can knock out several in a day, production style.
Quote from: rgramjet on May 11, 2010, 04:35:34 AM
Take the Roto Zip back to where you bought it, doesnt have the Hootz-pah to cut 1/2" plywood easily. Buy an inexpensive router, couple of clamps and a flush trim bit.
Make a jig. They will come out perfect and you can knock out several in a day, production style.
+1000
A RotoZip is garbage unless you are using it to cut drywall.
Make a template and screw it to your workbench. Rough cut your pieces with your jigsaw and screw the new piece to the template. (put the screws where the holes will be) I would use a bottom bearing bit. Then when your outside is finished, remove the screws and drill a hole big enough for your router bit to fit through. Clamp your top piece down and have at the circles. Screw sanding the edges and get yourself a 1/4" roundover bit for the edges and you wont have to worry about the sharp edges.
Thanks for all the help, guys.
So why the make the beast with two backs do they advertise it as cutting plywood easily?
I guess because it is advertising and schmucks like me fall for it.
It is a 5amp, 32,000 RPM model.
I figured that'd be enough.
I know dick about routers or even how to turn one on.
Time to read.
A real man would have just punched the holes in it with his fists
Quote from: cyrus buelton on May 11, 2010, 05:46:04 AM
Thanks for all the help, guys.
So why the make the beast with two backs do they advertise it as cutting plywood easily?
I guess because it is advertising and schmucks like me fall for it.
It is a 5amp, 32,000 RPM model.
I figured that'd be enough.
I know dick about routers or even how to turn one on.
Time to read.
Essentially it is a router, without the capacity for real bits. Unless they have changed since I have used them, I didn't think you could use a 3/8" shank bit. I don't think there is a problem with the power as much as flexibility with bits.
Before you go crazy returning it and buying new stuff, it couldn't hurt to give it a whirl. Its fun to play with new toys.
Quote from: Vindingo on May 11, 2010, 06:09:09 AM
Essentially it is a router, without the capacity for real bits. Unless they have changed since I have used them, I didn't think you could use a 3/8" shank bit. I don't think there is a problem with the power as much as flexibility with bits.
Before you go crazy returning it and buying new stuff, it couldn't hurt to give it a whirl. Its fun to play with new toys.
It was make the beast with two backsing McNair who scared me last night. He is very handy and it scared the shit out of him. Maybe he had a different model, I have no idea.
One of his friends has a craftsman with some sort of flexible end on it. The best I can find on the website is that attachment like dremels have and based on the picture, it doesn't have that flat platform at the bottom to aide in the precision.
I think I am going to keep it and say "make the beast with two backs it"
hope I dont lose a finger.
Quote from: Vindingo on May 11, 2010, 04:53:20 AM
+1000
A RotoZip is garbage unless you are using it to cut drywall.
Make a template and screw it to your workbench. Rough cut your pieces with your jigsaw and screw the new piece to the template. (put the screws where the holes will be) I would use a bottom bearing bit. Then when your outside is finished, remove the screws and drill a hole big enough for your router bit to fit through. Clamp your top piece down and have at the circles. Screw sanding the edges and get yourself a 1/4" roundover bit for the edges and you wont have to worry about the sharp edges.
THIS!
I would use a top bearing bit. It will allow you to do the cut out in a couple passes if the wood is hard.
Quote from: rgramjet on May 11, 2010, 08:58:43 AM
I would use a top bearing bit. It will allow you to do the cut out in a couple passes if the wood is hard.
I got a pretty soft wood so it should cut easily.
I am not using real high quality wood here. Whatever is cheapest, as it gets painted and polycrylic over it.
Birch Plywood? Or CDX? Is one side smooth?
Quote from: bobspapa on May 11, 2010, 05:53:14 AM
A real man would have just punched the holes in it with his fists
This is Juddd we're talking about. ;D
Quote from: Ducaholic on May 11, 2010, 11:10:36 AM
This is Juddd we're talking about. ;D
LOL I think he sealed his fate ;D
Quote from: rgramjet on May 11, 2010, 09:40:00 AM
Birch Plywood? Or CDX? Is one side smooth?
I have no idea.
It was 13$
I know it isn't Pine. It was some weird name I couldn't pronounce but felt pretty soft.
Quote from: Ducaholic on May 11, 2010, 11:10:36 AM
This is Juddd we're talking about. ;D
Quote from: RAT900 on May 11, 2010, 11:51:01 AM
LOL I think he sealed his fate ;D
I hope you both knock your two front teeth out.
