Features

• Two-year home use warranty
• Powerful high torque motor that won't bog down
• Separate variable speed dial for set-and-forget convenience
• Front on/off switch maximizes control
• Includes 55 accessories and kit box

Reviews (16)

Like a Dremel, but with POWER!
I've owned a dremel for over 5 years. We just moved, and I could not find it, apparently hidden deep within our catacombs of packed boxes. It was just the excuse I needed to upgrade. Alas, I saw the RTX tool, an apparently updated Dremel. The RTX attachments and chuck appear to be similar to a Dremel, but the RTX has enough power to be a "real tool". I'm very satisfied with this purchase. I will be giving this gift to many on my Christmas list this year. Other Dremel improvements (over my old Dremel anyway) * Better case, much larger, with a separate tool holder. The dremel sometimes required a crow bar to get the tool into the case and close it. * Better speed control * flip up chuck lock to simplify chucking/unchucking attachments BTW, I use the tool mostly for trim work as a way to finish up coped joints. On quarter round, it does the entire job.

FAR superior to Dremel - here's why:
I'd wanted a Dremel for a long time but couldn't resist when I saw a basic (the RTX-3) kit on sale for half as much, with nearly 2x the power!

PROS: A) 2 amps vs. Dremel's 1.2 gives you far better cutting power (I hardly ever need any setting but Low speed!) B) The flip-lever spindle lock is FAR easier to use than a collet-locking button - you never need a tool to change parts, and it locks out the power switch (so you can't accidentally hit the collet lock with the power on - very annoying and possibly breaking the tool). C) It's just plain better-looking than the Dremel. ;-)

CONS: B&D needs to get their act together on accessories and dealers who stock them - and/or let us know whether/which Dremel or Craftsman accessories fit the RTX! I could really use a drill press, router, or flexible extension accessory, and can't seem to find them anywhere in stores (the website isn't too helpful, here, either)

Overall, though, much more power for a much better price - Dremel's needed the competition for a long time, and B&D delivered. (I'll give 'em 5 stars when they get the accessory & distribution thing improved.)

Broke on third use, customer service doesn't appear to exist
I bought this to do some tile and wood work around the house. During the first two uses of this tool I was quite happy with what I was able to accomplish with it. However, on only my third use the chuck lock jammed. For those of you that aren't aware of what that is, it is a metal spring loaded pin that stops the chuck from rotating when changing and removing drills, bits, etc. What I discovered is that this pin, while engaging the metal of the chuck is stabilized by the plastic housing of the unit. This would seem to me to be both a major design flaw and something that could be easily and inexpensively remedied in future units. The plastic had given way and now the chuck lock has been rendered useless. I contacted the retailer of the unit who told me that I had must have "abused" the unit and they refused to accept the return. I have attempted to contact Black and Decker directly via their customer service contact form on their web site to no avail. I have never received a response to either of the two inquiries that I made. What I thought would be a nice tool for the price turned into a lemon very quickly. This is the last Black and Decker tool I'll ever buy.

It's okay
I'm by no means a person who has any familiarity with power tools, but one day I decided that it would be useful to get a rotary tool to deal with certain things around the house. Perhaps my expectations were a little high, but once I started using this tool, I realized that it had very limited potential. It works well enough for sanding, so long as the part to be sanded is in the open and unobstructed. But in terms of cutting and and de-rusting, it's not that great of a use. At one point I was making chainmail, and tried using the tool to cut the rings of, but the so-called heavy duty cut-off disks either blew apart or rapidly ground down too next to nothing. Granted, the tool did come in handy at times, and so it was not a complete waste. It does seem to have more than adequate power, and fortunately my tool has worked fine since I bought it.

The worst customer service!
I realize that nothing is perfect. For $60 I don't expect RTX to be an Industrial tool. I did however expected it to work longer than 15 minutes! After the second use, the chuck lock failed and I had to use a small screw driver to unlock the chuck. After the 5th use, the speed controller failed. It started to hiccup while working. The sixth time I went to use the tool, it seized and smoke came out of it! Total life of this unit was about 15 minutes. I bought it more than 60 days ago so the retailer will not exchange it. I have written to Black and Decker through their web site several times. I have not heard anything from them. I realize, I may have a lemon. Not having any information from the manufacturer is the worst part. I am buying a second one now. This time I am going with Dremel. Lemon or no lemon, I am very dissatisfied with the customer service at Black and Decker. ... Read more

Features

• Includes Rotary Tool, 30 accessories, 2 spring clamps, and kit box
• Powerful, high torque motor to complete jobs faster
• Exclusive Flip-Lock spindle lock system provides quick and easy accessory changes
• Universal collet system accepts all standard rotary tool accessories
• 3-speed (12,000/24,000/30,000 RPM) switch allows for maximum precision in all applications

Amazon.com

This is one of the handiest power tools we’ve seen. With a variety of bits and cutters, there’s very little it won’t do. We like this model’s removable handle for getting into tight spots, and its dust blower really keeps the cut line clear. The extra-large base offers superior stability, and the angled handle gives you great control and comfort. A wide range of accessories are available, but it also takes ¼-inch router bits, turning this versatile tool into a router, too. Crafters, woodworkers, do-it-yourselfers and homeowners ought to tuck one of these in their toolboxes. Women especially will appreciate its small grip.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Powerful 5.0 amp, 35,000 rpm motor
• Easily makes clean cuts in drywall, wood, and ceramic tile
• Adjustable depth guide with larger base for more control and accuracy
• Angled handle with support base for superior control and stability
• Oversized spindle lock for quick and easy bit changes

Features

• Two year home use warranty
• Adjustable speed (8000 to high 24000 rpm)
• Powerful high torque motor won't bog down
• Accepts all rotary tool accessories
• Up front on/off switch

Reviews (4)

Rotary Tool
This tool works great to repair the bath grout between tiles!

