kythri
Well-known member
What's the skinny on these? Why would I want one?
Oscillating power tools
- Thread starter kythri
- Start date
DeliveryGuy
Well-known member
They're a tool that you don't use a lot, but when you need it, there's absolutely nothing that with substitute. I assume you know HOW an oscillating saw works. Because of how the blade vibrates back and forth a few degrees rather than spin, you can plunge cut into a surface, or flush cut a door jamb without wrecking your surroundings, and the body of the saw never interferes with the cut like when using a recip saw.
If you do any kind of renovation work, or oddball handy man type stuff, you want one. Don't expect it to replace a circular saw or reciprocating saw, because it won't.
If you do any kind of renovation work, or oddball handy man type stuff, you want one. Don't expect it to replace a circular saw or reciprocating saw, because it won't.
toolaholic
Well-known member
Get in tight places that other tools can't reach. I love using the scraper blades to remove glue squeeze out on wood working projects. I only use mine when absolutely nescasary as blades are costly.
use mine often . under kitchen cabinets to cut away part of the screw cleat to install center mount faucets, on baseboard when adding a vanity that is a bit longer that what was there, undercutting jambs & casing . Believe me, once you have one, you'll find uses for it.
Sk8Crash69
Well-known member
I have the Fein model, and have been doing a lot of work on the house after Sandy hit. Its funny, its hard do describe just when the tool comes into play when working, but when it does it is a huge time saver. Off of the top of my head I have used mine for molding, cutting and trimming Sheetrock, notching 2x4s, and removing grout and tiles. It's one tool that I would say is def. worth the money.
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
If you do any trim, floor, or remodeling work it is a real time saver. You can always get by without it, but it is such a time saver. Also, it's the safest power tool I can think of.
I have a fein and the dewalt 20v cordless. Can't go wrong with either. Very handy one you have one. I'm an electrician so love it for cutting in outlets. I've used it to cut shingles for skylights. (Special cutter for that) Chipping out grout, cutting anything in hard to reach areas. Scrapping glue or thin set. Many uses where it shines.
works better than a shop vac and a tire iron for removing windshields.
Also been doing some exterior remodelling where i need to cut siding to a square inside corner where i bolt ledger board on house for deck, replacing exterior molding and siding,etc. For cutting just the top layer of something like exterior siding, where you need a square inside corner, it's hands down better than the old way of doing that with knives and chisels.
Also been doing some exterior remodelling where i need to cut siding to a square inside corner where i bolt ledger board on house for deck, replacing exterior molding and siding,etc. For cutting just the top layer of something like exterior siding, where you need a square inside corner, it's hands down better than the old way of doing that with knives and chisels.
thebeekeeper1
Well-known member
As others have said, when they are useful they are VERY useful. I too have a Fein and wouldn't trade it for anything else, as it does things no other tool can do. Watch the Youtube videos on the subject. I'd definitely recommend spending the coin for a Fein--the "me too" brands just don't get it.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
I am waiting to receive my Fein, suppose to arrive on Friday! I will have to post how much I like it. I know I will like it but I will have used it and its mine and than I can truly write about it 
I agree with the others the right tool for the job is Priceless, as I am sure alot of you found out.
Off my soap box now!!
I agree with the others the right tool for the job is Priceless, as I am sure alot of you found out.Off my soap box now!!
I have the cheapy HF version. The dozen or so times I needs it it turned a tedious job into very simple ones. Just one of those its nice to have when you need it deals. Im sure others will critcize but if you dont need it that much id just go with the HF version. I use mine pretty roughly and dont take care of it. Use very dull blades and really lean into it. It still has not let me down and has no signs of stopping.
Like everyone else said it's extremely useful when needed. I picked up my cordless craftsman set on sale for $25. Most of it's use has been installing laminate flooring throughout the house, sanding some wood filler on a washer/dryer stand I built, and modifying a dash in a F150 for a navigation install. The dash modification would have been a huge PITA with a dremel but I knocked it out in a minute or less with the craftsman tool
I bought a ****-tastic $20 Harbor Freight oscillating tool, just to get a feel for whether I would ever need a 'real' one. I'm glad I got it, and I've used it a lot around the house (same jobs as mentioned already), but I don't use it enough to justify dropping the dough for a Fein or Rockwell tool. For once, I'm happy I got the HF cheapie.
pauls_workshop
Well-known member
I have used these a few years now and they are awesome. The cheapest HF is OK but loud and heavy and single speed. It will still get the job done. I upgraded to the variable speed version but in Menard's format (appears identical to HF one) in Performax brand. That came with tons of blades included and one of the best ways to get one of these. Get a set with lots of bits included.
You can also roll your own blades. If you wear out the wood cutting blade, you can use a dremel or file and just cut your own new teeth in it! These things just vibrate to work. The teeth aren't real critical, just that it needs some jaggy things on the end to cut. I've recut blades about 5 times and kept going on a project before! I also once had a need to do back cutting towards me in a little channel groove next to a wall. You could not get any tool in there to do that. Well, just bent the wood cutting blade back on itself by 90 degrees on the very end of the blade, then got it in there and vibrated my way to cutting backwards in the channel! Worked great!
