Multitool? How to buy it?

[rogersmithiii]

I am about to buy a oscillating multitool, mainly to install things under moldings. Since I have batteries and chargers from Milwaukee M18, I was going to go for that. But everyone is mentioning Fein here.

Which brand should I buy, and do I need a whole kit, or can I buy a bare tool, and buy the blades separately?

 

[rogersmithiii]

And for blades, should I stick to the Milwaukee brand, or are the no name brands on Amazon ok? My gut tells me you get what you pay for.

 

[GeoBruin]

If it influences your decision, Home Depot has the M18 oscillating multi-tool with CP 2.0 battery for $99 today as one of their deals of the day.

 

[sparky 1971]

Fein is the best, but there is nothing wrong with the Milwaukee. I have the M12, M18, as well as a corded Rockwell Sonicrafter and a cheap Menards Masterforce. The M12 is a P.O.S. The others are fantastic.

 

[propmaker]

I originally bought the festool and sold it, as I wanted a cordless. I never really used all the additional accessories it came with. I bought the fein 18V and love it. Kind of a pain to have one charger and two batteries for one tool, since the rest of my cordless stuff is Milwaukee and Festool

 

[boom_bap]

I've got an m18 its a good one.. I've used bocsh blades on it. It matters more what you are cutting and is the blade the right one.

 

[f121]

Fein is the original, but a m18 will do the job just as well. I would buy thr bare tool and the accessories you need separately, unless you really need a case.

 

[JradM]

Milwaukee's M18 is good. I use a mix of good AND cheap blades depending on the task. The good ones last longer, but the cheap blades are a fraction of the price. If I want a nicer or faster cut, I stick in a brand-name blade. If I'm worried I might hit a nail, overheat the blade or am not working on something where the finish is critical - out come my cheap blades.

 

[Madjik Man]

Milwaukee's M18 is good. I use a mix of good AND cheap blades depending on the task. The good ones last longer, but the cheap blades are a fraction of the price. If I want a nicer or faster cut, I stick in a brand-name blade. If I'm worried I might hit a nail, overheat the blade or am not working on something where the finish is critical - out come my cheap blades.

What’s your go-to cheap blades?

 

[GeoBruin]

Harbor Freight.

 

[JradM]

What’s your go-to cheap blades?

The cheap ones.

Really, I'm not picky. Whatevers in a big multi pack at Princess Auto or cheap on Amazon.

Another thing I try to do is stock up during Christmas and Father's day deals on the good ones. I think thr brand names are exorbitantly priced, but they are a little better.

 

[Madjik Man]

The cheap ones.

Really, I'm not picky. Whatevers in a big multi pack at Princess Auto or cheap on Amazon.

Another thing I try to do is stock up during Christmas and Father's day deals on the good ones. I think thr brand names are exorbitantly priced, but they are a little better.

I have a Dewalt 20v multitool and the Dewalt blades are insanely priced. I need to go with your philosophy of burning through cheap ones when going through nails and stuff and save the nice ones for just wood.

 

[Indexmill]

The Fein with Starlock is the gold standard by which all others are judged. You decide how valuable that bit of information is to you...

buy once, cry once. The Fein will last you lifetime.

 

[southalabama]

Hit a dull blade a couple times with a triangular file. Good to go.

This is one of those tools unless you are using it for hours and hours a day most any of them will do.

Between dad and I we have three. All corded. Dewalt, Genesis And another brand that escapes me at the moment. Not enough difference between the three to worry about.

If I decide to get a cordless I’ll go dewalt simply because I’m in that ecosystem

 

[rharman]

Fein, as mentioned, is the gold standard. But, if you're already in the M18 ecosystem, just stay with that. It's a good product.

I have an older Craftsman Multi-Tool that I bought when it as on a super sale. It's corded. Can't speak to blades as I've never needed a replacement yet. I'd think any reasonable name brand that fits would be fine. I won't buy the Harbor Freight blades though. To me, the blade is the key component.

Hah... Just read the post above from @southalabama . He brought up the ecosystem angle as well. That's why all my cordless stuff is DeWalt - it's what I started with.

 

[JJ99SS]

I'm team blue thanks to Dad. Still have some of his corded tools from the 80's that are great. I have all Makita cordless stuff so I went w/ the new XMT04ZB starlock. AMAZING tool so quiet, no vibration and comfy to hold.

If you have a battery platform go w/ that as it makes the most sense usually. The big three are great, but you can watch Project Farm's review a few months ago on the tools on YouTube. Some were surprising...

Blades? I go Bosch because they make starlock everything. Some brands aren't into that yet or just dabble. HD doesn't carry any starlock because when I asked the guy in the aisle he said rather tartly... "We don't stock stuff that only 3 people need...". Lol ok...

