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wrote:

Looking for a brand and model recommendation on a rotary saw. I was
shopping for a jigsaw but the rotary saws have caught my eye. They
appear to be much easier for cutting curved shapes and I would assume
just as easy for straight cuts. I want one primarily for small
woodworking projects and I plan on finishing a basement and garage soon
so will likely use on sheetrock for outlet box cutouts. Any info,
opinions or recommendation would be appreciated!

A rotary saw is not a substitute for a jigsaw. If it is a substitute for
anything it is a substitute for a small router, and for casual use they can
fill that role reasonably well. Some can also with accessories do most of
what a small angle grinder or a Dremel can do.

The intended use is in cutting openings for electrical outlets and the like
in old work where you have to cut the opening in a wall that is already in
place. The ability to control the depth of cut is what makes them
desirable for this purpose--you can cut the plaster or sheetrock or
whatever without cutting into whatever is behind it. Th small diameter
bits they use for cutting most materials results in a low cutting speed, so
they don't run away from you like a conventional router would--working
handheld against a vertical surface this is a real concern with a
conventional router and bit, which could otherwise do most of what a rotary
saw does.

Another benefit is that if the rotary saw is getting full of plaster dust
and what not then your jigsaw, which is a more expensive tool if it is a
decent one, is not getting full of it.

The folks who claim that the rotary saw is of no utility and that one should
not encourage their production have clearly never tried to cut an opening
for an electrical outlet in a plaster wall using a jigsaw. It can be done,
but it's not pleasant. With a Rotozip it's quick and easy.

-Mark

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)