Best Oscillating Tool?

[Corwin]

If you are a pro, the supercut is the way to go. Tough as nails loads of power, heavy industrial quality. It may be twice the price but it 10 times the machine.

[ rant ]
Hmmmm.....  I really fail to understand this distinction.  Getting paid to perform a type of work does not necessarily make the worker a professional.  Heck, any dingbat can hang out their shingle.  I see substandard work done by so called "professionals" all the time.  There is this expression, "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."  That's why some of us do our own work, rather than hire a "professional."  Yes, the poor home hobbyist is all to often misunderstood.  He is grouped with the beginner and not ever held as an equal to those that do the same work for a living.  Yes, the home hobbyist is not expected by many to require professional-grade tools, as his tasks are small and minuscule.  Well, I say malarkey -- and I'm not talking roofing products either.  We hobbyist do tough jobs too.  And we spend the time to do the job right.  Need I go on?
[ /rant ]

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

If you are a pro, the supercut is the way to go. Tough as nails loads of power, heavy industrial quality. It may be twice the price but it 10 times the machine.

[ rant ]
Hmmmm.....  I really fail to understand this distinction.  Getting paid to perform a type of work does not necessarily make the worker a professional.  Heck, any dingbat can hang out their shingle.  I see substandard work done by so called "professionals" all the time.  There is this expression, "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."  That's why some of us do our own work, rather than hire a "professional."  Yes, the poor home hobbyist is all to often misunderstood.  He is grouped with the beginner and not ever held as an equal to those that do the same work for a living.  Yes, the home hobbyist is not expected by many to require professional-grade tools, as his tasks are small and minuscule.  Well, I say malarkey -- and I'm not talking roofing products either.  We hobbyist do tough jobs too.  And we spend the time to do the job right.  Need I go on?
[ /rant ]

The big difference is time.  When it is your own crap you don't care about something taking 20 minutes longer. 

Time is money to me, the faster or better the tool preforms and the less time I have to spend doinking around with something the better.

 

[Corwin]

The big difference is time.  When it is your own crap you don't care about something taking 20 minutes longer. 

Time is money to me, the faster or better the tool preforms and the less time I have to spend doinking around with something the better.

Well, there's time, skill, and simply caring that you do a good job.  These qualities are dependent on the individual, not whether he/she does it for a living or not -- that is the misconception that is all too commonplace.  Those of us that do our own work also want tools that are up to the task so we can get on with other things.  Making this distinction between the "professional" and the hobbyist is very misleading and all to often very inaccurate. 

 

[Kevin D.]

Mine was the old allen head bolt that held the blade on.

I got it second hand.

I will save my pennys and get the supercut sometime.

Same situation.  On my future upgrade list.  There's a Kapex and a handful of sanders ahead of it on that list.

 

[Dan Clark]

The big difference is time.  When it is your own crap you don't care about something taking 20 minutes longer. 

Time is money to me, the faster or better the tool preforms and the less time I have to spend doinking around with something the better.

Well, there's time, skill, and simply caring that you do a good job.  These qualities are dependent on the individual, not whether he/she does it for a living or not -- that is the misconception that is all too commonplace.  Those of us that do our own work also want tools that are up to the task so we can get on with other things.  Making this distinction between the "professional" and the hobbyist is very misleading and all to often very inaccurate. 

Corwin,

I agree that lack of time, and skill and caring about doing a good job are traits of pro's and amateurs alike.  While both have personal preferences, it's more of a preference for the amateur and a constraint for the pro. 

For a pro, there's a much more direct relation between time and money, especially when you're in a competitive situation.  And pros are almost always in a competitive situation.  There's almost always someone out there who can do the job cheaper that you can. 

As a pro, you have to provide an acceptable level of quality in a given timeframe for a given cost to the customer.  As the customer's cost goes up, the definition of "acceptable" goes up too - usually higher quality and/or less time.  If you have better tools and they allow you to do a better job in the same amount of time or an "acceptable" job in less time, then the customer is happy and you are more profitable (and happy).

I'm a contractor, but not a woodworking contractor.  I'm a contract software developer.  I just spent $3,200 for a higher-end laptop and two monitors.  Why?  While I'll be somewhat happier with a better laptop and two nicer monitors, I would NOT have spent the money for that reason alone.  I did it because it makes me more productive.  Which keeps my customer happy and allows me to spend more time and money on personal stuff.

I think the bottom line is that producing an "acceptable" level of quality in an "acceptable" time-frame is a choice for an amateur and a requirement for a pro.  The amateur defines "acceptable" based on personal needs and available income from other sources.  I.e. the amateur defines their own constraints. 

For the pro, the market place defines "acceptable" and his/her profit depends on meeting those constraints.  While the pro may enjoy good tools, if those tools don't allow them to make a profit and still meet "acceptable" standards, then it's a waste of money.  It's more of a mathematical calculation than personal preference.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[justinmcf]

well said dan.

