Oscillating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

[JC23]

I need one of those.

I test drove a Fein last night at a REAL lumber shop but as I don't need one full time, it's outta my price range. Need reviews and input from you guys that have good, medium price cutters.

So far, Bosch and Porter Cable are looking pretty good.

Thanks!

 

[obsessive]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

If it's for occasional use, the single-speed corded one from Harbor Freight that goes on sale for $20 can't be beat for the money. Lots of positive reviews here.

Not sure if it still includes all the attachments, but those alone cost more than $20 from the name brands.

 

[jbs]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have the Bosch. It is great.

And you can get $20 off over $100 in Bosch tools at Amazon right now.

 

[91FE]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I got the PC for occasional homeowner use... the damn thing is handy. I used my neighbor's Fein before I got the PC... chose this one because of the slick blade change mechanism.

 

[Slowboat]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I've got a Fein and love it!

 

[fr0mastaj]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have the Bosch corded and love it. You could have gotten it for $105 shipped via Amazon yesterday with that coupon Stuey posted. But can get it for $115 today. Still a helluva deal! Think i paid $160 for mine when it first came out exclusively at home depot.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HKCGQK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The blades however are EXPENSIVE... Bosch ones anyway. They are made in Switzerland.

 

[volunteers]

I have a rockwell, around $100. So far the experience is good

 

[MrMark]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have the bosch, paid around 150. It is probably the best tool I own. There are cuts I have made with it that no other reasonable way existed to do. Think cut off sole plate without touching the sheetrock on the other side. How about cutting sheetrock nails between the stud and sheetrock. Making a vertical cut in lap siding. The list goes on and on. The blades are ridiculously expensive and the cheap China ones do not last for a bit. I would only buy the Swiss Bosch or Dremel blades. Get them on Amazon.

 

[Yojinbo]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have a Fein from way back (before they were "cool") and I got a Bosch 12v cordless bare tool for like $84 somehow. I had the 12v batteries coming out my ears so it was an easy decision.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0020ML6ZE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I find myself using the cordless way more. Its just too easy.

 

[powertrip]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Spend $20 on the harbor freight version. I have one and am very happy with it. If you do like it, you just saved about $100. If not you are only out $20. You could probably get your money back on Cl for it. Just my opinion

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I went in the middle. Just order a refurb (corded) Craftsman off of eBay. Less than $50.

 

[caseyjw]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Get the $199 fein starter kit from Homie's Depot... excellent tool I couldn't live without around the house.

 

[tcianci]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have and use the livin **** out of the HF model. It works Fein.

 

[Stuey]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

If you buy the Bosch, it should come with an adapter so that you can use other brands' blades.

I just bought a Fein, and damn it's nice. It came with few accessories for the money, but I believe I can use Bosch or Dremel adapters and those respective brands' blades and accessories with it.

 

[cabranch47]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Hi, I have been very pleased with my Rockwell Sonic Crafter. I think Lowes had the 72 piece (mostly sand paper sheets in the count) on sale for $99.00 (regular $149.00). Cheapest that I have ever seen. Bought replacement blades on line from Imperial. Good quality and cheaper.

 

[Monte]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

$150.- for the Fein:

http://www.cpofein.com/factory-reco...default,pd.html?start=7&cgid=fein-multimaster

 

[Stuey]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

$150.- for the Fein:

http://www.cpofein.com/factory-reco...default,pd.html?start=7&cgid=fein-multimaster

Yes, but that's for the reconditioned non-tool-free blade change model.

 

[2manytoyz]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have the Fein at work, and the HF at home. The Fein came as a kit, with more goodies with it, but the HF was $20, the Fein almost $300.

If I had to buy another for myself, I'd buy another HF. The Fein is better made, but they both work well. Other brands of blades fit the HF too.

 

[Monte]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Yes, but that's for the reconditioned non-tool-free blade change model.

yes, but "only" 149.99

 

[Danglerb]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Buy the HF for $20, but use some good (non HF) blades. Some guys that are really into these tools have several to keep different blades ready to use.

BTW you will get LOTS more hits with multifunction tool.

 

[Stuey]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

yes, but "only" 149.99

Yes, but I consider $150 the upper-tier of O-tools. Just a little more and you get added convenience. Otherwise I'd say save a little more $$ and got with Bosch.

 

[Lightfoot]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Another HF 20 buck owner here. Been using it for about a year now, no problems. Glad i didn't blow a wad on an expensive one (i almost did), this one is fine, and it has been well used. But agree with other posters, get some better blades.

 

[powertrip]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have the Fein at work, and the HF at home. The Fein came as a kit, with more goodies with it, but the HF was $20, the Fein almost $300.

If I had to buy another for myself, I'd buy another HF. The Fein is better made, but they both work well. Other brands of blades fit the HF too.

What other blade brands will fit the HF ??

 

[Steevo]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

My Dremel version works just Fien, too.

 

[2manytoyz]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

What other blade brands will fit the HF ??

Gleaned online:

You can use blades made by other manufacturers if they feature a .395-in. round hole or the Multimaster’s star hole—so you’re not limited to lower quality Chicago blades. You can also use Fein’s Adaptor on the Multi-Function Tool, if you enlarge the screw-mount hole on the adaptor from .254 in. to .310 in. or 5/16 in. to allow for the larger size of the mounting screw.

