Festool Multi Tool Reviews

[Boski]

Does anyone on this forum has the Multitool and can provide some feedback?

Is it worth the extra cost to say a standard Dewalt one?

Any particular stand out features that really help in the workflow etc.

Thanks

 

[Crazyraceguy]

The main advantage I see is the plunge guide/depth stop attachment "if" that is something you would use. Otherwise it's hard to beat the good ol' Fein Multimaster.
It seems like a simple tool, where they would all be the same... but in my experience, that's not the case. Some of the cheap one vibrate you more than oscillating the blade. Smoothness matters

 

[Holzhacker]

Buy the Fein or Festool.
I've used some of the cheap ones and as mentioned the vibration and noise suck. Bought the Fein before the Festool version came out so haven't needed to upgrade.

 

[Imemiter]

I've never used the DeWalt but I wish my Vecturo had a variable speed trigger and an LED. The Vecturo is badly in need of a refresh, imo. Yes, it has DC but it's not terribly well thought-out. If Festool ever gets interested in crowd sourcing a better design I have some ideas. 

 

[jonnyrocket]

I have owned a cordless Bosch 12V, dewalt 20V, corded Fein Mulitmaster, and then moved over to the Festool cordless when released.  The corded Fein was such a huge upgrade compared to the dewalt and bosch. The Bosch was nice, but the runtime was terrible and it was underpowered. The dewalt is powerful but the amount of vibration at the handle makes your hand start to go numb in less than a minute and makes it hard to focus on the cut. The festool version really shines because of the accessories.
As mentioned the only real comparison is the fein super cut. But festool wins with the accessories.

 

[rjboch]

The festool multitool is leaps ahead of others that I have used, including Bosch and Dewalt. Originally I purchased for all the accessories, but I quickly realized most were kind of clunky and I stopped using them. However, the actual multitool is perfect with no noticeable vibration, precision, and long battery life.

 

[Cheese]

I originally purchased a metal bodied Fein tool, it worked great but it generated so much heat that I needed thick leather gloves to operate it for more than 15-20 minutes straight.

I traded that in for a Dewalt, Milwaukee and finally a cordless Porter Cable. The PC was the best of the lot, actually it worked quite well.

Then I moved on to a Fein MultiMaster...nothing wrong with that piece of equipment. Dependable, vibration free and powerful.

Finally, I purchased a Festool OS 400, nice piece of kit, very happy with it but just after the purchase, Bosch/Fein started to dick around with the "Starlock"..."Super Starlock"..."Ultra Gigantic Starlock", "Never Been This Big of Starlock" concept. Now, that whole thing was very annoying and still is, the memory persists.

Finally, I decided to purchase an OSC 18...Marketing finally wills out, that hurts because there was nothing inherently wrong with the OS 400 except that they started to obsolete blades which does make a huge difference.

 

[pettyconstruction]

Anything other than a Fein or Festool is a toy.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Boski]

Thanks all for the feedback.

Last question - Will this eat through a 3.2 battery and /or lack power

 

[Cheese]

Last question - Will this eat through a 3.2 battery and /or lack power

My OSC 18 originally came with a 3.1Ah battery, however I usually run it with the newer 4.0Ah battery to get 30% more battery life with no size or weight penalty. If you really needed to, you could also use the 5.2Ah battery but that starts to get heavy & clumsy but it is doable.

[attachimg=1]

 

[surfjungle]

Does anyone on this forum has the Multitool and can provide some feedback?

Is it worth the extra cost to say a standard Dewalt one?

Any particular stand out features that really help in the workflow etc.

Thanks

I'm not a professional and don't do this for a living, just as a hobby. I have the Festool cordless multi-tool and only once used another brand briefly.

I bought the Festool over the Fein because of the accessories of which there are many including a depth stop. I am very happy with it - it's powerful, well built and came with the new Festool 4 AH battery in a Systainer which allows you to stow quite a few other accessories such as blades.

