Fein Multimaster strengths and weaknesses

[Tim Brennan]

I just ordered a fein MM start250 after reading another thread about how useful they are.

They claim to be able to do many things, but what are their most useful attributes and things that you would use another tool instead?

I need to cut some grout, is it worth getting that cutter? Where in the UK is the best supplier of cutters? Is it worth getting an adapter to be able to use other brands of cutters eg bosch? Can it be used for cutting sand and cement pointing and if so which is the best cutter? Dito for hard glazing putty.

 

[promark747]

Would not use for sanding unless you have no other options (i.e. Festool), as the dust collection is not great.

Otherwise, the MM excels in just about every task it is designed for and is built like a tank.

 

[RC]

I have to second promarks comment about the sanding bit except for the different profile sanding pads that are actually somewhat useful if you have profiles to sand.

These reciprocating saws are indispensable when you need to cut a hole into existing walls or remove a part of a wall beam neatly (hard to explain, but I laid concrete slabs in the backyard and the shed door wouldn't open anymore due to the new ground elevation so I had to lift the door up by 10cm and that meant I needed to cut off the top doorframe beam and move it up by 10cm and then trim the shed's outer wall by that 10cm to be able to lift the door up. Perfect job for a Fein.

Another similar odd job happened when I had to change the garden gate from left-handed to right handed and the lock needed to be turned upside down and I had to cut indents for the lock mechanism to fit the wrong way round. Cutting the slot with the Fein was a breeze whereas doing that with a chisel would have taken forever.

Imperial blades are getting a good rap here as an high quality cheap alternative for the Fein originals, but I haven't used them myself, Don't see the point in getting blade adapters since there are aftermarket options for the blades that fit directly.

 

[Tim Brennan]

I nearly bought this set, but then I read the two bad reviews. Anyone tried this set or the brand Saxton? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saxton-SH13...2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378723755&sr=8-2&keywords=fein+multimaster

The positive reviews seem to be at least in part from Bosch owners and that's supposedly an inferior tool. So would they know if the blades were sub standard I wonder.

 

[leakyroof]

Highly recommend the Fein Multimaster, even though I think it's sanding ability is its lowest rated point.  I too have used the Fein Profile sanding kit, and I have the older Porter-Cable profile sander kit that is similar to the Fein's version of small pieces of abrasive wrapped around a rubber profile. Either with the Porter-Cable , or the Fein MM, this portion of a sanding job is going to be tedious for me, but neither tool can really change that so I'm in agreement with Reiska about profile sanding .  I , along with others here, have wondered outloud to Festool on how they'd design a Profile Sander like either of the two I've mentioned if they though the market would support the tool.
Grout cutting, LOVE the MM for this task. Greatly speeds up regrouting for me unless the joints are really thin. And you have some dust collection happening even though the pick-up nozzle is fairly far away from the work due to Fein's design.
You should be happy with your new Fein Tool... [smile]

 

[ldmillar1981]

Had a multimaster about 10 years a great bit of kit, can't recommend them enough, I use the sexton blades you can get them direct, they don't last as long but they are a fraction of the cost.

I mainly use mine for trimming door linings when installing flooring. But it will do so much more!

I have recently added a pig tail to mine so it now accepts a plug it cord. Makes life easier as it travels in its own systainer with all my festool gear.

Regards
Leigh

 

[Tim Brennan]

The multimaster arrived today and i was just about to set it to its first task when I realised that it wasn't the quick release version.  Sending it back to amazon tomorrow and have ordered the right one this time.

From the multimaster infomercial on YouTube it seems like it creates quite a bit of dust. I am already starting to think of designs for a dust collection shroud attachment cobbled together from pvc pipe and duct tape...

I also put in an order for a fein 1.3mm grout cutting disc for replacing cracked hallway tiles. Also the fein depth stop so I can cut out rotten wood from my window frames leaving an easier job when splicing in new timber. That's the theory at least.

You guessed it, we live in an old house circa 1925.

 

[leakyroof]

The multimaster arrived today and i was just about to set it to its first task when I realised that it wasn't the quick release version.  Sending it back to amazon tomorrow and have ordered the right one this time.

From the multimaster infomercial on YouTube it seems like it creates quite a bit of dust. I am already starting to think of designs for a dust collection shroud attachment cobbled together from pvc pipe and duct tape...

I also put in an order for a fein 1.3mm grout cutting disc for replacing cracked hallway tiles. Also the fein depth stop so I can cut out rotten wood from my window frames leaving an easier job when splicing in new timber. That's the theory at least.

You guessed it, we live in an old house circa 1925.

  Not sure if your ordered model will have it, but Fein does make a DC kit for the MM. It's a fairly flat body/tool hugging tube that clips at the rear of the tool's outer shell and has several sealing methods near the drive spindle or shaft of the tool depending on your needs. A standard 27mm Festool hose will attach to the barbed end of the duct collection tube,so hooking it up to a vac is easy.