 

[Corwin]

Hey Dan,

I can remember when someone referred to you as a hobbyist, and you objected, stating that all the remodeling you were doing didn't feel like a hobby.  And I know that you put a lot of consideration into your tool purchases to perform your "hobby" work.  I'm sure you wouldn't chose a poor quality tool because you are "just" a do-it-youselfer.  I'm not sure what point you are attempting to instill upon me with your post above, as I do understand all of those considerations.  But, to be clear, the point of my posts here is that whether labeled a "professional" or "hobbyist" one of the considerations we all make in selecting our tools is for their ability to perform the tasks at hand.  And it is not just the "professional" that needs the bigger, tougher more industrial quality tool as suggested in John's post.

 

[Eli]

Not sure why you got your back up Corwin.  [wink] If you do a good job as a hobbyist, and your work is good enough that you could get paid for it if you chose to, then we'll allow you to call yourself a pro for the purposes of discussion. H.E. hockey sticks, I've done stuff on my own house that would price me out of the market. I've also done work at home that is an unacceptable level of quality for the marketplace. There, I've said it.  ;D

Now, how do you feel about the Multimaster? Or do you have a Supercut? Or do you have a Bosch? We're talking about labeling tools good or bad, not people. Much love.  [big grin]

 

[nickao]

Both are pro tools, one is overkill for 90% of the work I do. Multimaster is more than adequate for me.

 

[Brice Burrell]

If you are a pro, the supercut is the way to go. Tough as nails loads of power, heavy industrial quality. It may be twice the price but it 10 times the machine.

[ rant ]
Hmmmm.....  I really fail to understand this distinction.....
[ /rant ]

I think this particular home hobbyist may be misunderstanding John's comments.  He's not saying that the home hobbyist couldn't make good use of this professional grade tool, his point is that every pro should have one over the lower grade version.

...I've also done work at home that is an unacceptable level of quality for the marketplace. There, I've said it.  ;D .......

I'm shocked, I can't believe you'd do something like that.  I'd never do that on my house. [wink]

 

[nickao]

Well if his point was that every pro should have the larger one I totally disagree, I have not missed the Supercut at all. I just do not see what you can do that requires the use of an oscillating tool so much. There are times I don't pull it out for a year at a time.

If you do use one daily than yeah get the bigger one, still it would be like using an OF 2200 with an 1/8" bit for most of the type of work I use the oscillating tool for. I think you need it in your tool box if the work you do requires it, but there has to be times that thing is just to big for the finesse work. And for 800.00 you better use it a lot, it would take a ton of work to break even on the time difference, I never would personally. Obviously some do use the tool enough to warrant it.

I read nothing that was a diss though.

 

[peter halle]

The Multimaster has made me a bunch of bucks over the years.  It is 8 years old and going strong.  My time is billed in increments of hours, not seconds.  If the multimaster comes out of the systainer, there is a reason and that reason is that I don't have anything else that will do the job that it will.  Would I spend the money for a new improved Supercut.  NO.  I don't care if they call it a professional model or not.  Do you have to show a license to buy it?  I do admit that there are different blades for it, but I think that is part of the marketing scenario for the tool.

The best thing that I have seen for the Multimaster has been the redesigned E cut blades that will actually cut metal.  I have never regretted this purchase.

All of this is my opinion of course.

Peter

 

[nickao]

I got that insert for the Systainer that holds my Multimaster, what a perfect fit and only 10.00! Thanks for that link Corwin!

 

[AlexThePalex]

Strange discussion this has become. [blink] Nobody in his right mind would call the MultiMaster a hobbyist tool just because there's an even beefier version. It's 100% meant for professionals. Fein is strictly a professional brand and doesn't cater to hobbyists. Most people not in the trade have never heard of Fein. Of course people here have, but this happens to be a meeting place for tool nuts.  [smile]

 

[arbfincarp]

I use a fein supercut and love the power. I just got the new quick change last summer & love it. I'm a kitchen installer and could not live without it . I still have have the Allen key model and would to sell it.

 

[nickao]

I admit it. I am at the very least a tool nut, or just nuts.

 

[peter halle]

Perhaps some of the impressions come from the fact that Fein uses infomercials to advertise this product to the US.

 

[Corwin]

Strange discussion this has become. [blink] Nobody in his right mind would call the MultiMaster a hobbyist tool just because there's an even beefier version. It's 100% meant for professionals. Fein is strictly a professional brand and doesn't cater to hobbyists. Most people not in the trade have never heard of Fein. Of course people here have, but this happens to be a meeting place for tool nuts.  [smile]

You've got to be kidding me.  What a ridiculous statement.

 

[nickao]

What?That's true not ridiculous at all.

The Fein and Festool tools are VERY far and in between on any job site I have been on and all their tools I have are definitely pro tools. And for sure people not in the trades have little  idea about Fein or Festool!

So what is the problem Corwin, he speaks the truth? Most of us here are tool crazy as well.

 

[peter halle]

Corwin,

Respectfully what parts do you find ridiculous?

I personally would replace professional with quality demanding.

Peter