I could not live without one of these oscillating tools now that I've used one. Best way ever to cut into drywall or to trim drywall to fit as needed. Best way to cut wood for tricky cuts behind other things otherwise hard to get to as you can safely control the multi tool to go and do what you want without risk of danger of cutting yourself. Almost unique in this way or in a rare group of tools you can use one handed and upside down with your body all cavorted like this (think crawl space) and not be in danger! - Paul
You can also roll your own blades. If you wear out the wood cutting blade, you can use a dremel or file and just cut your own new teeth in it! These things just vibrate to work. The teeth aren't real critical, just that it needs some jaggy things on the end to cut. I've recut blades about 5 times and kept going on a project before! I also once had a need to do back cutting towards me in a little channel groove next to a wall. You could not get any tool in there to do that. Well, just bent the wood cutting blade back on itself by 90 degrees on the very end of the blade, then got it in there and vibrated my way to cutting backwards in the channel! Worked great!
I could not live without one of these oscillating tools now that I've used one. Best way ever to cut into drywall or to trim drywall to fit as needed. Best way to cut wood for tricky cuts behind other things otherwise hard to get to as you can safely control the multi tool to go and do what you want without risk of danger of cutting yourself. Almost unique in this way or in a rare group of tools you can use one handed and upside down with your body all cavorted like this (think crawl space) and not be in danger! - Paul
Last edited:
We are renovating the house and every crew that has come by has used one. Granite counter installers, floor installers, and a carpenter used one to help me hang a new door slab, to cut the mortises for the hinges and latch plate. I had not seen one before but I ordered one yesterday. I picked the Bosch MX30E.
I had heard the Feins were so much pricier, sort of wish I had done more research. They look very reasonable. I always liked Bosch though and the MX30E is made in Switzerland while the smaller one was Malaysia, I am sure I will like it.
I had heard the Feins were so much pricier, sort of wish I had done more research. They look very reasonable. I always liked Bosch though and the MX30E is made in Switzerland while the smaller one was Malaysia, I am sure I will like it.
Last edited:
diggerrick
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2010
- Messages
- 996
They are the goods for drywall cutouts, and about every other small cut you need to make.
85FourEyedGT
Well-known member
In my experience they are perfect for small plunge cuts in wood and drywall, theres practically no other way to do it lol, its almost like a mill/saw for wood and light materials
rlitman
Well-known member
If you're cutting wood, dull teeth burn in the cut, but sometimes you don't care.
If you're cutting drywall, dull triangular teeth work best anyway, so save your worn out blades to re-cut into drywall blades.
I own a TIG welder, and I've welded sections of carbide tipped sawzall demo blades to these, so I could plunge cut through stucco with metal mesh.
geojag
Well-known member
I have a cheapy harbor freight version that I picked up on a whim. It has saved me who knows how much time. Any time something almost fits, it will make precision cuts to get you the clearance you need. It saves a lot of time and frustration over a chisel and hammer or taking things apart to trim. Also very good for plunge cuts as noted.
pauls_workshop
Well-known member
Oooooooh, now THAT is clever! You could do all kinds of blade inventions with your TIG and end up with higher quality multitool blades than you can buy as new ones that way too. - Paul
djjsr
Well-known member
I had to cut 2 square holes in some vinyl siding and didn't want to cut the sheathing. My cheapie HF ******** worked perfectly. That thing runs a little hot but hasn't burned up yet.
NoahG
Well-known member
Zeke
Well-known member
As mentioned, once you have one you find uses. When I started out we were still 20 years to having the first cordless drills. Gee, we used corded ones or Yankees. I had the first chop saw, a Rockwell. Gee, before we used miter boxes.
But progress is just that.
But progress is just that.
pauls_workshop
Well-known member
That is on my want list too, as well as some of the Rigid heads for it that interchange with the Ryobi. But those are expensive and so is the Ryobi for this too, about $60 used is the best price I've seen for it without any extra stuff. I got my Performax corded variable speed with like 40 bits with it for all of $30. While cordless would be nice, hard to justify for me as I have a nice corded one with more power than any cordless. Some of those Rigid heads are pretty neato though if you had them. - Paul
Mr Ratchet
Well-known member
I've used one to cut grout, notch lumber, flush cut jambs, shave wood and plastic down, scrape liquid nails off concrete and wood, etc in addition to making cuts in hard to reach spots. They work great foo cutting of the nailing wings of plastic junction boxes.
I had a smaller dremel that I gave to my brother. That thing got pretty hot when using for a extender period. I now have a Bosch MX30 and it only gets warm with extended use and cuts much faster. It's bigger and heavier though. Makita has a good one in the TM3010 as well as the Fein.
Get one, you'll be glad you did once you start using it.
I had a smaller dremel that I gave to my brother. That thing got pretty hot when using for a extender period. I now have a Bosch MX30 and it only gets warm with extended use and cuts much faster. It's bigger and heavier though. Makita has a good one in the TM3010 as well as the Fein.
Get one, you'll be glad you did once you start using it.
I have the Bosch 10.8V cordless version and love it, although I sometimes wonder if the corded version would have been better.
Two more uses that haven't been mentioned:
Cutting copper pipe - it can cut a pipe clipped to wall, even if there's pipes above and below it.
Cutting off the ends of protruding nails and screws flush.
They are specialised tools that do things that no other tool can. They should be seen as precision tools rather than for high-volume brute force work.
I also have the delta sander attachment and find that works really well for wood and filler. People are really impressed by a cordless sander.
Two more uses that haven't been mentioned:
Cutting copper pipe - it can cut a pipe clipped to wall, even if there's pipes above and below it.
Cutting off the ends of protruding nails and screws flush.
They are specialised tools that do things that no other tool can. They should be seen as precision tools rather than for high-volume brute force work.
I also have the delta sander attachment and find that works really well for wood and filler. People are really impressed by a cordless sander.