Oscillating Tool attachments - are they universal?

[afeef745]

I will have to replace rotting trim and maybe part of door jambs on few exterior door on my house, and thinking of buying a cheaper Worx brand oscillating tool to make the job easier. I have never owned a oscillating tool before, so wondering if the attachments are universal/standard across brands? or does each brand makes it so you can only use their specific attachments?

Asking because I am thinking of buying just the tool and picking up the wood cutting blades from my local hardware store.

Thanks in advance

 

[mbatarga]

They are not ALL universal, but several makes are interchangeable - and several blade/attachment brands' design allows different mfr tools to use them. I can't say in particular which are interchangeable though.

 

[jetnow1]

Look on the packaging for the tools, usually shows what they fit. Make sure then unit you get is one listed.

 

[The Cobbler]

they are more universal now than before, even the no name blades have adapted to be more universal, but , no not all blades/tools will interchange

 

[CraigStu]

6 yrs or so ago I bought an HD brand tool. You are correct in thinking it will be great for your project. But I suspect you will find many other uses once you own it. So maybe spend another $20-30 and get a major brand unit.

 

[chinboys]

Learn or practice silver brazing too. It is cheaper to grind off new sections of hack saw blades to affix to the old worn blade stem (remove the old teeth). I've been doing this for years on my Fein O tool and its blades. I also use new wood jig saw blades to make my replacements too.

 

[danfromsyr]

the Harbor freight oscillating tool (and blades) are one of the best quality power tool that HF has.
for the occasional use of the average DIY garage/home owner it'll suit you just fine.. buy with a coupon of course.

I will have to replace rotting trim and maybe part of door jambs on few exterior door on my house, and thinking of buying a cheaper Worx brand oscillating tool to make the job easier. I have never owned a oscillating tool before, so wondering if the attachments are universal/standard across brands? or does each brand makes it so you can only use their specific attachments?

Asking because I am thinking of buying just the tool and picking up the wood cutting blades from my local hardware store.

Thanks in advance

 

[Boilerhouse]

Learn or practice silver brazing too. It is cheaper to grind off new sections of hack saw blades to affix to the old worn blade stem (remove the old teeth). I've been doing this for years on my Fein O tool and its blades. I also use new wood jig saw blades to make my replacements too.

Great idea! Oscillating tools are fantastic for renovation jobs, but blade life is less than one would normally expect and they are not the cheapest thing to buy. I have refiled the teeth profile when worn but that provides just marginal results. I will give the hack saw blade fix a shot.

 

[aka Larry]

I have a Worx, and if you pay the shipping, you can have it for free. I'm not sure why, but it vibrates your hand almost as fast as the blade is oscillating. I can't hold it for more than 30 seconds!

 

[rlitman]

Learn or practice silver brazing too. It is cheaper to grind off new sections of hack saw blades to affix to the old worn blade stem (remove the old teeth). I've been doing this for years on my Fein O tool and its blades. I also use new wood jig saw blades to make my replacements too.

We think alike. I’ve welded carbide tipped sawzall demolition blades onto the worn out bases of my Fein blades.

I’ve got to try it with some bimetal hacksaw blades next.

 

[engineer2]

The "universal-ness" is more in the design of the tool than the blade. As said, most will interchange, but you have to read the tool's manual to see what they recommend.

I have a Rockwell Sonicrafter that has a "Universal fit system holds all major brands of blades". I bet most new designs are moving to universal fit.

 

[Mecha]

I have a porter cable and most definitely bought the wrong "universal" blade. So yeah, you need to see what works for your tool. If you are buying from HF for a more mainstream tool, just take a blade with you in the store and check the hole pattern.

I think Dewalt, Porter-Cable, and other Stanley brands are one type and Rockwell/Dremel are another but I don't know.

 

[MoonRise]

Up until a few years ago, there were a bunch of attachment patterns/style. Each tool manufacturer seemed to have their own pin/hole pattern for the blade-to-nose attachment.

Then the blade makers figured out how to (mostly) make multiple hole patterns in the blades/attachments to fit almost all tool brands. Yay!

Then about 2 years ago, Fein and Bosch came out with yet another attachment style for their most recent OMTs. It's a 3-D type, sort of like a bottle cap.

https://www.jlconline.com/products-...k-mounting-system-for-oscillating-multi-tools

StarLock and StarLock-Plus and StarLock-Max.

Tools that take StarLock-Plus blades can also take StarLock blades.

Tools that take StarLock-Max can take all three blade types.

The StarLock blades also have the mostly-universal pin/slot arrangement so they can also be used in most pre-StarLock tools.

The 3-D system works pretty well. (darn Germans. )

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/oscillating-multi-tool-accessories-22074-c/

example Fein StarLock-Plus blade (image from the Fein website, they have the JPG coming from the cloud)

https://d17a3dwm7bmd8g.cloudfront.net/cdn/v1.87635/media/product/336538/10_800x600.jpg

 

[afeef745]

Learn or practice silver brazing too. It is cheaper to grind off new sections of hack saw blades to affix to the old worn blade stem (remove the old teeth). I've been doing this for years on my Fein O tool and its blades. I also use new wood jig saw blades to make my replacements too.

Stupid question but can silver brazing be done using propane torch?

 

[engineer2]

Stupid question but can silver brazing be done using propane torch?

Not as far as I know. You need fuel + oxygen to get the temperature high enough, but technology and solder materials change.

 

[rlitman]

Stupid question but can silver brazing be done using propane torch?

