Roto-Zip's 'Zip-Mate'

[Tom R]

I was never a big fan of the Roto-Zip (I own two of 'em, - - but that's just 'cuz I'm a tool-junkie), - - but I do have to say I picked up a 'Zip-Mate' attachment (about $60), - - and man, that little sucker cuts through hard (counter-top) tile like butter.

In case you're not 'aware', - - (which I wasn't until the other day), - - it's a 'right-angle' attachment that turns your Roto-Zip into a small, easy-to-control hand held grinder, - - comes with 3 (3 1/2") cutting discs, - - metal, masonry, and diamond.

I had to make 6 receptacle cut-outs in the centers of 6 X 6 tiles, - - it did a really nice job, - - only took between 5 and 10 minutes each (including a 'cool-down' allowance time), - - I made the main part of the cuts through the front, - - but them finished them through the back to allow for the blade diameter.

Eye, ear, and breathing protection a must.

[Rich]

Yeah I was never much of a fan of the roto-zip either. My Dremel did just as good a job in drywall and didn't blow dust back in my face. No matter how I held the roto-zip it always seemed to blow back in my face.. and pissed me off :)

[Tom R]

Funny you mention that, Rich, - - about dust blowing in your face.

I've owned my Bosch jig-saw for several years now (great tool), - - anyways it's got one little lever-switch on it that I never even paid attention to and never used.

So one (slow) day I got a little curious about it, - - so I located the book and looked it up.

Explanation was, - - flick this switch will and it will stop the sawdust from blowing in your face.

Which to me brings up the question, - -

WHEN THE HELL WOULD YOU WANT SAWDUST BLOWING IN YOUR FACE!!


P.S. Thanks for listening, everybody, - - that was very theraputic!! :lol:

[Dragon]

I own a zip-mate. A couple of years ago I used it a lot, then got tired of the roto-zip burning out constantly. I ended up buying a grinder and now the zip-mate just takes up space in one of my trailers.

[Tom R]

Yeah, - - I got a Milwaulkee 4 1/2" grinder, - - great tool, - - but I liked the Zip-Mate better for this job, - - because being smaller it was easier to make precision cuts, - - and even more than that, - - the tighter radius of the smaller wheel allowed for less unnecessary cut-out on the back side of the tile (which would have weakened it considerably).

But with that said, - - I'm sure you're right, - - it's no 'production' tool for sure.