Oscillating Multi Tools - Worth Owning?

[Spudland_Dave]

Question...admitedly, I've got a severe dis-trust/taste for tools sold in infomercials. I remember the Rockwell Sonicrafter commercials...So for years I've looked the other way and passed the whole oscillating multi-tool thing off as a gimmick tool. Fast-foward to today...DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, HF, etc... they all have a version of the tool available. I have a giftcard at Amazon and the M12 Oscillating tool caught my eye but deep in the pit of my stomach I sit here wondering if they actually work as advertised? According to the informercial you can cut anything from monofilament fishing line to Cummins Engine Blocks with no effort. As they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

SO, do these tools live up to the hype?

 

[Fifelaker]

I bought a cheap one a few years ago to trim the bottom of the moulding's when I put a new floor down. It was a fantastic tool for the job. I have since used it more than I ever thought I would. If it ever dies I will get a good one to replace it. Once it is in your hand and you see all of what it can do you will love it.

 

[toolaholic]

They work but go through expensive blades fast. I use them as a last resort. I have a fein start and bosch 10.8/12 volt cordless. When I couldn't get the upper intake off the 3.1 v6 on my daughters Lumina, I hit the gasket between upper and lower intakes w/ a scraper blade w/ my Fein start to break the seal. Just a example of how the come in handy.

 

[supra90turbo]

Fein are the original and still the best. I have a Ryobi that came in a bag-of-tools 18v set that I got for a gift, and it works, but it's not an everything-tool.

Certainly has it's place, and if you need it, you'll be glad you have it.

I was thankful to have it when replacing a sillcock on my house where the previous installer had somehow soldered it way up above my granite block foundation, 3" from the outside wall. Tried a few things including almost setting the house on fire before breaking out the multi-tool and it whizzed through the copper line in less time than it took me to get the right angle for the blade worked out.

Now that I mention this project, I'm also thankful for shark-bite pipe fittings.

 

[Labradorian]

Question...admitedly, I've got a severe dis-trust/taste for tools sold in infomercials. I remember the Rockwell Sonicrafter commercials...So for years I've looked the other way and passed the whole oscillating multi-tool thing off as a gimmick tool. Fast-foward to today...DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, HF, etc... they all have a version of the tool available. I have a giftcard at Amazon and the M12 Oscillating tool caught my eye but deep in the pit of my stomach I sit here wondering if they actually work as advertised? According to the informercial you can cut anything from monofilament fishing line to Cummins Engine Blocks with no effort. As they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

SO, do these tools live up to the hype?

I have one made by Skil and the only reason I bought this type of tool is that nothing else would do what I needed to do.

It does work, and it is one of those tools that can get into places that nothing else can. Very useful when needed.

For me, its not what It can cut but where it can cut.

Cheers

 

[dnschmidt]

I have the M18 Milwaukee and it's murder on batteries but does stuff that nothing else can do. That to me is the definition of a must have tool. Seldom used but when it's needed you've got to have it.

 

[sberry]

I bought one and havnt used it much yet but

I bought a cheap one a few years ago to trim the bottom of the moulding's when I put a new floor down. It was a fantastic tool for the job. I have since used it more than I ever thought I would. If it ever dies I will get a good one to replace it. Once it is in your hand and you see all of what it can do you will love it.

I looked at them and bought it. I shopped at Menards and got the protect house brand and they had 2 of them. One for 23$ then it for 40 and the rest, yellow, red etc were around 90 or 100. Its one like the BD 4 1/2 grinder. They simply add a different jacket to them in this class and send them to different markets. That protect is about identical and don't recall if it has a plastic cord or not but it came with great set of blades and a really nice case. Its one of my bargain pics and if you are wondering whether one is worth having,,, as I did,,,,,,,,,,, at 40$ it takes a lot of the pain out of it.
This is the tool that NAPA or ATD would slap a sticker on, you can feel the weight etc compared to the brand names, same tool.

 

[sberry]

Its like the very cheapest 9$ HF grinder, not very good but at 20 or so can get one that lasts pretty good. The one in the store at 23 had less blades but the motor and the tool were from a different cheaper mold and less amp motor etc.
With the second tier product if you closed your eyes to the fact you don't know anything about DeWalt or Skil couldn't tell it apart.

 

[ddawg16]

I bought the HF variable speed ver when it was on sale. Have used it a few times. But it's one of those tools that for some tasks, is the only option.

Case in point....I need to cut out some backer board. No way to get into the tight space with anything else. I bought the diamond tipped blade. Did the job.

 

[jakemac]

Here are some links to similar discussions that may help you decide.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4324630#post4324630
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4008529#post4008529
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4007577#post4007577

 

[shanny19]

For a humorous take from a non-believer:

 

[DJAMiller]

We have the fien and the dremel versions of these tools at work, they get a lot of use. They work great for small work, they certainly are a little slow to cut and such and blades are very expensive but they do work well when needed.