There are more than a few out there that believe the Festool is a Fein in black-and-green clothing such that Festool contracted Fein to make it. From my research, I believe this. It simply shares too many characteristics with the Supercut, now branded the Multimaster 700. The accessories are great but not worth it if you do not use the them. I'd consider going with Starlock over the older mount which many other multi-tools use.

A plumber came to us some years ago and needed to use a multitool - a DeWALT. From memory, I tried it briefly. It was loud, vibrated horribly and had the older mount. If you can afford to be discerning, the only games in town are Fein and Festool. Makita also have an offering which I heard offered some good anti-vibration benefits. That might also be worth a look though I haven't heard much about it.

Whatever you choose, good luck.

 

[squall_line]

I used the OSC18 with the plunge base and dust extraction to cut out openings for new receptacles in my basement a couple of months ago.  I already had the OSC and didn't want to take the time to buy a Makita drywall saw, and it was only two holes.

Most of the mess came from sneaking up on the stud inside the opening after I was done with the OSC.  Otherwise the plunge base with the long blade and the extraction made the process almost enjoyable enough to want to keep installing random boxes throughout the house.

 

[ChuckM]

I've tried the corded Vecturo, and only came to know today that it has been discontinued, and only the cordless version is available. The corded one was worth the investment if one could make good use of it and its accessories.

Not a DIYer, I have had little need for a multi tool, but my neighbor has been singing praises of the Mastercraft Multi tool 2.2 Amp from Canadian Tire, and the Amazon reviews are impressive. He has had his for over 9 years.

After reviewing all the info. available from Google on the various multi tools including Ridgid and DeWalt, I decided to get the more expensive model (2.5Amp) of the Mastercraft ($69.99 Cdn instead of $39.99 Cdn, both on sale at 45% off) because of the larger oscillating angle of 3.2* (vs 1.4*). At the max speed (6), it's loud, but the vibration is minimal. I'll get some EZARC carbide blades if I use it enough. For now, I need to find a project to use it on!

[attachimg=1]

P.S. I could've used the multi tool on this rivet job if I had owned it:
[attachimg=2]

 

[dicktill]

I have a Festool OS 400 EQ and I love it especially with the plunge base. Sometimes if it is working hard, the blade stops oscillating although it seems like the machine still is. Does it have some sort of a clutch, or have I not tightened the blade locking mechanism enough or ?????

TIA, Dick

 

[glass1]

festool cordless rocks. I have the corded fein for things like prolonged detail sanding. Sanding is an overlooked capability of the fein tool.

 

[squall_line]

festool cordless rocks. I have the corded fein for things like prolonged detail sanding. Sanding is an overlooked capability of the fein tool.

The OSC 18 can sand, too.  Any of the Starlock sanding pads can be used.  There was a thread back in 2020 about the Fein sanding pads:https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...o-osc-18-dust-extraction/msg608932/#msg608932

And a video using the Bosch pad:

A little heavier than the RO 90 (3.97 imperial weights OSC 18 with battery vs 3.3 imperial weights for the RO 90), but the shape may be friendlier depending on what you're sanding.

 

[glass1]

prolonged sanding… best done with a corded tool.

 

[ChuckM]

Just came across a project that could make use of the multi tool for the first time:

[attachimg=1]

The tool offers better control than a cutting wheel in a grinder.

 

[PaulMarcel]

I just gutted the interior of my kitchen cabinets to remove the excessively oversized rails and stiles. Perfect job for the Vectro.

The plunge guide for the Vectro is very handy: I made a small desktop riser for my iMac that hid all the wires internally and presented USB/Thunderbolt ports to the front. I used the plunge base to "extract" a drawer front from the front of the cabinet so it would have continuous grain. The drawer was for a little tray that had recesses cut with the Shaper Origin to hold either a wine glass, rocks glass, or Glencairn for those times I have to listen to a company all-hands meeting at 7 am  [eek]

 

[Vondawg]

prolonged sanding… best done with a corded tool.

And several batteries ! Prolonged sanding..I think most will agree..is done corded and isn’t a problem if you’re using dust collection as you should