Oscillating multi tool suggestions

[sonvolt]

Hey all
Got a gift card for $75 at Lowe's and I'm planning on getting one of those oscillating multi tools. Corded unit is fine as I will not be on the construction site. So far I'm digging the Porter Cable. Let me know your suggestions. Also keep in mind I have to go to Lowe's so no Milwaukee, Fein, or Makita.

Thanks and merry Christmas

 

[wild cowboy]

Bosch

 

[warweapon762]

I can't tell you which one at lowes will be better (but Porter Cable makes good stuff).

I have a cheapo Genesis model and that thing is a damn beast, its been through hell and back and its been dropped all over the place. I've been using primarily in automotive projects though but I like it more than my rotozip for cutting holes in things.

 

[tweedlestan]

Slight thread hijack, but what are these tools best suited for? I just bought a Bosch and haven't even used it except to play with it.

 

[VersionOne]

Is there a brand that you already have in your aresenal? If you do, I would just go with that brand, corded or not. Makita, Bosch, Porter Cable and Milwaukee; any of these will more than handle anything you need to do and all have decent reviews.

 

[PT Doc]

A tile installer did our master floor last year. I noticed he has the hf multitool. I asked him and he said that he has another in the truck as a backup but has not needed since his just keeps on going. Seems like a good endorsement from a tradesperson.

 

[boobag]

if you want the best, get a rockwell. i have the 4amp version with led lights, and it also has a wide sweep of 5 degrees, which is more than any other multi tool.


http://www.lowes.com/pd_571002-54602-RK5141K_0__?Ntt=571002

Model #: RK5141K

 

[velocipede]

Spend $50 at HF and get theirs for only $5 with coupon. I've had a HF for a few years and it sure comes in handy. No problems with it, so far.

 

[BK13]

Gotta agree with the Cowpoke, Bosch.

 

[wild cowboy]

if you want the best, get a rockwell. i have the 4amp version with led lights, and it also has a wide sweep of 5 degrees, which is more than any other multi tool.


http://www.lowes.com/pd_571002-54602-RK5141K_0__?Ntt=571002

Model #: RK5141K

never seen the new Chinese "Rockwell" make the best of anything since they sold off their name and stopped building tools in USA, would be hard to believe that has changed - they have made a lot of junk tools lately, but I do not know about their multi-tool.

 

[67King]

Slight thread hijack, but what are these tools best suited for? I just bought a Bosch and haven't even used it except to play with it.

Trimming door molding if you are doing floors like hardwood or whatever.

Removing glue/seam sealer or whatever from cars you are gutting or prepping in any sense to do something like put in a roll cage or whatever. The time saved on a single car will pay for the tool many times over.

 

[slyonedoofy]

Get the HF one if you don't use it much.

I use a cordless Craftsman and it's been fine for almost everything.

The HF corded has more power and is a good tool.

(I cut sheetrock, PVC, wood, etc...)

 

[wyo george]

I love my Makita and would recommend it to anyone, but since you said they are off the list I'd go with the Porter Cable. A friend has the PC brand and it's a nice tool.

George

 

[rice rocket]

Get the cheap one, because you'll spend a bazllion dollars on blades. They are so effin' expensive!

 

[jptbay]

I've got the Porter Cable unit and its been great.

Use it far more than I thought I would. Very handy for precision cutting in awkward locations.

 

[Offwidth]

Bosch

Yes.

New Makita not bad.

 

[Offwidth]

Slight thread hijack, but what are these tools best suited for? I just bought a Bosch and haven't even used it except to play with it.

Anything from making a cut hole in drywall, cutting a pipe, sanding corners, making a flush cut when removing a stud, removing old caulk or grout, undercutting door... Doing house remodel, both my corded and 12v Bosch found a variety of uses. For some tasks they are irreplaceable.

 

[whyNick?]

I've had a HF for years and this summer I got like-new Bosch at a garage sale for $5. The fit and finish on the Bosch is much nicer and it feels like a better tool but to be honest I can't tell much difference in the way they function. The HF is a little bit noisier and may vibrate a little more but otherwise they are the same. If used daily I'd guess that the HF would croak before the Bosch but for homeowner use the HF suits me fine. The Bosch blades are much better however. I'd say get the HF tool and then spend your gift card on some Bosch accessories for it.

I don't use mine all that often but when I need it I really need it. I'm not the best carpenter and this tool is great for trimming just a little more off of something I cut wrong or for clearancing something that just won't quite fit. I also like it for cutting holes in drywall, plunge cutting plywood and paneling, etc. A scraper blade is a lifesaver from time to time, it's amazing how it'll go through sticky goop like seam sealer or caulk. It's a handy little tool to have around.

 

[mshell56118]

My suggestion is get what you like when you are in the store but get one that has a universal blade system so you are not stuck buying that brands blades. Rockwell runs some good deals on blades through eBay


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[dogdog]

Fein if you can get it, had mine for past 6 years, still feel and work better then others brand I used. HF/Rockwell one is not bad either but not as heavy duty as the Fein.

 

[dogdog]

Slight thread hijack, but what are these tools best suited for? I just bought a Bosch and haven't even used it except to play with it.

great on flush cut wood stuff, and also great on removing old / new caulking with a dulled blade and grouts. Not so great on cutting metal or if you try to rush the cut by pushing the tool too hard. That will dull you blade in a jiffy. Might also be great on picking locks, haven't had the need to tried it yet.

 

[wild cowboy]

even though I recommend the Bosch, the HF is just amazing when you consider the $30 price with a 25% coupon, that is just CRAZY!

