RotoZip

[Gower]

Evening all,
Has anyone any experience of the Bosch RotoZip RZ5 Spiral Saw? I have been trying to cut out shapes in 25mm oak with my fretsaw but failed (I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much good with the Hegner). Any thoughts?

Gower

 

[Gill]

...I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much good with the Hegner. Any thoughts?

:shock:

Pass me the smelling salts. This has to be a first!

You could practice your fretsawing on some thinner wood which doesn't have a pronounced grain and is cheap enough to use for learning. Perhaps you could try some 4mm or 6mm plywood from one of the DIY sheds.

As for the RotoZip, I've never used one but I'm currently mulling over the uses of a Hegner multi-tool in a router base attachment. Alternatively, there are plenty of good 1/4" routers on the market and I should imagine they'd be more flexible than a RotoZip. You can get spiral cutters for routers. As for which model to choose, I'll leave it for others to comment.

Gill

 

[tsb]

I've had one for approx 2years. Have only used it for less then a dozen times (not for woodworking) and motor has burnt out. I've now burnt out 3 dremils and one rotozip and I haven't abused them

 

[speed]

the rotozip was orignaly made for cutting plaster board, so i think it will struggle on hardwoods, a lamminate trimmer/palm router will be alot better in the long run

 

[Dog]

I own two, the Bosch version and the similar Ferm omnisaw, great for light duty stuff especially plaster board and ply cutting, great for speaker installation etc but not at all good for thick timber, get a router instead, as already said, i.m.h.o :wink:

 

[Gower]

Hello Gill,
Regarding your remark "Pass me the smelling salts. This has to be a first!", are you saying that with practice I should be able to cut 25mm Oak?
Thanks for the suggestion about small router, I just hadn't thought about it.
Thank you all for your replies.
Gower

 

[Gill]

Hi Gower

Hegner saws are quality beasts, probably the best in the UK. The basic Hegner Multicut 1 is rated to cut wood up to 50 mm thick, so it should be able to cope with 25 mm thick wood, even oak. I've certainly cut hardwood thicker than that quite successfully, although it's slow and you have to beware of friction burning the wood.

I'm wondering how long you've been using your scroll saw. There is a learning curve and beginners often find it difficult, although they soon master the technique after a little practice. Perhaps it might be worth posting a description of the problems you're encountering over on the "Scrolling" board and we'll see if we can give you some pointers.

Gill

 

[mailee]

I can testify to that Gill. I once used a scroll saw trying to cut a shape in some architrave and failed misrably. I kept on breaking the blade or pulling it out of the holders. The guy who owned it took it off me and cut the shape perfectly without blinking! I have never used one since as I have had no need to but realise it is something that has to be practiced. I have used oodles of other power tools without any problems but they are more, how can I put it, Heavy Duty. Or I am heavy handed. :lol:

 

[CHJ]

I have been watching a guy at Hexanagger today cutting miniature Castles out of 60-70mm thick half logs with bark left on, he was using a Hegner with no problems at all.
Some pieces were more like 100mm deep and must have been near the limit of the blade length.

For info. Gill the bark was let on to form the roofing material and the castle towers painted with windows and slots. Sorry no pics, no camera with me this trip.

 

[Gill]

Nice link, Chas . When circumstances allow, I'm determined to take my hubby to a proper German Christmas market. He's never been to one... but I'm straying so far off topic that I'll stop now and start a separate thread on the Scrolling board.

I wonder if the scroller you saw was using a machine which is only available in Germany? Even Hegner's most powerful UK saw, the Polycut 3, will only cut wood up to 65 mm thick. To cut 100 mm, you'd have to use a Diamond - and it would struggle. After all, 100 mm is 4" in old money, and scroll saw blades are only 5" long. By the time you take the length of the stroke into account (22 mm on a Polycut 3, 30 mm on a Diamond), there's barely room for the clamps to hold the blade and no allowance for the thickness of the table.

Gill

 

[CHJ]

Could well be he has other machines Gill, he only had a Hegner on the stall with an old cylinder vacuum cleaner strapped to the bench for dust control, looking on how the process that he uses works he may even use a fine bandsaw, but some of the pieces I saw him cut only just cleared the pivoting arms.
Wood was very dry and either hazel or birch I think.