 

[PugetDude]

Oscillating multi-tools are hard to beat for a variety of applications- plunge cutting, flush cutting, scraping, sanding in confined spaces, etc. I use mine a lot more than I thought I ever would.

I always thought the Fein Multi-tool was interesting, but couldn't justify $300 for the tool and $40-50 bucks each for blades. When the patent finally ran out, I knew there would be other opportunities at a lot less money. Really wasn't sure how much I was going to use one, so I bought the HF for $14. (let the HF hate-flaming begin....)

It's been a great tool, I buy blades from Diamond Specialties for a couple of bucks apiece on eBay, and find that I use it a lot. I was in AZ last week working on our house there- used the $14 HF multitool for quickly cutting drywall during controlled demolition, cutting caulked-in place cabinets loose, removing tile, scraping mortar, removing baseboard molding without damage, plunge-cutting 2x4 stock for electrical boxes, etc.

I'll never upgrade to the Fein tool. I'm not a professional remodeler, and quite frankly don't like the way they took advantage of their customers when they had a monopoly on the concept.($50 for a 1.5" HSS blade- seriously ?) Rockwell, HF, Dremel, etc., now all offer similar products for a fraction of the cost. Blades are available for a few bucks each. Fein has dropped their prices dramatically in response, but too little, too late. Payback time, Fein!

 

[SteveCh]

Didn't even consider one for years. Then I came upon a carpentry use for one and bought a Porter Cable on sale and, in spite of myself, have used it a number of times. Most recently, remodeling a room, needed to cut some new outlet holes in drywall. Not new drywall, in the existing walls. In the past, I'd have taken a box cutter, scored the drywall, maybe cut an X in the piece to be removed, knocked it out with the **** of the knife. Works ok, but the multitool cut it right out in one piece, clean and fast. Could I live without it, yep. Does it make some obnoxious tasks much easier, yep.

 

[Bigplum]

Love my Fein , nice to use and low vibration for a sander / cutting tool
dunno about the cheapy makes apart from I took apart a DIY bosch model and it was pretty poor inside , vibrated so much I cut the lead off it to stop my wife getting ideas about it

 

[Tiny Jackson]

I have the HF variable and love it with better blades. Although I do not use it all the time, there are no signs of wear on it yet.

 

[wild cowboy]

I have a 3 amp Bosch, and it is fantastic for cutting in corners and other very hard to access places. - available at home depot

I would skip the infomercial brands, Rockwell et al

 

[VersionOne]

I have the Fein cordless that they recently came out with, absolutely love the thing. Came out to $399 (on sale) which included a variety of blades and two 18v/4.0ah batteries. I'm able to justify the cost being that I'm a carpenter and need something that will stand up to the use and abuse. If you already have a cordless tool system by Makita, Milwaukee or the like, their versions of the multi-tool should be more than adequate and you won't have to buy an additional battery, unless you feel the need.

 

[malibu101]

I knew I needed one the first time I used one.
Cutting in an electrical box through vinyl siding on OSB. Big pain in the ****.
Another guy on the job had a corded one and said to me "Try this."
Revolutionary!
And the ability to schnizle away small corners and such is great.

I am heavy into the Milwaukee M12 line and have one of them.
I don't show it heavy use but sometimes it sure is the right tool for the job.
Look at all the above mentioned uses in the replies. They are really handy.

 

[Fuzz]

I use one for cutting electrical device boxes into plaster walls. Absolutely the only tool that will cut the hole without destroying the surrounding wall surface. If you've ever cut into a plaster wall, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

BTW...Spudland Dave sounds like a name I know from a little tractor hangout....

 

[kctyphoon]

I have the cordless craftsman.. There is a definate advantage to owning one of these.. I even attached a scrub brush to the scraper blade ( patent pending) j/k, and use it tho clean the grout in my shower. My only suggestion is this should def be one of those tools that stays corded...

 

[Scimonetti]

I haven't used mine enough to give input. I got a Rockwell new in bag with all the accessories at a garage sale for 5 bucks and couldn't pass it up. When sanding the head gets too hot to hold after a short while.

 

[slip knot]

I had a shower stall tha needed some grout redone. I wasn't real happy with the idea of scraping all that by hand so I went to HF and bought the cheapest corded unit thay had. I did upgrade the blade to a bosch saw blade IIRC. I really wasn't expecting much but WOW it took all the grout out in a couple of hours. It vibrated a lot and your hands got hot and tingly but who cares I finished a 3 day job in 1 so I was happy!! I've since bought a second one.

