Oscillating multi-tools, what can they be used for?

[rpcraft]

I know this is a bit of a dated thread but I'm in a situation where I need to pull some brackets off a frame at a local pick and pull and because some puts set fire to something with a grinder all they allow is hacksaw tools and drills. That beings said I am dealing with GM frame rivets on a squarebody and curious if anyone has used one of the oscillating tools with a metal blade on those or am I kidding myself? I have one of the m12 hacksawz coming tomorrow and that should work with a shorty metal blade but I just realized I actually have one fo the dewalt 18 volt O-tools that I inherited from my dad's shop and curious if anyone has really put one to the test.

 

[Coach James]

I have a Rockwell model and used it to cut 12 penny nails. Used a metal cutting blade and it cut several with no trouble. I don't know how that would compare to the rivets you need to deal with.

Coach

 

[RTM]

I know this is a bit of a dated thread but I'm in a situation where I need to pull some brackets off a frame at a local pick and pull and because some puts set fire to something with a grinder all they allow is hacksaw tools and drills. That beings said I am dealing with GM frame rivets on a squarebody and curious if anyone has used one of the oscillating tools with a metal blade on those or am I kidding myself? .

This guy says no, but I think later in the thread they determined they were super hard rivet looking things.

need to cut thick steel rivets- what tool should I use?

Hi, at my work, we have some pallet racking which we have to adjust the height of the beams. But this racking is very old, and about half of the pallet beams are held in place with steel rivets. I tried to drill the rivets out but none of the drill bits I have will drill into them. So I...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[rpcraft]

I can tell you that the "metal" blade I bought from Milwauke did nothing to the rivet on the GM frame I was trying to cut stuff off. It broke the teeth off in seconds, lol. Luckily I also had purchased a ,12 hacksaw and some blades and while definitely some work still it got the job done.

 

[imagineer]

I bought a Porter-Cable 20v oscillating tool (only because I already had a collection of other P-C 20v tools) for the specific purpose of cutting fiberglass while modifying a truck cap to fit my Tacoma. I needed a cutting method that didn't make a lot of dust. It worked great.

Since that project, I've found a bunch of other places to use it, justifying the purchase. A while back, I finished building a greenhouse and used the tool for trimming the dual wall polycarbonate glazing.

 

[M6erfan]

I used mine over the weekend to remove the copper oil lines from the old heating oil tank. I cut the lines flush up against the interior basement wall where they penetrated.

 

[Garcky]

Old thread, but new poster. I bought the mid-range, wired Oscillating saw from HF a couple of years ago when my wife said, "I want a dog door here (pointing at the back wall of our kitchen.)" As always, what she wants is what she gets. What was behind the drywall inside and the vinyl siding outside I did not know. So, that tool was my answer, with a combo wood and metal blade. The hole I had to cut was 12"x18". The tool and blade made easy work of it, cutting through everything with relative ease, including a couple of nails. I did use a stud finder/live wire detector to locate studs in the wall and to check for wiring before cutting. What was in that wall? Well, drywall, a fairly thick aluminum sheet vapor barrier, and 1x6 board sheathing. It was a 1950s house.

Anyhow, the doggie door went in and I built an outside landing and three steps for the dog, who learned how to use it to get into the fenced back yard immediately. Since then, I've used that tool to do all sorts of things, from replacing a couple of short sections of deck boards, to cutting outlet holes in interior walls. Very nice tool. Very cheap, and I don't use it a lot, so the HF version was plenty good enough.

 

[ArcReactorKC]

I posted a thread some time back about using my m18 omt to cut through some exhaust bolts on my 7.3 powerstroke. I used a "carbide tip" blade and it made multiple cuts in not too much time.

Recently I've found using my dull plunge cut blades to cut shingles works amazing when we are shingling sheds. I use the dull side of the blade with the flat portion resting against the drip edge and can cut a perfectly straight line down the shingle overhang.

 

[turner66]

Fein Multimaster here, it's at least 16-18 yrs old and has earned it's keep even if use is sporadic. It's certainly not the only way to do something, but sometimes it is an easy way...
It has been indispensable for these most recent 5 jobs (in the past year):
- floor re-grout: 12x12 entryway marble tile grout removal
- water damaged drywall removal: cut at different heights based on how far it wicked up and maximizing use of new full sheets
- steel toilet flange replacement: cut/removal of old steel flange
- laminate flooring cutout: remove flooring for new base cabinet install in a previously floored area
- Stove hood and dryer vent installs: cutout through Hardi siding

 

[Garcky]

I posted a thread some time back about using my m18 omt to cut through some exhaust bolts on my 7.3 powerstroke. I used a "carbide tip" blade and it made multiple cuts in not too much time.

Recently I've found using my dull plunge cut blades to cut shingles works amazing when we are shingling sheds. I use the dull side of the blade with the flat portion resting against the drip edge and can cut a perfectly straight line down the shingle overhang.

Oh, good tip!!