What’s better than a sparkling clean car? We can’t think of too many things other than a car which needs to be cleaned… Sometimes though, no matter how hard you try, there’s always a bit that you’ve missed or an area which could have been cleaned better.
Let us introduce you to a little tool which car detailers keep in their tool cupboard for such occasions: a rotary tool. Yes, these can be used for cutting sections out of your car’s body panels, but you can also get various heads that boost your car cleaning ability. Getting inside the wheel nuts and bolts, cleaning out your crevasses and polishing up your chrome can all be made considerably more accessible with a rotary tool.
Related: Parkers guide to the two-bucket cleaning method
What can I use a rotary tool for?
This is a tool for many, many needs – not only will it help you cut holes in different materials from metal to wood with the many other accessories you can attach to the end, but you can also sand wood, remove rust from metal, use it as a drill – basically anything that spins, this is your tool.
This is why it can be so helpful to a detailer; you can buff, polish and shine until your heart’s content while using a different type of head to remove dirt from hard to get to places. But it’s not just your exterior. It will polish your interior and help you get between the creases in the seats and into your cup holders.
What are the best rotary tools?
Let’s look at the best rotary tools and what to look out for.
<strong>The best rotary tool and kit</strong>
Pros
- Original and very highly rated
- Adjustable speeds
- Huge amount of accessories
Cons
- Not compatible with all accessories from other brands
<strong>The best professional rotary tool</strong>
Rrp: £114.86
Rrp: £114.86
With its ergonomic soft grip handle and LED light, you can see whether you’ve got that wheel nut nice and clean and with some relative comfort. With adjustable speeds from 5,000 – 35,000 rpm, there’s plenty of oomph to get your products clean.
For around £210, a multi-functional kit with two batteries is available from Amazon.
Pros
- Reputable brand
- Compatible with various Dremel attachments
Cons
- It doesn’t come with attachments or a battery
<strong>The best small rotary tool</strong>
Happily, the battery holder for the tool will also hold your accessories which you may need while you’re carrying out your work. The rotary tool is small enough to be held like a pencil or a soldering iron.
Pros
- Small in size
- Compact
- Easy to use
Cons
- You might need to buy into the Ryobi brand to make it worthwhile
Related: The best garage overalls | Bosch IXO 6 Electric Screwdriver: Quick review
What else could I use if I don’t want to buy a rotary tool?
The obvious answer would be a machine polisher, which would help bring a nice polished finish but doesn’t always help to get into the smallest parts of the car, like a rotary tool. You can get different size heads, which will help, while you’ll also have a tool that will cover the car’s significant parts like the bonnet and other body panels. To do this with a rotary would be like painting the walls with a toothpick. Time-consuming and needless.
Pros
- Powerful
- Cordless gives you freedom
Cons
- Less power than a corded machine polisher
Pros
- Variable speed
- Reputable name at a lower cost
Cons
- Corded giving less freedom
Pros
- Low-cost alternative
- Fits to your drill
Cons
- It may wear down quickly
Sign up to the Parkers Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews, news, and recommendations from the Parkers team.
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us.
