Multi Tool

[Woodster]

I’ve never needed one of these before but we’re decorating one of our rooms and among some other horrors was a strip of chipboard that needed to be removed. I initially thought I might be able to do the job with my Japanese pull saw but soon realised it wasn’t going to do the job. After a quick look I bought one of these:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-emt3 ... 240v/622fx

I can’t believe how well it worked and it even left a good finish which surprised me. It came with several blades and a sanding pad so I didn’t need to get anything else. I will be getting a couple of narrow blades just in case though. The blades are easy to change without any tools. Well pleased for the money.

 

[Rod]

The Rolls Royce of them is a Fein which I could never justify buying so have a Bosch instead.

ALDI, Rutlands etc sell cheap blades for them as they have universal mounting holes.

Used mine the other day to cut some architrave off a wall.

Rod

 

[9fingers]

I got my blue Bosch version as a Christmas present from my wife and a promo from Screwfix on the basis that I have most of the tools I need but needed to respond to "well what DO you want for Xmas".

Whilst it does not get regular or heavy use, It has been very useful indeed for a number of repair jobs in both my home and in some rental properties. No regrets whatsoever, in fact I'm a fan of them now.

Bob

 

[TrimTheKing]

Yep I have a Bosch too and it's had a lot of use over the years. Very handy tool indeed.

 

[Woodbloke]

The Rolls Royce of them is a Fein which I could never justify buying so have a Bosch instead.

ALDI, Rutlands etc sell cheap blades for them as they have universal mounting holes.

Used mine the other day to cut some architrave off a wall.

Rod

When I was working for Ax the lady who was i.c. of purchasing power tools recommended Fein as the best brand out there. She also mentioned (and was a joiner by trade) that if she had to have just one power tool a Fein multi-tool would be her immediate pick - Rob (who hasn't got one and never used one)

 

[Woodster]

I don’t think Its something I’ve ever needed before but it certainly saved me a lot of trouble yesterday. I’m now looking for other uses for it and just saw this hack (pun intended ) that may be worth trying.

https://youtu.be/SgCam8t3670

 

[RogerS]

The Rolls Royce of them is a Fein which I could never justify buying so have a Bosch instead.

ALDI, Rutlands etc sell cheap blades for them as they have universal mounting holes.

Used mine the other day to cut some architrave off a wall.

Rod

When I was working for Ax the lady who was i.c. of purchasing power tools recommended Fein as the best brand out there. She also mentioned (and was a joiner by trade) that if she had to have just one power tool a Fein multi-tool would be her immediate pick - Rob (who hasn't got one and never used one)

I agree with her 100%. I'm on my second one...not because the first wore out, just that the blade clamping mechanism was so, so much better on the later model. Mine have got me out of so many predicaments.

 

[Woodbloke]

I agree with her 100%. I'm on my second one...not because the first wore out, just that the blade clamping mechanism was so, so much better on the later model. Mine have got me out of so many predicaments.

Interesting Rog...so which model did you go for? I don't envisage buying one at the moment but it would be useful to know a gud'n - Rob

 

[Jonathan]

+1 for the Fein.
I have the multi master starlock, love being able to change blade or blade position in 1 second flat.
It's one of those tools which when you first buy it you kick yourself for not buying it years ago.
Work colleague had one of the multi tools that takes 5 mins to change the blades, he tried my Fein and he was won over, his old saw went into the dust collection corner.

Sent from my SM-J530F using Tapatalk

 

[RogerS]

I agree with her 100%. I'm on my second one...not because the first wore out, just that the blade clamping mechanism was so, so much better on the later model. Mine have got me out of so many predicaments.

Interesting Rog...so which model did you go for? I don't envisage buying one at the moment but it would be useful to know a gud'n - Rob

The Fein, Rob.

 

[RogerS]

+1 for the Fein.
...
Work colleague had one of the multi tools that takes 5 mins to change the blades, he tried my Fein and he was won over, his old saw went into the dust collection corner.

Sent from my SM-J530F using Tapatalk

Yup..just like the 1st generation Fein but that is going back years. I'm surprised that they weren't able to patent the idea as they were the first.

 

[Doug]

I was tempted to go for the Fein when I recently bought my second multi tool but they now have a very impressive blade attachment system with a patent on the blade design. With their blades £5 a pop & my ability to hit a nail most times I use the tool I decided to go for the 18v Makita which uses standard fitting blades which I can get for around a £1 a time

 

[Jonathan]

Doug
Yes the Fein blades can be expensive, we use the wood and nail blades which gets over the hitting an nail problem, although they don't like Spax screws, they will however cut through budget screws.


Sent from my SM-J530F using Tapatalk

 

[Woodbloke]

The Fein, Rob.

Yep, but which one? Looking at the Ax page there's a few different Fein's and I was always a little puzzled as to which one was better; I'd probably go for this one? - Rob

 

[RogerS]

The Fein, Rob.

Yep, but which one? Looking at the Ax page there's a few different Fein's and I was always a little puzzled as to which one was better; I'd probably go for this one? - Rob

Yup..that's the one that I got ...does it come in a box ? Mine did. And hopefully they've not changed the box because, for once, the inside dimensions are generous without too many mouldings etc and so putting the Fein back is very easy. Unlike some manufacturers who think you need to be an anti-Houdini to fiddle everything into just 'the' right orientation so you can shut the lid.

