A variable-speed controller for use with an electric device including: a variable resistor element having a variable resistor element contact surface; a membrane including a first membrane contact surface spaced-apart from the variable resistor element contact surface by a spacer element, and, a second membrane contact surface; a slider configured for slidable movement along the second membrane contact surface wherein responsive to the slider slidably moving along the second membrane contact surface, the first membrane contact surface is able to be urged into contact with the variable resistor element contact surface in a plurality of contact point configurations whereby the effective resistance of the variable resistor element is configured to change in response to the first membrane contact surface being urged into contact with the variable resistor element contact surface in each of the plurality of contact point configurations.