Once positioned, you simply replace the flange and secure the bolt all the way into the tool. Each accessory has a dodecagon-shaped hole that fits over a shallow hex head on the tool. It utilizes a bolt and flange which must be completely removed in order to swap out accessories. Rockwell’s SoniCrafter has a very straightforward accessory change system. Be prepared to just toss the wrench into the bag. It’s handy in that it provides easy access to the wrench, but troublesome in that the wrench will fall out whenever the tool is used upside down vertically, such as when cutting downward on baseboard with an end cut blade. Near the exhaust port resides a handy, but troublesome hex wrench holder that is attached to the strain relief for the power cord. The plastic extraction tube gets very narrow towards the front of the tool, giving larger particles plenty of opportunity to get lodged in place. Where there may be potential issues is with rougher woodworking and cutting jobs where the particles are potentially larger. It’s a compact system that gives you the ability to continue gripping the tool naturally and should work well for most fine work. This is simply a plastic system that is flat on one end and allows a vacuum system to pull dust from the accessory flange underneath the bottom of the tool and out the back to the collection area. When you purchase the 72 piece version of the SoniCrafter you’ll get a dust extraction kit. It’s a basic box with only a plastic clasp, but it kept all of the accessories from floating around the bottom of the bag and gathered them in one place for easy selection and use. Where the SoniCrafter really scored, however, was with the inclusion of a separate case for storing all of its accessories. Inside the bag there are separate pockets for storage and a hook & loop strap for securing the tool to the bottom of the bag. For some tools we appreciate well-designed overmold cases, but in the case of an oscillation tool, a bag potentially works better – at least with a more rugged model like the Rockwell. Since the tool is one that will likely “grow” over time with more accessories, we felt this was a good call. Unlike another oscillating tool which we also recently tested, the Rockwell opts for a tool bag and a separate plastic hard case for its accessories. It would take a true craftsman to find the usefulness in that level of oscillation speed control, but we know you’re out there and we’re sure it will be appreciated. Since we found 11 different positions, the tool can be dialed in within increments of roughly 800 OPM (oscillations per minute) steps. While we don’t really expect you’ll need that level of control, it’s there for your experimentation. While there are six positions, the dial actually ratchets into 11 discrete speeds. The rear of the tool is where you’ll find the adequate 10 foot power corder and 6-speed control dial for adjusting the oscillation speed. It’s a good design as it was firm enough to not accidentally activate on its own, yet easy enough that you weren’t struggling to turn on the tool when using it in one hand. The on/off control is handled by an orange sliding switch which is activated by a casual thumb movement. Still, for a 2.3 amp motor, we found the SoniCrafter to be very workable and easily positioned, even with one hand. The tool is lightweight, though certainly not the lightest in its class. The rubber covering also keeps any heat that is generated by the tool away from your hands, allowing you to work longer and more accurately. We found that you could easily rotate the tool to nearly any position and still have your hands on the rubber overmold, making it extremely easy to manipulate during use. Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Build Qualityĭescribing this tool is best done by explaining that the Rockwell built an oscillating tool capable of being precisely controlled with two hands. Rather, it’s the kind of tool you can simply toss in the bag and bring with you on any job, knowing it will stand up to the dust, debris and general abuse that comes with commercial and residential remodeling work. The SoniCrafter doesn’t feel like you have to be careful with it. Interestingly enough, Rockwell decided to take on the competition by building a rather rugged and durable tool that would work well on any jobsite. With no less than 5 oscillating tools on the market today, the Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter has its work cut out for it.
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