I don't like Lowes but they carry some Bosch blades in store, and now they are growing on me a bit. Milwaukee makes good blades though.... Well good everything it seems. If I wasn't born team Blue I'd be Red for sure.

 

[alinc100]

I have not used the M18 ,but I do have the M12 Fuel version. The Fuel version is a way different animal than the non-fuel. I would ~assume~ a similar deal can be found on the M18, but this is a very good deal for the 2 batteries and tool: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...ickid=TxpQ1I0EsxyNWM:wXYytKTSVUkDRpkQBw2tPX40

 

[tarbellb]

Fein is to multi tools what Festool is to track saws

they WERE the standard (or just had the patent) and are still excellent tools

BUT both have been pretty well sorted out by now, especially the multi tool, its not a complicated piece


You can buy 90% of Fein performance at a considerable discount, the things I personally would be considering:

_ existing battery platform
_ quick change blade system (ugh I hate the allen wrench retainer)
_ if using all day, step up to Fein

 

[dogdog]

I have the original Fein, not too bad, have used the HF one and rockwell sonic crafter as well as the ridgid, they all work, just one cuts better and better for the hand as your finer joints don't vibrate off its sockets...and/or over heats like the rockwell... all of them will work for caulking removal fine, plunge cuts , Fein , then ridgid , HF/sonic crafter....

 

[theoldwizard1]

Fein very good, but overpriced. IMHO, the attachment mechanism is very important.

Also, if you a buying battery powered, remember, you are buying into family of tools.

 

[f121]

What’s your go-to cheap blades?

Not the cheap ones.

I tend to buy Bosch or dewalt, whatever is on offer. Cheap ones go blunt really quickly

 

[tyyost]

Milwaukee bought Imperial blades and rebrands them, I have always gotten good mileage out of them if I use them appropriately. Imperial was my go to, pricing is as good as the big box color of the week, they were made in USA, and hold up to the jobs. DeWalt blades have been ok as well. I find the right blade and tooth configuration makes a big deal in longevity. Heat ruins blades like drill bits. Overheat a blade in a piece of oak flooring all it will be good for is a scraper.

I used my saw on several projects. For the quick cut a molding or pop a hole in drywall any blade will work for a few cuts, but unless you want to have to run out and buy another blade mid job better blades make a difference. One use I have never had success is cutting nails or screws without a good bimetal blade.

 

[larry4406]

I use Bosch blades in my Makita.

 

[danski0224]

I have a corded Fein and Milwaukee M18 (non-Fuel). The Fein was purchased long before the M18 tool line existed.

In my opinion, the Milwaukee that I have is for sure 90% of the Fein. I haven't really used the Fein since getting the cordless Milwaukee.

I do not know if the Fuel version is better. I am not buying one until mine dies, and I have used it a LOT.

I do not care about the blade cost. Fein universal blades are pretty competitive when purchased in a 10 pack. Otherwise, whatever I need for the task at hand, I just buy it. The tool saves too much time to waste time trying to find cheap blades. Running the tool on low speed saves blades and does not seem to impact performance much at all.

If you are using one of these tools all day, then get the Fein Supercut.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

I have the M12 and have no complaints. Does the job.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I tend to use it about once a year, so I bought the HF at multiple recommendations. I've seen the Fein, used for around $45 and if I did more, that would be the way I would go. Since I don't really need it up on a ladder, etc, I didn't see the need/use for cordless for me (batteries IMHE tend to last about three years).

 

[finn]

I have a cheap corded tool I bought maybe five or more years ago at Menards. It may be a Performax, I just don’t remember. I wanted a cordless so I bought a Dewalt a couple of years ago, since I had the batteries already.

Frankly, I didn’t even know what I was going to do with it when I bought that first cordless unit, I found I was using it sporadically, but it was invaluable when I did use it.

I doubt that you will ever wear out whatever you buy. You don’t sound like a tradesman, so I really don’t see where buying a premium designer brand really brings anything to the party, unless your ego is out of control… or maybe in control…

As to blades, I have a mix of Bosch and whatever is on sale at Menards. The inexpensive blades haven’t had issues. Don’t overthink this.

 

[nbpt100]

The blades I like for cutting nails are the carbide. No particular brand. I look for specials and buy multi packs as they are always the best deals. I have used the Bauer carbides and they were good.

I have a cheap HF chorded that is getting tired but it does the job. It vibrates alot and is loud. the tool holder is getting worn. I want to up grade but it is not a big priority. I may wait for a black friday deal. This is one tool where i do not mind corded. I guess I do not use it enough.