Has anyone else used the HF Roto-Zip clone?

[coreyjhen]

I just got an 18V Harbor Freight Roto-Zip clone for cutting out hatches, doors, etc. I only seem to be getting about 45 minutes on a charge. Is that normal?

[Podunkfla]

Sounds about right to me. I don't have many HF tools, but even my Dewalt 18v Drill is only good for about an hour of continous use... if that. I do have a Roto-Zip I use for cutting out sheetrock outlets, etc. I find it is not much good for anything else! A small trim router is a much better tool for cutting out doors and windows. I use a 1/4" solid carbide "downcut spiral bit" for those type of jobs. The negative side of this is: solid carbide bits are kinda pricy (about $20. ea.), but they do last a long time. Those little 1/8" bits for the Roto-Zip are fairly cheap... but they get dull fast. I do have one HF trim router... It only cost $20. But it took three tries to get a good one? The first two were defective... (one had a defective chuck, the other vibrated so bad when I turned it on I was afraid to hold it!) not a good sign. You can use most any 1/4" router to do cutouts with; but not freehand. You really need a pattern to run the router around, with either a guide bushing or a pattern bit with a guide bearing.

edit: Frankly, I think a saber saw may be the best thing to cut out windows and doors with anyway. You can alway sand the edges to get it right.

I hope this wasn't way more that you needed to know, or wanted to hear.

friend ~ Brick

[kayakrguy]

I would second Brick's experience. If I am using a drill steadily, it will show steady loss of power by 1/2 hour or so. Only solution to that is two batteries...