Multifunctional tool: how to choose a renovator

Recommendation points

• Where is the renovator used?
• Operating modes
• Cons of inexpensive devices
• What to look for when choosing
• Additional accessories

Craftsmen, in whose arsenal there is a multifunctional renovator tool, do not experience difficulties in fine processing of materials and parts, installation work is performed quickly and with great convenience. We will tell you about the advantages of renovators and their correct choice in this review..

Where is the renovator used?

In a special installation, whether it is the installation of plastic windows or plumbing, it is often necessary to accurately trim. Using a hand tool is tedious and not technologically advanced, and keeping the staff of a power tool for processing different materials is too expensive. With just one device, you can make a small number of accurate cuts in any material, or grind, grind and polish different types of surfaces.

At the dawn of its appearance, the sale of renovators was the fiefdom of all kinds of shops on the couch. Over time, the tool has proven its usefulness in repair and assembly operations. Today, it is in the range of most professional power tool manufacturers, from Ryobi to Bosch. Thanks to battery modifications, this tool has become popular with electricians and cable workers, with its help it is easy to cut thick conductors, connecting busbars or boxes. The same applies to finishing work, where the number of undercuts of all kinds of baseboards and cornices is in the hundreds.

The renovator is widely used in locksmiths and carpentry workshops. With its help, it is convenient to carry out thin cuts, hollow out spikes and grooves. Strengths of the tool: compactness and flexibility of adjustment, convenient ergonomics, the ability to work with one hand, everything in order to carry out processing in hard-to-reach places. This makes it simply irreplaceable in auto repair shops, door assembly, parquet laying and many other processes..

Operating modes

The renovator works as follows: on the spindle, which rotates alternately in both directions with low amplitude and high frequency, the working body is fixed – one of the options of the equipment. This can be a sharp-toothed plate or disc, a deltoid stone, or an abrasive surface. The working edge of the tool can be set at different angles with a graduation of 45, 30 or 15 °, there are also many variations of nozzles. In general, each of them has its own mode of operation, but they are all classified according to the type of processing: cutting or grinding..

Cutting is done with semi-circular and wide-edged circular saws. The human eye does not distinguish between such frequent vibrations and the saw looks almost motionless, which allows it to be guided exactly along the marking lines. There are practically no sparks during cutting, however, you can only work with the tool with glasses. There is a large assortment of thin and narrow saws designed for the production of eyes and grooves, the width of the saw edge varies from 10 to 70 mm, the size of the teeth depends on the frequency of vibration and the angle of rotation.

For grinding, abrasive stones on a steel substrate or deltoid soles are used, to which sheets of sandpaper of the same shape are attached with Velcro. Renovator in this mode works as a vibrating deltoid grinder, it is convenient for them to work in corners, and for processing large areas there are round nozzles.

Cons of inexpensive devices

Initially, the craftsmen were dismissive of multifunctional tools, which is why a lot of frankly cheap products appeared on the shelves. Using such a tool is often not only inconvenient, but even meaningless, because it lasts no longer than one set of graphite brushes.

The thing is that the parts of the gearbox of the tool are under heavy load and operate at high speeds of the drive shaft. Components must be manufactured with precision, otherwise the already noticeable heating of the gearbox will be even stronger, and this will lead to the leakage of lubricant, which is fatal for such mechanisms.

Even premium class products have all sorts of disadvantages, let alone cheap products from China. Bearings are one of the weakest points; in cheap renovators they lose lubrication almost immediately and last no more than 70–80 hours. Keep in mind that the ergonomics and functionality of such a tool are also at a low level. In the case of a cordless tool, nothing that is in a class lower than a semi-professional one is definitely not worth buying..

What to look for when choosing

However, even some budgetary instruments are devoid of the aforementioned drawbacks and can be successfully used both from time to time for household needs and in constant professional activity. It is very important that the assembly diagram and technical sketches of components are indicated in the instrument’s passport, which could be used to assess the reliability of the performance of certain units.

The gearbox, as the most vulnerable part of the tool, must have a massive metal body for efficient heat dissipation and high strength. The inner eccentric shaft and fork must be made of steel, the soft alloy will wear off quickly.

The power button should be just a button, and not a latch that turns on a conventional micro-button through an elongated rod, which has no protection from dust. There are several notable features that contribute to tool durability. These include:

• metal bushings on the bearing seats;
• the fastening of the brush channels is fixed in the collector body;
• use of soldering for wire connections;
• the use of a friction quick-release fastening of equipment instead of the usual hexagon.

Remember to keep the tool fit for DIY repair. Also note that each manufacturer has a limited list of accessories and some items are not found in others. Since third-party tooling is not suitable, the brand of the tool must be selected in accordance with the specifics of the work or pay attention to models with a special adapter.

Additional accessories

In addition to the standard set of equipment and accessories, there are additional components and whole sets. First of all, to work with the multitool, you will need protective glasses and gloves with spandex palms for a firm grip and damping vibration.

Of the non-standard equipment, mention should be made of non-serrated knives of various shapes, designed for cutting soft materials such as linoleum or carpet. There are also special blades with a fine tooth and a small plate thickness, which are convenient to use for separating glued parts. The special nomenclature also includes attachments for cutting and grinding certain materials and grinding pads with diamond dust.

Of the special accessories, one can also note the convenient cases of some models; these rather spacious suitcases have compartments for both hand tools and several dozen attachments. It is almost impossible to do without such a case if it is planned to select replaceable reduction parts for the renovator: a rotary grinder, an impulse screwdriver or even a compressor pump.