 

[Coasterbuilder]

I picked up the HF model yesterday for 5 bucks on a coupon with a >$50 purchase. I have the Porter Cable kit and its great- use it all the time. I'll probably never take the HF piece out of the box, but five bucks?... I couldn't walk past that.

 

[wild cowboy]

I picked up the HF model yesterday for 5 bucks on a coupon with a >$50 purchase. I have the Porter Cable kit and its great- use it all the time. I'll probably never take the HF piece out of the box, but five bucks?... I couldn't walk past that.

geez, what coupon is that? - haven't seen that one in the HF coupon thread in Hot Deals section

 

[Coasterbuilder]

This one. It expired yesterday

 

[the gypsy]

I can only tell you what not to buy. The ones that I have, all work well, except for the Dremel which heats up a lot. So I have to stop to make sure not to burn the unit or myself by handling it.

 

[Cope]

OP, I bought the Porter-Cable at Lowe's, and a friend bought the Rockwell. He has used it a lot (installed laminate floors throughout his son's home) and he likes his. I noticed my Lowe's had the PC on a super sale a week or so ago.

 

[sonvolt]

OP, I bought the Porter-Cable at Lowe's, and a friend bought the Rockwell. He has used it a lot (installed laminate floors throughout his son's home) and he likes his. I noticed my Lowe's had the PC on a super sale a week or so ago.

I ended up getting the Porter Cable, it seemed like the best option available at Lowe's. The only drawback with the Porter Cable is that it is limited in the tooling that you can use on it.

 

[metaldad]

I ended up getting the Porter Cable, it seemed like the best option available at Lowe's. The only drawback with the Porter Cable is that it is limited in the tooling that you can use on it.

as of the past few years, as all tool manufacturers closed their USA plants, P/C at least kept their manufacturing on this continent (mexico). with that, P/C is my 'preferred' power tool vendor.
with that info you posted, now im leaning on buying the 3.0 A bosch at menards. made in switzerland.

http://www.menards.com/main/home-de...-x-oscillating-tool-kit/p-1962904-c-12869.htm

 

[Cope]

I ended up getting the Porter Cable, it seemed like the best option available at Lowe's. The only drawback with the Porter Cable is that it is limited in the tooling that you can use on it.

What did you pay for it?

 

[dragonballz]

Ive used the HF one for notching out a notch in my pressure treated fence post to install a yard gate lock. Worked fine.

My dad used the 12v Craftsman Nextec for drywall and wooden studs. Works fine.

 

[reddevildemo]

I picked up the Rockwell 2.5 amp unit at Menards during their black Friday event for $39.00. Seems like a nice tool for the money.

 

[chrisexv6]

Bought the Dremel when it was first released.....bad. Vibrates a lot, could never get the blades tight enough (Dremel later released a "fix" in the form of a concave washer to "crush" down on the blades to hold them in place)

Have a Ryobi 18V cordless that works good for lighter duty stuff, since it is cordless after all.

For the big jobs, I sucked it up and bought a Fein. Love it. Some complain its heavy, but I find that an advantage.....very little to no effort required when plunging, let the weight of the tool do the work for you. I just finished using it to trim back the nosing of a set of stairs Im rehabbing, along with sanding the stringers to prepare them for paint. As far as blade costs go, there are a few vendors on Ebay selling generics. They dont last as long as the genuine Fein blades, but they are FAR cheaper.

I dont use it that often, but when you need it, there is no replacement for ANY oscillating multi tool. I just preferred to have the best (or at least one of). The Bosch was pretty new when I bought my Fein, since I couldnt find a lot of reviews on it I didnt buy in. Kind of kicking myself now, since the Bosch is more powerful....and now Fein even has a more powerful model too. Hopefully I can come up with an excuse to upgrade

 

[DTE]

I just bought a Rockwell Sonicrafter from Lowes, it was 50.00 on sale and I used it today to cut the bottoms off a couple jam boards and it worked fine. Myself I try to buy the tool with the most amps in my price range.

 

[sonvolt]

What did you pay for it?

I picked it up for 79.00, was the best of the bunch at that price IMO, the DeWalt tools work in the Porter Cable.

 

[Cope]

I picked it up for 79.00, was the best of the bunch at that price IMO, the DeWalt tools work in the Porter Cable.

That's what they had it for at my Lowe's also. You did good. Watch Lowe's for close outs on the accessories. I picked some up for cheap.

 

[sonvolt]

That's what they had it for at my Lowe's also. You did good. Watch Lowe's for close outs on the accessories. I picked some up for cheap.

Thanks will keep my eye on the closeouts for the accesories

 

[sz0k30]

Just be careful which one you buy. I my opinion one of the most important things to look for is replacement blade interchangeability with other brands. I have a Porter Cable with the quick change blades which is what I wanted. Till I had to get replacement blades. I was in the middle of a project and had to drive all over hell to find the "Porter Cable" only replacement blades.

I think Fein & Dremel and others can all use the same blades, which you can get anywhere.

 

[mrjaw14]

Bosch is the best one out there, but more importantly if you use a different one that's fine, but the Bosch blades are some of the best available. They interchange with certain brands, just do your research first

 

[Verdugo]

Slight thread hijack, but what are these tools best suited for? I just bought a Bosch and haven't even used it except to play with it.

My wife bought me a cordless Craftsman a few years ago. I wasn't sure what I would use it for either, but so far it has come in handy cutting PVC (no, not for an air system in my garage! ) and small wood pieces (like dowels) and sanding trim. Corded versus cordless is a preference, but I do enjoy picking it up and using it when I need it. The LiON battery on mine seems holds a charge very well, so I would recommend that type of battery if you go cordless.