This was a mistake
I bought this model of Wizard instead of the Dremel, to save a few bucks. I don't use it that much and I figured it would be fine for the light use I was going to subject it to. I was wrong.

The little push-button that locks the shaft, so that you can unscrew the collet, stripped out while I was trying to change bits. Now I have a very specialized roto tool. As soon as the bit in it wears out, it won't be worth anything.

Don't buy the Wizard! BUY THE DREMEL!

btw, Anybody want to buy a lightly used Wizard, cheap?

Better than a dremel
I bought this tool because I have been completely refinishing all the trim in our "mobile home". I have found this to be much lighter, with less vibration than the dremel, causing less fatigue when I'm doing with my alterations. It has kept me from having to replace hundreds of dollars on replacement trim....

Good enough for most projects
The only way to review this product is by comparing it with a similar Dremel model. For the price, the Wizard stacks up very well. The biggest discrepancy is in the rpms. The Dremel tool can produce up to 30,000rpms compared to only 24,000rpms for the Wizard. At max speed however, the Wizard seems to perform perfectly well. The difference is not all that noticeable. I used the Wizard for a variety of tasks and was able to perform each one easily and efficiently. ... Read more

Features

• Two year home use warranty
• Two speed ranges, 13,000 and 18,000 RPM
• Angled design
• 63 accessories
• Accepts all rotary tool accessories

Reviews (8)

Portable but Whimpy
This is a handy tool because you can grab it and go anywhere with it to use on weird/odd projects of very small scale. If you try to use it on anything more substantial, you'll find it is very underpowered and you'll go through a lot of batteries. A rotary tool is supposed to be a high-speed device. This VersaPak unit turns very slowly and bogs down easily. This causes you to use more force than you would use normally which drammatically shortens the bit life, especially the cut-off wheels. On one small project, I gave up and borrowed a friend's powered Dremel drill. Wow! What a difference. I now have two rotary tools: powered and this VersaPak.

This is THE tool for trimming dog nails!!!!
This is THE tool for trimming dog nails. Use the coarse
sandpaper wheel on low... Given what groomers charge you for trimming nails
this savings pays for the tool in under a year alone.
You can grind TO the quick instead of slicing INTO it with
a guillotine cutter. I use it and from my experience with it
my vets use it on all their client dogs now too. Cordless
is handy and the batteries hold 250-270 charges.

Great for all those little Jobs
I just bought one and I was quite impressed. Of couse its not going to be able to perform a huge job(no rotary tool will), but it is great for almost everything else. It cuts and grinds pretty fast, but you have to be patient when its charging. So far though its been able to do every thing I've put it up against

Specialized, not limited
The trick to the Wizard is realizing that it is for jobs where no other tool is right, not as a replacement tool. If you try to use it to cut through a lot of material because you don't have an electric saw, you'll be disappointed in both the cutting ability and the charge capacity. (I know I was) However, when I needed to round the edge of a metal plate it was perfect.

I've spent a lot of time figuring out other jobs for it and I've been happy with the results now that I know what to expect. It really seems to excel at working with metal when a smooth finish is needed or the area you need to work in is very tight.

If you don't already have a bunch of VersaPak tools, get the corded version so you don't get stuck half way through a job.

Great tool for quick trip jobs.

This is a great tool for quick little chores. There's a million things you can do with it. Other reviews are accurate when they say it has limited power. It's true. (I sort of wish they had made this a two-battery tool). I have a similar tool with a cord and I use that one for longer or heavier jobs. But if you need something to do a quick job or have to go out on the roof or someplace else where power is not readily accessible this is a great tool. Plus it comes with all the little doo-dads most other brands nickel-and-dime you to buy separately. The carrying case is very handy and has room for all the included accessories and more. (That's an amazing feat, by the way. Most tools that come in a case don't allow any room for accessory expansion. This one has plenty of space. Even enough for several extra batteries as well).

One thing you can do to help with the power problem is to buy a few of the "Gold" battery packs which have NIMH batteries instead of NICD. These really do last longer. I have replaced all my silver batteries (the ones that come with the tools) with the gold ones. They are available at places like Target and hardware stores and cost a little more but are worth every penny.

The Versa-Pack system is brilliantly convenient. I currently have four tools and two different flashlights that use the versa-pack batteries and I find it very convenient to use the same chargers for all the batteries. If the screwdriver battery dies, I steal one from the flashlight while I charge the other. It works great. So, once you buy several versa pack tools (most of which come with chargers) then you have several chargers to destribute. I keep one in the garage, one on the workbench, one in the truck and one in my job box. Anywhere I go I've got a charger ready to go. There's also a 12v car charger available and it works great. Another tool idea- the versa-pack snake light goes with me to every job, if you get a versa pack tool you will definitely also appreciate the snake light.

Good luck and happy shopping. ... Read more