 

[joiner1970]

Yeah you shouldve bought the full kit with dust extraction kit. It works out much cheaper than buying separately.

 

[andyman]

Yep as I posted a while ago should have bought one years ago.
Use mine a few times a week.
You will find more and more uses for it

 

[Tim Brennan]

Yeah you shouldve bought the full kit with dust extraction kit. It works out much cheaper than buying separately.

The dust extraction kit is said to be aimed at sandinghttp://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/fein-multimaster-dust-extraction/

For cutting it supposedly doesn't work too well.

Another user previously recommended not getting the full kit since the cost of cutters had come down, but having looked into it I think you're right. Lol. Looks like it'll be third time lucky!

 

[Tim Brennan]

I have recently added a pig tail to mine so it now accepts a plug it cord. Makes life easier as it travels in its own systainer with all my festool gear.

Regards
Leigh

Did you use this kit to convert your mm?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Festool-Plug-Conversion-Kit-UBS-PUR-360-plug-240-V-491144-/160808962933

 

[leakyroof]

Yeah you shouldve bought the full kit with dust extraction kit. It works out much cheaper than buying separately.

The dust extraction kit is said to be aimed at sanding http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/fein-multimaster-dust-extraction/

For cutting it supposedly doesn't work too well.

Another user previously recommended not getting the full kit since the cost of cutters had come down, but having looked into it I think you're right. Lol. Looks like it'll be third time lucky!

  Compared to the metal and wood cutting blades, the Grout Cutters are closer to the suction end of the DC system on the Fein MM, so you get a fair amount of grout/dust pulled in since the Grout blades aren't sticking way out in front.
If your kit doesn't have the DC kit, you can probably add it easily in the future.

 

[stevewestern]

I use the Saxton blades as well as Shark blades ( http://www.sharkblades.co.uk/ ) and both are pretty good though I agree that they seem not to last like the Fein ones, but given the relative cost here in the UK I will stick with Saxton or Shark !

My Fein MM came without the dust extraction kit but I do think that there are times when it would be good to have - can anyone point me towards where to get one but without all the abrasive bits that I'll never use in the UK or at least without too much by way of postage costs ?
My R090 does all the detail sanding I need !
Thanks just in case !

 

[Paul G]

Tim, haven't used my MM for grout but I'd probably just lay my vac hose near the cut next to the blade and get busy. As for the shortcomings of the tool, for me it's the sanding, but I bought it mainly for cutting and it's been a champ. Imperial blades have served me well, no idea if they are available over there though. Absent those I'd be happy with the original blades as well, just a bit more costly.

 

[fdengel]

I , along with others here, have wondered outloud to Festool on how they'd design a Profile Sander like either of the two I've mentioned if they though the market would support the tool.

How would this be different from the LS 130?

 

[Paul G]

Tim, regarding dust, I was cutting into drywall yesterday and used the MM holding the shopvac hose near the blade, here's the extent of the missed bits for two cuts floor to ceiling. I'd estimate at least 90% capture and no clouds of the fine stuff floating all over. On a horizontal surface it would be even better. On verticals the capture is better when cutting down vs up.

 

[leakyroof]

I , along with others here, have wondered outloud to Festool on how they'd design a Profile Sander like either of the two I've mentioned if they though the market would support the tool.

How would this be different from the LS 130?

 The profiles on the LS130 are much larger in size. If you google either the older Porter-Cable sander or the Fein Profiles, you'll see it's more geared to getting into the tiny crevice of a profile you want to sand or clean versus the simple convex or concave radius of the Festool System. Both approaches work for their design limits, and if you wanted linear sanding for moulding, you'd like having both tools to cover all you needs, but the LS130/pad system of Festool is better suited to larger areas.

 

[Tim Brennan]

Great stuff.

I can see it's possible to use the mm in a drill standhttp://www.coastaltool.com/a/fein/drill_support.htm

Anyone tried this?

 

[teocaf]

I prefer the Fein Supercut Construction which I've been using for several years now.  It is indestructible and I use it quite frequently in a lot of tough applications including rehabbing an old home and also in sculptural metalworking.  I've had good luck with Fein blades, of course.  Multiblades are good value also for the price.  Lately I've been using the Imperial blades with very good longevity.  I had a problem with one of the early versions of Imperial blades but they seem to have improved dramatically--their customer service is also superb.  I don't have the dedicated dust collector attachment but I use the Festool vac hose handheld next to the unit.  The small sander pad is very aggressive and useful for metalwork.  I don't throw out any of the old blades because I weld various things to them or sharpen them in odd ways and use them as texturing devices for nonferrous metals such as aluminum and bronze.