 

[Doug]

Yep, but which one? Looking at the Ax page there's a few different Fein's and I was always a little puzzled as to which one was better; I'd probably go for this one? - Rob

That was the one I had demonstrated at the FFX show it is a cracking piece of kit.
A chap I work for has an earlier version which I use & they really are quality kit which is why I went for the demo, but as mentioned previously I was put off by the price of the blades, I notice on the Axminster site that a wood metal blade is nearly £11 & even though they say it lasts 3 times as long as a standard blade I can buy 10 blades for that price.

I’m left wondering if Fein did have the patent on multitools as years ago it was the only brand that made them & they were in the £400 range now everyone makes them the fein machines are significantly cheaper so are they making their money on the blades :eusa-think: personally I don’t notice any difference when using like for like Fein & cheap blades on the Fein or Makita

 

[RogerS]

I get my blades from Saxton.

 

[Doug]

I get my blades from Saxton.

Are they the new starlock plus Rog ?

 

[RogerS]

I get my blades from Saxton.

Are they the new starlock plus Rog ?

Sorry, Doug...what's starlock plus ?

 

[Woodbloke]

Just watched UToob clip on that Fein; incredible bit of kit, but as you say Doug, expensive accessories. Cheaper on the Fleabay maybe? - Rob

 

[Doug]

I get my blades from Saxton.

Are they the new starlock plus Rog ?

Sorry, Doug...what's starlock plus ?

Starlock plus is Feins latest blade which works with their new all singing & dancing quick blade attaching/ releasing machine Rog

 

[Woodster]

I’ve noticed the blades for some makes can be very expensive, I wonder if they last 5 times longer?

In a review I saw the top machine was the Festool but at 10x the cost of mine I guess it should be!

 

[Doug]

In a review I saw the top machine was the Festool but at 10x the cost of mine I guess it should be!

Isn’t the Festool machine made by Fein, it’s certainly based on their design, being Festool they’ve based it around their system design so plug-it cord & also a detachable base that I believe fits certain Fein models.
As with all things Festool you’re paying a premium for the extra system design & not just the simple function of the tool, though whether the extra cost is worth it is down to the individual user

 

[9fingers]

Just watched UToob clip on that Fein; incredible bit of kit, but as you say Doug, expensive accessories. Cheaper on the Fleabay maybe? - Rob

In my book the multi tool is a "get you out of trouble" device. Not so much a bodging tool but not a precision craftsman tool either. Brilliant for nibbling away at skirtings cutting redundant pipes off at floor/wall level etc.
For a tradesman, it is a "must have on the van lifesaver".

But Rob knowing the sort of work you do, you possibly dont need the top of the range models and something like the bosch would do all you would ask of it and leave more spondulics to spend on nice timber etc

You would be welcome to have a play with my blue bosch one if you like.

Beware of doing too much delta sanding with them. The amount of power (heat) that it is possible to deliver into the sanding pad can melt the velcro hook pads and the abrasive falls off. Much better to stick with the purpose built delta sanders with lower power motors.

Bob

 

[Woodbloke]

In my book the multi tool is a "get you out of trouble" device. Not so much a bodging tool but not a precision craftsman tool either. Brilliant for nibbling away at skirtings cutting redundant pipes off at floor/wall level etc.
For a tradesman, it is a "must have on the van lifesaver".

But Rob knowing the sort of work you do, you possibly dont need the top of the range models and something like the bosch would do all you would ask of it and leave more spondulics to spend on nice timber etc

You would be welcome to have a play with my blue bosch one if you like.

Beware of doing too much delta sanding with them. The amount of power (heat) that it is possible to deliver into the sanding pad can melt the velcro hook pads and the abrasive falls off. Much better to stick with the purpose built delta sanders with lower power motors.

Bob

I tend to agree on the tool being a DIY lifesaver; probably essential if you've bought a place and are in the process of 'doing it up' but I finished with that pita several years ago, so now it's only the odd bit of paint brush wielding when SWIMBO nags me enough :lol:
Yes though Bob, next time we have a 'meet' I'd like to have a little play with your Bosch and see what it can do - Rob

 

[Woodster]

Isn’t the Festool machine made by Fein,

It has a different blade fitting so maybe not?

I saw earlier that one of the Festool blades is £72 and it’s not even green and white! :lol:

 

[Doug]

Isn’t the Festool machine made by Fein,

It has a different blade fitting so maybe not?

I’d not really paid much attention to the Festool offering until this morning as interested in your reply re the blade & not being Fein I took a little look.
To be fair to Festool they have taken a pretty inaccurate tool & taken it to another level with their base, I notice their blade is called the Starlock Max too much of a coincidence to not have some affiliation with Fein as I’m sure Fein would have patented that.
Festool have a history of working in conjunction with others companies, Tanos for their systainers,Bessey for their clamps, Stabila for their levels & so on so as market leaders it doesn’t surprise me that they’d go to Fein for a multi tool.
I’m at the FFX show in just under two weeks time I’ll ask the question of the Festool chaps while I’m there.

 

[Woodster]

This is all new to me but I got the impression that the Starlock system is or was a collaboration between Bosch and Fein? Confusingly Bosch seem to have three different versions of it.

Just out of curiosity I would really like to sit down for an hour or so and have a play with half a dozen of these tools to see how valid some of the claims really are.