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Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter Review - RK5141K

Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter Review - RK5141K

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Chris   October 31, 2014  
0   10  
Porter-Cable Sonicrafter F50

When Rockwell Tools  announced their new F50 Sonicrafter I was really impressed with a number of the new features. What I was most impressed with was that it had a much larger angle of oscillation. I had always figured that oscillating multi-tools would benefit from a larger oscillation angle, so when Rockwell asked me to do a review, I would finally have a chance to see if I was right.

While most of the competing brands have an oscillation angle of about 3.2° or 2.8°, the Rockwell F50 comes fully equipped with a total angle of 5°. This means that when the blade oscillates back and forth, it is moving a greater distance than the competition; but is this a benefit, and if so, how?

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight 3.3 lbs

Power 4 amps

Speed 11000~20000 opm

Oscillations Angle

Cord Length 10ft.

Oscillation tools have long been marketed as being able to do many things, one of them being sanding, but in my opinion they have never been good at it. My first test for the Rockwell RK5141K was to see if their 5° angle offered improved sanding capabilities.

After just one test, I was able to see the difference, and it was impressive. Running the sanding pad over some rough mahogany was quick and effortless. The larger motion of the sanding pad really does help the overall sanding process, by not only removing material faster, but also by helping to keep the sandpaper free from clogging.

Rockwell Tools F50 Sonicrafter Review - RK5141K

It was harder for me to tell if the larger oscillation angle helps with the plunge cutting process, but it does improve the abilities of the circular cutting blades, as well as scraper blades.

The feature that really helps with cutting is the powerful 4.0 Amp motor. Where another oscillating tool might bog-down while cutting through hard wood, the Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter cuts like a hot knife through butter. Even while sanding, I could put my weight onto the sanding pad, but I could not get it to stall. Rockwell says the motor provides a cutting load of 35 lbs, yet as I tried, I was not able to reach its limits.

Another area where the Rockwell RK5141K shines is in vibration control and noise. The multi-tool uses a counter-weight that does a remarkable job at reducing the vibration felt from the tool. I am not sure if the vibration reduction plays a part in the noise reduction, but again, compared to other oscillating tools I have used, its loudness is a lot less annoying.

Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter LED Lights - RK5141K

Rounding out the features of the Rockwell Sonicrafter F50 are the built-in LED lights that make it possible to see what you are doing if you are making a cutout inside a dark cabinet, and the tool-free Hyperlock & Universal Fit System that accepts other brands blades and accessories. With what they say is 1-ton of clamping force holding the blade in place, you can use other brands accessories without worry of them slipping. However, there is a speed advantage to using Rockwell’s own blades due to the fact that they have a notch that allows them to slip on without having to completely remove the blade clamping flange.

Overall, I would say that Rockwell did a great job on the Sonicrafter F50. While I cannot say if it is the best multi-tool on the market—because I have not tried them all—I would put the Rockwell F50 at the top of the list. It is feature packed, with LED lights, plenty of power, a large oscillation angle, and even a long 10-foot power cord, all at a very reasonable price. The only thing I think Rockwell needs to work on is getting the handle diameter a little smaller, but this is by no means a deal breaker. If you are looking for a multi-tool to buy right now, I would recommend the Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter (RK5141K). BUY – Amazon 

Photos

Variable Speed Dial - Rockwell Sonicrafter F50
Front View - Rockwell F50 RK5141K Review
Tool-Free Blade Changing - Rockwell F50 Review - RK5141K
Blade Change - Rockwell RK5141K Sonicrafter
Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter Review - RK5141K
Rockwell Sonicrafter Blade
Case - Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter Review - RK5141K
LED lights - Rockwell Sonicrafter Review - RK5141K
Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter Review - RK5141K
editor reviewmulti tooloscillating toolRockwellSoniCrafterRK5141KF50