Yes, propane can melt silver solder, but a hotter torch will put less total heat into the blade, reducing the chance that the heat kills the temper of the teeth.

As for carbide blades, I TIG welded mine. The teeth are already brazed on, so it was important that I keep the heat away from the teeth or they would just fall off.

 

[MoonRise]

I just buy bi-metallic or carbide tipped blades.

Or carbide or diamond grit blades.

Bosch.

 

[rlitman]

I just buy bi-metallic or carbide tipped blades.

Or carbide or diamond grit blades.

Bosch.

To be fair, I welded my carbide blades years before anything comparable was on the market.

 

[afeef745]

To be fair, I welded my carbide blades years before anything comparable was on the market.

Not sure if I understand this. Do you mean you welded carbide blades made for reciprocating saw onto worn out blades for oscillating tool?

 

[afeef745]

Yes, propane can melt silver solder, but a hotter torch will put less total heat into the blade, reducing the chance that the heat kills the temper of the teeth.

As for carbide blades, I TIG welded mine. The teeth are already brazed on, so it was important that I keep the heat away from the teeth or they would just fall off.

Whats a hotter torch you recommend? MAP PRO or something else?

 

[rlitman]

Not sure if I understand this. Do you mean you welded carbide blades made for reciprocating saw onto worn out blades for oscillating tool?

Yes. I cut up pieces of something like this:

and welded it to dulled blades.

At the time, I was cutting rectangular holes in my plaster over metal lath stucco walls, and these made an awful job very bearable.

Whats a hotter torch you recommend? MAP PRO or something else?

Personally, I think you're looking down an endless rabbit hole of disappointment. Now that carbide tipped oscillating multi-tool blades are readily available, there's no incentive to make your own. The carbide sawzall blades aren't free. And any air/fuel torch will heat the stock so slowly that the carbide will be sure to fall off before you're melting your silver solder. And metal cutting hacksaw blades aren't worth a damn without a good heat treatment, which would certainly be destroyed by an air/fuel torch's soft flame.

If you do want a great DIY multitool blade on the cheap, turn your old blades into sheetrock cutting blades. Just grind off the teeth into a row of shapes about 6 TPI. Triangles work well, but squares (like the top of a castle tower) work almost as well. This is a super easy way to recycle old blades:

 

[cdestuck]

I bought the Rockwell Sonic crafter after seeing it on tv. Thing is only 2 or 2 1/4amps and slows down pretty good when using. Saw my friends Bosch 3 amp tool and what a difference. So I bought one to match. Teaches you a lesson, but the best ones first

 

[nadogail]

I bought an oscillating tool to do one job and have found it to as handy as a pocket on a shirt.

At the present moment, I don't recall the brand of the tool, but I bought it at HD, I think it might be Ridged. It uses interchangeable blades, I prefer Bosch Blades.

Prior to my purchase, my cabinet maker told me "once you buy and use a multi tool, you will wonder how you ever got along without one".

He was/is correct.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have been buying the blades from Grizzly, they are cheap and seem to be good quality. Much cheaper than hardware store or woodworking catalog prices. I have a Fein and a Milwaukee M12 and the same blade from Grizzly fits both of them. The Fein is much more powerful but the M12 is much more user friendly to get around with out a cord, but I wish it had a quick change like the Fein has instead of an Allen wrench.

 

[ajchien]

I have the ryobi 18v. It came with a 2 sided adapter disc to assist in increasing the compatibility. So far, all the different brands of blade attachments that I’ve bought have worked.

 

[Showkey]

Some blades are absolute junk and barely acceptable for one time use. If you smell burning wood you found the marginal blades.
I have some Fein blades that are 15 years old.

 

[nastorino]

I have wondered the same thing. I've just stuck to the Dewalt stuff to ensure proper fitment. Last thing i'd want is to break the tool or the blade with my hands so close and those things moving so quick.

 

[afeef745]

Yes. I cut up pieces of something like this:

and welded it to dulled blades.

At the time, I was cutting rectangular holes in my plaster over metal lath stucco walls, and these made an awful job very bearable.



Personally, I think you're looking down an endless rabbit hole of disappointment. Now that carbide tipped oscillating multi-tool blades are readily available, there's no incentive to make your own. The carbide sawzall blades aren't free. And any air/fuel torch will heat the stock so slowly that the carbide will be sure to fall off before you're melting your silver solder. And metal cutting hacksaw blades aren't worth a damn without a good heat treatment, which would certainly be destroyed by an air/fuel torch's soft flame.

If you do want a great DIY multitool blade on the cheap, turn your old blades into sheetrock cutting blades. Just grind off the teeth into a row of shapes about 6 TPI. Triangles work well, but squares (like the top of a castle tower) work almost as well. This is a super easy way to recycle old blades:

Thanks a lot for the explanation.

 

[terry603]

either HD or lowes, I think HD sells for 99 cents a universal adapter for the tool

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Ditto on the Harbor Freight multitool. We used one for years on the job. Burned one up and another the dowel pins that hold the blade wore out. They can be bought for 9.99 with a coupon now and then. 13.99 on a regular basis. They are worth that just for the blades that come with them.

Finally bought a dewalt corded tool. What a difference in fit and comfort. The slow start is nice too. Not to mention it is a lot quieter.

But the cheap harbor freight one is a great tool to start with and if your a home owner with only occasional use.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Oh yeah. I keep my dewalt in the trailer at work and have harbor freight one at home for the odd job that pops up. Never tried the more expensive variable speed harbor freight model though.