Love,
Judd
[beer]
Odd, I used mine to cut both CDX and regular 1/2" plywood with no issues. Granted, appearance wasn't a concern, so a scroll saw would be it if you were after some craftsmanship.
As stated, the Rotos are The Shit for cutting outlet box holes in drywall....
ditto that the Rotozip squirrels all over the place with no guidance. Think you sanded a lot before? Just wait! That being said, since you have the sweet technology of having your template plotted out, simply have it sized out smaller by an amount equal to the distance of the bit to the router (rotozip) guide edge. Trace or attach your template to a piece of cardboard and cut out with heavy shears. Now you can use that template as a guide or 'fence' to run the edge of your tool on and the actual cut will be spaced out the offset distance you are looking for. There are obviously tons of different ways to do this, but like others have said if you take the time to make a nice template, it should make it systematically easier to produce a good finished cut.
I have one and have used it for a bunch of different things around the house. As for "scared", just make sure you have a good grip on it and go to town. Hmm, that sounds kinda bad, but same premise.
i will say i like it more than a jigsaw, but you need to go slower to stay on your lines or its easy to go astray.
Erik
Quote from: RAT900 on May 11, 2010, 04:28:08 AM
Judd
Duly noted
RATT
I'd tell him to put the baby food away.
what's the difference between a scroll saw and a jigsaw?
Good advice on the cardboard template to act as a "guide"
I can totally see this thing flying all over the place if not used properly.
I have some test wood I am goign to play with first.
I was going to try last night, but got home from work and had a beer, so figured that would be a bad time to try.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on May 12, 2010, 06:45:29 AM
what's the difference between a scroll saw and a jigsaw?
hand over your man card
Quote from: bobspapa on May 12, 2010, 06:51:34 AM
hand over your man card
I handed it over on this board years ago, son.
scroll saw
(http://woodwork.pmccl.com/images/hires/shop/delta_scroll_saw.jpg)
jigsaw
(http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/867314/8078992/0/1235525431/Jig_Saw.jpg)
table saw
(http://zo-d.com/stuff/images/Grizzly-1023S-1023SL-Tablesaw.jpg)
router table
(http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07120c.jpg)
table saws scare the shit out of me.
Not sure I want to invest all the $$ into a scroll saw and I'd need a place to put that make the beast with two backser.
I would...... make two MDF templates.... one for the bowl holes and one for the overall shape, then use a plunge router to make the cuts.
http://www.ehow.com/video_4426181_duplicate-shape-router.html (http://www.ehow.com/video_4426181_duplicate-shape-router.html)
I got a RotoZip cheap a while ago and it fell only a little bit short of my fairly limited expectations. As folks have noted it's a pretty limited tool, but OK for what it does, and should be able to do the job you've got in mind with a good template, etc.
Mine came with all kinds of attachments & accessories that make at least a bit easier to control & use, including the jigsaw handle & circle guide on this page http://www.rotozip.com/Shop/CategoryBrowse.htm?HID=6 (http://www.rotozip.com/Shop/CategoryBrowse.htm?HID=6)
If yours has those included, I'd give them a try when you're playing on scrap wood; if not, you might want to put that $$$ aside for a router instead of investing more in the RotoZip, since you've already got a jigsaw.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on May 11, 2010, 05:46:04 AM
Thanks for all the help, guys.
So why the make the beast with two backs do they advertise it as cutting plywood easily?
I guess because it is advertising and schmucks like me fall for it.
It is a 5amp, 32,000 RPM model.
I figured that'd be enough.
I know dick about routers or even how to turn one on.
Time to read.
They do cut plywood easily, they just don't cut accurately!
Jigsaw
(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/porschaholic/sideshow_087b.jpg)
skipping ahead...
+more for ditching the rotozip and getting a router.
of course, if you were inclined to fear the rotozip......maybe a router is a bad idea
Quote from: cyrus buelton on May 12, 2010, 06:45:29 AM
I have some test wood I am goign to play with first.
I was going to try last night, but got home from work and had a beer, so figured that would be a bad time to try.
What could possibly go wrong?
Quote from: rgramjet on May 12, 2010, 10:42:12 AM
What could possibly go wrong?
Losing some fingers.
The template I have now is paper and then trace onto the board, then make my cuts.
What do ya'll recommend making the template out of?
I was thinking maybe some thinner wood, then security it to the wood I am cutting into, and then C-Clamping it down to ensure a nice tight fit on the actual product.
MDF