The best rotary tools
Cut, sand, carve, engrave and polish with one small tool: the rotary tool kits worth a place on the workbench.
A rotary tool is a small, very fast motor with a chuck on the end, and the bits do the rest: a cut-off wheel through a rusty bolt, a sanding drum round a curve, an engraving point on a name tag.
Corded tools have the power for cutting and grinding; small cordless ones are handier for crafts and fine detail. Wear safety glasses whenever a cutting disc is on.
What matters
- Power: corded for cutting and grinding, cordless for light detail work.
- A wide speed range: low for plastics and polishing, high for wood.
- Accessories that suit your jobs, and a case to keep them in.
- A flex shaft for fine carving and engraving.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Dremel 3000 Rotary Tool Kit (130W, 15 accessories)
£60.00 RRP
The one the others are measured against: Dremel made the first handheld high-speed rotary tool, the Moto-Tool, in 1935. This one has a 130W motor with speeds from 10,000 to 33,000rpm for cutting, sanding, engraving and polishing, and an EZ Twist nose cap that changes bits without a spanner.
What owners say: Owners find it versatile and easy to use straight out of the box, with enough power for most jobs and a useful set of accessories.
A closer look: Match the speed to the material: Dremel's own advice is high for wood, low for plastics, which melt, and under 15,000rpm for polishing and wire brushes. Register it on MyDremel within four weeks of buying and the two-year guarantee becomes three.
- 130W, 10,000–33,000rpm
- Variable speed
- EZ Twist nose cap, no spanner
- 15 Dremel accessories
- Soft carry bag
Best for: A first rotary tool that lasts
- Power
- Corded, 130W
- Speed
- 10,000–33,000rpm
- Speed control
- Variable dial
- Accessories
- 15
- Flex shaft
- No
- Storage
- Soft bag
#2 of 5
Best with a flex shaft
DEKOPRO 170W Rotary Tool Kit with Flex Shaft
£20–£30 Price range
A bigger kit for the money: a 170W motor, a 1.8m flexible shaft that holds like a pen for fine carving and engraving, a cover shield for cutting and grinding, and a clear box that keeps the bits sorted.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use, versatile for DIY and good value, with plenty of power; one uses it to cut mosaic tiles.
A closer look: Fit the flex shaft for detail work: the pen-like handpiece cuts down vibration and gives finer control for carving and engraving. The drill locator helps start holes exactly where you've marked, and the assist handle gives a two-handed grip for cutting.
- 170W, 8,000–35,000rpm
- 6 speed settings
- 1.8m flexible shaft
- Cover shield and assist handle
- 127 accessories in a storage box
Best for: Carving and detail work
- Power
- Corded, 170W
- Speed
- 8,000–35,000rpm
- Speed control
- 6 speeds
- Accessories
- 127
- Flex shaft
- 1.8m
- Storage
- Storage box
#3 of 5
Best starter kit
ValueMax 130W Rotary Tool Kit (119 accessories)
£20–£30 Price range
Compact and simple: a 130W variable-speed tool up to 35,000rpm with 119 accessories, a cover shield and a spindle lock button for quick bit changes, all in a carry bag.
What owners say: Owners like the wide range of bits, the power and the speed control, and find it a useful addition to a home tool kit.
A closer look: ValueMax suggests low speeds for cleaning and high ones for drilling, cutting and sanding. At 0.65kg and 20cm long it's easy to hold for longer jobs, and the hook on the end hangs it on the wall between uses.
- 130W, up to 35,000rpm
- Variable speed
- Spindle lock for bit changes
- Cover shield
- 119 accessories and a carry bag
Best for: A starter kit
- Power
- Corded, 130W
- Speed
- Up to 35,000rpm
- Speed control
- Variable
- Accessories
- 119
- Flex shaft
- No
- Storage
- Carry bag
#4 of 5
Best budget
Hi-Spec Rotary Tool Kit with 121 Pieces
£20–£30 Price range
A 160W tool with a thumb-wheel speed control from 8,000 to 35,000rpm and a big box of Dremel-compatible bits: sanding bands and discs, cut-off wheels, grinding stones, diamond points, felt wheels and wire brushes.
What owners say: Owners find it a brilliant kit for the money, powerful enough for most jobs including cutting metal, and great for hobby work.
Heads up: The thin cut-off wheels are brittle, so wear safety glasses and let the speed do the cutting rather than pressing hard.
A closer look: A 3.2mm collet comes fitted, the size most Dremel bits use, so a Dremel accessory pack works in it too. It's light enough for one-handed work on small models.
- 160W, 8,000–35,000rpm
- Thumb-wheel speed control
- 121 Dremel-compatible pieces
- 1.9m cable
- Storage box
Best for: Most bits for the money
- Power
- Corded, 160W
- Speed
- 8,000–35,000rpm
- Speed control
- Thumb wheel
- Accessories
- 121
- Flex shaft
- No
- Storage
- Storage box
#5 of 5
Best cordless
HYCHIKA Mini Cordless Rotary Tool Kit (3.6V)
£10–£20 Price range
Small enough to hold like a pen, with no cable to drag across the work: three speeds up to 15,000rpm for engraving, polishing and sanding, a tool-free chuck and USB-C charging.
What owners say: Owners find it light, well made and easy to use for detailed work like engraving, polishing and sanding, and good value.
Heads up: It isn't made for cutting: HYCHIKA itself suggests a 170W corded tool for that. Give it a full two-hour charge before the first job.
A closer look: It's the one for crafts: engraving, polishing jewellery, sanding small wooden pieces. A long press on the button switches it on, then short presses step through the three speeds.
- 3.6V cordless, USB-C charging
- 3 speeds, 5,000–15,000rpm
- Tool-free chuck
- About 250g
- 89 accessories and a bag
Best for: Crafts and fine detail
- Power
- Cordless, 3.6V
- Speed
- 5,000–15,000rpm
- Speed control
- 3 speeds
- Accessories
- 89
- Flex shaft
- No
- Storage
- Bag
How they compare
| Feature | #1Dremel 3000 | #2DEKOPRO 170W | #3ValueMax 130W | #4Hi-Spec 121-piece | #5HYCHIKA mini |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best with a flex shaft | Best starter kit | Best budget | Best cordless | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Price | £60.00 RRP | £20–£30 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £10–£20 Price range |
| Power | Corded, 130W | Corded, 170W | Corded, 130W | Corded, 160W | Cordless, 3.6V |
| Speed | 10,000–33,000rpm | 8,000–35,000rpm | Up to 35,000rpm | 8,000–35,000rpm | 5,000–15,000rpm |
| Speed control | Variable dial | 6 speeds | Variable | Thumb wheel | 3 speeds |
| Accessories | 15 | 127 | 119 | 121 | 89 |
| Flex shaft | No | 1.8m | No | No | No |
| Storage | Soft bag | Storage box | Carry bag | Storage box | Bag |
| Best for | A first rotary tool that lasts | Carving and detail work | A starter kit | Most bits for the money | Crafts and fine detail |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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