Multi-Purpose Tool

[JPF Woodworking]

In a pinch recently I purchased a Porter Cable Muti-Purpose (oscillating) Tool and it has served me quite well. In fact I have begun to wonder how I got by without an oscillating tool for so long. However, the blades for then PC are not easy to find (read: off the shelf),are quite expensive and really don't last very long even when making simple cuts in wood. I was looking at the Imperial blades but I don't think they fit the PC.
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Making a long story I am considering an upgrade to the Fein Multi-Tool but would like to hear some opinions one way or the other. Am I mistaken thinking that Festool does NOT make such a tool? If they do, my decision will be simple....

I apologize if this topic has been bantered about before. I really don't remember a thread centering on these types of tools. But of course I have trouble remembering yesterday never mind months ago....

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Festool does not offer a MultiMaster-like tool.

 

[sheeschen]

I have the Fein - great tool, but I'm not sure it solves any of your issues - the blades are a little hard to find (I know the stores that carry them, but they're not convenient), expensive, and don't last very long.  I'm not familiar with the PC Multi-Purpose or the Imperial blades, so I can't do a direct comparison.  I buy new blades from Multiblades - way cheaper and they seem to hold up well enough for my purposes (which is very occasional use - once a month or so).  They don't list the PC tool explicitly, but maybe one of the other designs fits, too?

Blade life got longer once I learned not to really push it - if cutting down, the weight of the tool is about right, maybe too much.  If going horizontally, I push only enough to make sure the blade is making contact.  Takes forever, though, and the blades still get dull faster than I'd expect.  Hitting a nail, even with a blade meant for metal practically means it's single-use.  I don't use the Fein for sanding, so can't comment on that.

 

[Peter James]

In a pinch recently I purchased a Porter Cable Muti-Purpose (oscillating) Tool and it has served me quite well. In fact I have begun to wonder how I got by without an oscillating tool for so long. However, the blades for then PC are not easy to find (read: off the shelf),are quite expensive and really don't last very long even when making simple cuts in wood. I was looking at the Imperial blades but I don't think they fit the PC.
-
Making a long story I am considering an upgrade to the Fein Multi-Tool but would like to hear some opinions one way or the other. Am I mistaken thinking that Festool does NOT make such a tool? If they do, my decision will be simple....

I apologize if this topic has been bantered about before. I really don't remember a thread centering on these types of tools. But of course I have trouble remembering yesterday never mind months ago....

To the best of my knowledge, you are correct - Imperial Blades currently does not offer blades for the Porter Cable PC250MTK. That being said, they do make an adapter for $7 that allows you to use the MM style (Multimaster style) blades on the Porter Cable tool. We do love Imperial Blades - great price point and made here in the USA. For cutting nail embedded wood, they make the Storm Blades that are titanium coated and do a great job. They've become our best selling blade out of every style. the Fein version is the original and a fantastic tool. Not to take anything away from the Porter Cable, but it's just great. They offer the tool in a soft bag for $199. They're also currently running a father's day promo where they're giving away another five or so blades so that's a tremendous value. I own one myself and I love it - sometimes you just need a tool like this. Either way you choose, as a consumer, there are options in this product category, specifically blades. Hope this helps.

 

[Roseland]

I have the Fein MM and I love it.  There are times when there is no other tool that I know of that will do the job.  It excels cutting in awkward or confined places and the depth stop means you can cut flooring or ceiling without the worry of pipes and wires the other side.

I have no trouble getting blades here (UK) but it might be different for you.  The Fein ones seem to last pretty well.

The only back to back comparison I have was when a plumber was helping me, and he was using his Bosch multitool.  At the end he said he was going to get a Fein too.

Andrew

 

[batmanrobin]

I first purchased the sonicrafter to save some bucks, returned it after 2 weeks and got the multimaster. SC worked ok but night and day to the mm  Superior machine and the new Imperial Titanium blades are very good. Still on the first blade and have done several jobs with it.  High recommendation from me for both!!

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Festool does not offer a MultiMaster-like tool.

I know we've asked for this under another thread (Festool wishlist), BUT, could the DX 93 be modified by someone to have an adapter that would accept the Fein MultiMaster blades?  Would it even make sense to try something like this until Festool POSSIBLY comes out with something?

Opinions and thoughts welcome!

 

[Peter James]

Smart thinking....I like it!

 

[fdengel]

I thought it was said somewhere that Festool doesn't see enough room for improvement in the Fein tool to make it worth coming out with one?  Something like that.

At any rate, I have the Dremel MultiMax and am happy with it for what I use it for.  They are carried at Home Depot and probably everywhere else so blades are relatively easy to find.

Also many of the companies who have come out with these tools have adaptors available to allow their blades to be used on other brands of tools: Dremel has their "Universal Adapter" which allows most of their accessories to be used with many other brands of the tools, including Fein (they don't specifically list Porter-Cable, but they do say "and many others" -- YMMV...)

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Accessories/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=MM300

I also came across a listing for an adapter to fit Dremel MultiMax blades to the Porter-Cable tool, but don't know anything about it except what is listed on the site:

http://multitoolblade.com/porter-cable-oscillating-multi-tool-adapter/porter-cable-adapter.html

 

[semenza]

Festool does not offer a MultiMaster-like tool.

I know we've asked for this under another thread (Festool wishlist), BUT, could the DX 93 be modified by someone to have an adapter that would accept the Fein MultiMaster blades?  Would it even make sense to try something like this until Festool POSSIBLY comes out with something?

Opinions and thoughts welcome!

Isn't the DX93 stroke pattern orbital?  That might mess things up.

Seth