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.
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