 

[justme-]

I have had a Fein Multimaster for over 10 years. Got it when only a handful of people knew what they were and IRRC my kit retailed for close to $500. Multi speed with several different blades and sanding pads. I absolutely love it, and have used it countless times. Yes the blades were very expensive (but you pay for quality - I used to have guys dropping off 10" table saw blades for sharpening service that cost $75... but the blades they brought were $200 or more new. I'm unimpressed in general with the lower cost copies out there today. Mine is the original without the toothed arbor - friction is all that holds the blades in place and it worked fine most of the time. I have the arbor adaptor for other blades now but with the cost of quality blades being almost equal I still get Fein over Bosch.

I've used it to cut door jams for flooring, base boards, flooring under toe kicks, outlet/switch box openings in walls, siding....can't even remember all the things I've done with it. Last use was trimming existing t-11 siding to remove rotted edge and allow for a replacement piece. Original was 12' tall and I was replacing the bottom 8 feet. Mind you this cut was under a 2nd story deck which was built over the siding so no way to remove the whole piece or room for a circular saw.

 

[blakjak220]

Get the Fein Multimaster 250Q set at ToolNut for $199. I've had it for about a month and have used the heck out of it renovating my house. Best deal out there right now in my opinion.

 

[rapid robert]

I have a cordless Bosch 12v that I really like. For some jobs it just works, cutting in corners, under cutting doorjambs for flooring, etc.

 

[bcradio]

Actually, get the Bosch 3amp corded version... Swiss made and top notch.

 

[dnschmidt]

For blades I recommend Diamond Specialties. The only difference between their NORMAL woodcutting blade and their metal cutting blade is that the metal cutting blade is wavy and the woodcutting blade is straight. I use the metal cutting blade for both purposes as it has better relief.

If all you're cutting is wood or drywall without nails or other nasty stuff the Japan Cut blades are the hot setup. These are much faster cutting but are fragile.

 

[BioNerd]

Since I brought an m12, my coworkers ask me for it all the time and the fein stays in its box.

I think it's a tool worth be cordless such as drills. At least for my line I work.

 

[MattPersman]

I have the cheap HF and the mil m12 the m12 is so much nicer. The cheap HF works if you can keep the blade tight. It isn't as vibration free but for the money it does work. Cordless sure is nice though.

 

[geojag]

I have the cheap HF version, paid less than 15 for it with one blade. It saved me tons of times trimming molding and paneling when I did a new floor and trim in my living room and kitchen. It would have taken me hours with a chisel.

I have since used it to cut out for new electrical outlets and various other small tasks. I didn't think I would use it enough to buy a high quality version, but when this one fails I will be buying a better version.

 

[71goldss]

I picked up the Craftsman Nextec $99 kit when it was on sale for $30 and haven't regretted it for a minute. I don't use often, but still a very handy tool to have when the need arises!

 

[ajchien]

Oscillating multi-tools are hard to beat for a variety of applications- plunge cutting, flush cutting, scraping, sanding in confined spaces, etc.

That's exactly how I use my Ryobi version. Its the first thing i look to for plunge and flush cutting.

I'm not convinced of the additonal head attachemnts for ratchet heads, reciprocating saw, right angle impacts... Becuase the handle is kind of bulky.

 

[astroracer]

I have the HF one also. Works every time. I've cleaned out grout, cut oak trim (alot) and just used it a few days ago to add a down spout to the eavestrough on my barn. Took about two minutes to cut the rectangular hole for the adapter. Any other method would have been a chore working on the top of a stepladder. This tool made it easy.
Mark

 

[Monte]

http://www.protoolreviews.com/tools...ders/fein-multimaster-fmm-350-q-review/11624/

 

[rharman]

One more vote for the "When you need it, not much else will do" category.

I bought a Craftsman corded one a few years ago - super sale, coupon, etc, and paid probably $60 for it. Haven't used it much since then but the job at hand at the time was perfectly suited to it.

Would have loved the Fein - I have one of their vacuums - but could never justify it. Didn't want to go the Harbor Freight route either, so middle of the road worked great.

 

[cheechi]

If you are going to buy one, either get a HF one, a Bosch or Fein. No point spending more than the HF, or no point spending less than the Bosch/Fein. Depends on your school of thought, both are correct.

Don't get a cordless as your primary or only one. They will be a distasteful experience as they eat up batteries. Cordless can be handy in some cases but I would say until you have one you don't yet have a need for a cordless (secondary) because those type needs don't come until you get some hands on use with one.

Understanding the tool through first hand usage is the best way to understand the limitations. I know a lot of tools could be described this way but you really can't get it from any of us describing it.

For a humorous take from a non-believer:

This guy's channel is hilarious.

 

[allinon72]

Just picked up the 2.5amp Bosch with the $25 off $100 Amazon deal. Looks like it will be on sale for cyber Monday as well.

 

[e30bradley]

I have one and its done everything I have asked of it so far but the attachments are expensive.

 

[Zeke]

For patching hardwood floors lacing the strips in this tool has paid for itself 20 times over and that's not even my business. Great for cutting in outlets.