These also fit: http://imperialblades.com/

Some Fein Multimaster and Dremel blades fit. I take a HF blade with me when going to the box stores, and place the HF blade over the other to see if the holes line up. No issues so far. There's also apparently two different styles of blade holders on the HF tools. One is just a friction clamp. The other one has pins to lock the bit in the indexed position. This is a far better design, and mine has this.

I was hoping to find a cross reference list online showing what brand blades would fit, no luck.

 

[davesnothere]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

If you get the cheap one from harbor freight, you'll have money left over for a good dictionary.

 

[wmartin]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have the Bosch corded and love it. You could have gotten it for $105 shipped via Amazon yesterday with that coupon Stuey posted. But can get it for $115 today. Still a helluva deal! Think i paid $160 for mine when it first came out exclusively at home depot.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HKCGQK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The blades however are EXPENSIVE... Bosch ones anyway. They are made in Switzerland.

I see that the refurbished 12v ones are $75 on Amazon.

Personally, I think I'm having a moratorium on cordless tools. Not enough longevity, and I hate buying things twice.

A cool product would be some sort of transformer that's a standard battery on one end (like M12 Milwaukee or something) and a wall plug on the other.

 

[Stuey]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I see that the refurbished 12v ones are $75 on Amazon.

Personally, I think I'm having a moratorium on cordless tools. Not enough longevity, and I hate buying things twice.

A cool product would be some sort of transformer that's a standard battery on one end (like M12 Milwaukee or something) and a wall plug on the other.

Ridgid JobMax comes close. They have cordless and corded handles that attach to different tool heads.

 

[kapster]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Was recently in your shoes and bought corded bosch from amazon. Love it so far, very smooth like everything bosch i have.

Bosch blades are made in switzerland if that matters to anyone, and arnt much more then chinese dremel. Bosch also makes a dedicated metal cutting blade.

Dremel has 2 new models now, mm20 and mm40. The later has quick change blades.

 

[geologist]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Menards occasionally has their version on sale for $9.99

 

[Danglerb]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

A cool product would be some sort of transformer that's a standard battery on one end (like M12 Milwaukee or something) and a wall plug on the other.

Small wall wart wouldn't do it, a 19.2v nicad pack like dumps out a good 10 amps or more under heavy load, starting a motor etc. and that would be a heck of a big wall wart.

Main thing are the different types of battery connection each of brands use on different packs. What I have considered doing is taking a decent but cheap 12v JumpBox and making a set of adapters for my various battery types out of old packs, with maybe a few "tricks" to get various other voltages, but most tools should still "work" if the voltage isn't too far off.

 

[2manytoyz]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

What other blade brands will fit the HF ??

Okay, an update. This will NOT fit the HF version:

I was at Home Depot today. For under $30, this Bosch kit not only includes 3 blades, but also an adapter. Says it'll fit ANY brand oscillating cutter.

Turns out, the adapter is not needed for the HF model I have. Apparently there's an earlier version too, with a different blade mount setup.

Here's a stock HF blade:

And the mount on the cutter:

Bosch blade on top of the HF blade:

New blades fit the tool perfectly:

 

[georgiadave]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I have the SoniCrafter 72 piece kit. It comes with an universal adapter for all blades.

I read a review of multi tools in Fine Homebuilding. Their take on these tools was that the blade makes all the difference. The tool is rather unimportant. The wood blades tested showed the Bosch was many times better than any other blade.

 

[2manytoyz]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I believe that about the tool not really making the difference, but rather the blades. As mentioned in my other post, I have the $$ Fein version at work, the HF at home. I can't see the huge difference in price. With a good blade, they both work great.

That's really good news about Bosch making the best blades. Available locally for a reasonable price.

 

[nw2571]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

I like my Dremel corded (non-quick change). Changing blades quickly is overrated IMO.

I also bought a Craftsman cordless Nextec. It cuts every bit as well as my Dremel. My Sears had them on sale for ~$50.

Unless you're using the thing professionally for hours a day, I'd say the cordless is by far the way to go.

 

[JC23]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Update - REALLY needed to have one today so I zipped up to HF and got just the tool and two extra wood blades.

Came home and started cutting two floor planks, maybe three inches wide and 5/8 in thick. Noticed the tool slowing down on the second cut but didn't know if it was the tool or I was hitting a knot in the wood. Went to use the tool to cut a two inch rubber hose and the tool got hot to the touch then started smoking.

I resisted the strong urge to throw the POS across the room and was pissed cuz now, I couldn't get the job done. Once I cooled down, I took it back.

So thanks for the input...I need it!

 

[Bull]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Update - REALLY needed to have one today so I zipped up to HF and got just the tool and two extra wood blades.

Came home and started cutting two floor planks, maybe three inches wide and 5/8 in thick. Noticed the tool slowing down on the second cut but didn't know if it was the tool or I was hitting a knot in the wood. Went to use the tool to cut a two inch rubber hose and the tool got hot to the touch then started smoking.

I resisted the strong urge to throw the POS across the room and was pissed cuz now, I couldn't get the job done. Once I cooled down, I took it back.

So thanks for the input...I need it!

So, the HF unit ended up being a turd for you. Good to know!

 

[Monte]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Fein #1

 

[Monte]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

New Makita multi tools

cordless

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-HEV51CYe9g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

corded

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m3FVRs1d-Ao" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Alchymist]

Re: Osolating Cutter - Need Yer Suggestions

Yep, go with the HF. Abused the he11 out of mine, still going. Discovered Bosch blades fit directly with no adapter.