Oscillating Multi-Tool - Bosch or Fein

bigfella

Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2015
Messages
23
Hi Guys,

I am in the market for a oscillating tool. I don't envisage I will use this a lot so reluctant to drop $850+ on the Vecturo.

Currently looking at the Fein FMM350QSL ($399) or the Bosch 300 SCE ($310).

Fein seems a bit better build, but the Bosch is still a solid unit.

Appreciate any advice.

 
The 350qsl is like an old Cadillac with air ride suspension, very smooth.  Which may be lost on you being from down under.

It's a smooth machine and coming from the inventor of the multi tool has the provenance.  Vecturo only makes sense if you can really use the plunge base , otherwise it's overpriced.

I have a Bosch cordless too, which is great as long as it's not rode hard. 
 
Hi Big Fella

I was looking at both brands and different models but because I'm doing a lot of home renovation work I got the GOP 55-30. Similar to the 300 but more powerful.

I read a lot about the 2 different brands and the models.
My cutter has the Starlock interface compared to the older (OIS) standard. I never used a multicutter before so I kept that in mind and purchased the Starlock.

I highly recommend the tooless blade setup - I just looked at the 300 spec page. It makes life so much easier, I couldnt imagine using a tool to change blades.

I cant speak for the OIS blades that come with the 300 but I'm very happy with the Starlock blades. Ive cut through Hardwood timber framing with nails with surprising ease as well as tiles, concrete and soft stuff like grout, silicone etc. Choose your blades according to your usage. I'm so glad I did as it made the jobs easy.

HTH
Jas

The 300 kit is good value as it gives you enough blades to get started. I purely went on price.

I have been happy with it and has done a multitude of tasks.
 
Honestly...the Dewalt 20v cordless is awesome! I also have a pre-starlock Bosch that is great but 90% tye Dewalt is my go to.

Sent from my SM-T310 using Tapatalk

 
Good point re Starlock... Leaning towards the Fein. It seems to have a great range of accessories, etc.

 
I have a Fein Multimaster and an older Bosch, I prefer the Fein with the Quick release adapter over the Bosch for using in the workshop.
  Have you checked out the various cordless versions, IMO more useful around the house or on site doing Reno work. I also have the Dewalt 20v max and that's now the Multitool I use mostly, especially like the variable speed via the paddle switch.
 
I would buy the Fein.  Fein has been in the business of building this type of tool longer than any other tool company.  They truly have mastered it over the years.  We own four of them.  From the first model made to the current model.  I have tried other brands but nothing compares to the Fein.  I do like the Bosch Star Lock Blades that fit the Fein as well. 
 
I have the Multimaster, a corded Supercut and the 18v cordless, (thanks Toolnut ).  Would not trade for any amount of money.
 
For me these tools need to be cordless. Same with jigsaws nowadays really.

You get good runtime out of them and setting up cables for a minute job just winds me up.
 
cord / cordless really depends on what you're going to cut. 

For one piece of skirting or baseboard or toekick , the corded versions will be a real pain.

But if you're cleaning out a bathroom's worth of grout lines or cutting in flush floor registers in oak floors - the battery models aren't going to cut it so to speak.
 
Don't forget that the Vecturo is a rebranded Supercut, not a MultiMaster. Unfortunately it's a rebranded version of the last model, not the latest, so it doesn't have the Starlock blade mounting. I was kind of miffed when the Starlock system came out within a few months of buying the Vecturo, and I might have gone for the Fein if I had been in the market a bit later. I bought an adaptor for it, so I can use the blades, but I feel bad when the other kids show off how fast they can change blades while I'm still messing with the adaptor.

But, let me tell you how I ended up with the Vecturo. It might help you make your own decision if I share my thought processes.

One of the things I do for a living is hardwood floor repair. I bought the MultiMaster a few years ago for that purpose (as well as for all-around use, of course). I found it was a bit underpowered the for the kind of work I do. It could do the job, but it the motor got alarmingly hot, as did the blades sometimes. So, my choice was to slow down, which wasn't appealing since I spend more than enough time on my knees cutting 100-year old oak as it is. So, for the sake of my knees and my beer-drinking time I decided to get the Supercut. At that point there really wasn't any other choice. The Supercut is in a class by itself. Festool came out with the Vecturo while I was mulling over which package to buy. In the end I went for the Vecturo over the Supercut because (1) it came in a bigger Systainer, which would give me more room for accessories. (2) It has a Plug-It cord, which is a real time-saver for me. The Festool plunge accessory was also very appealing. It looked like it would make my job easier, and it has. So, I decided to go for the set version rather than the basic. Now, the plunge base fits on the Supercut, but you obviously don't get the bundle price. So, adding up the savings on the accessories and larger Systainer, the Vecturo actually worked out to be a bit less expensive.

So, I guess it boils down to do you need the extra power and the accessories? Is a Systainer important to you? Is the Plug-It cord important to you?

Oh, and another point. Both the MultiMaster and the Supercut/Vecturo have sanding accessories with dust extraction available. I know that sounds like heresy in present company, but it has pulled my bacon out of the fire a couple of times when I didn't think to bring any of my Festool sanders to a job. The triangular sanding pads make great detail sanders and you can also cut them into narrow shapes for getting into tight places. Assuming that Fein makes sanding attachments available with StarLock you'll obviously be able to use them on the Bosch, too. I don't know about dust extraction for the Bosch.
 
I still very much enjoy the Supercut, the pre Starlock version. The Vecturo/Supercut is still a great machine. Mine is corded though.

I did use a Bosch 18V but the battery would rattle loose  [eek] so did not keep it. Got me the 12V Fein - but thought it was a bit weak coming from the Supercut.

I still have the Supercut but got me a Metabo 18V multicutter and it works pretty well. Not as refined, but it is a good machine. Just like Antss says: for the most part cordless is the way to do it - those pesky little awkward tasks in confined spaces (tomorrow I will be crawling and cutting out _under_ a decking...) but for some tasks corded is nice to have.

For me the Supercut is the golden standard, haven't tried out the new one yet, I am in no rush though. Won't fix what ain't broken. A 18V Vecturo would be sweet though.
 
I keep the 18v Supercut in my van and the corded in the shop.  Both are fantastic tools...I put an attic lids on the systainers to store my blades...HANDY.
 
i did a quick conversion, it looks like bosch is similar power rating to supercut, is this accurate?
 
No.

The supercut is 35% more powerful than the 300sce that bigfella asked about.
 
Back
Top