Oscillating multi-tool Thread..

[oldbikedavey]

Just acquired one of the better store - brand cheapies , which looks to be a highly adaptable tool indeed.
I've got the thing as an aid to patternmaking for sand - casting of aluminium , and thought of a few variations of the tooling.
Stuck-on bits of Garryflex blocks or Surform blades might have applications, and there are sure to be many others besides .
Any subtle modifications out there ?

 

[voipio]

There are quite a few variations in blade design for a range of applications. Try not to create blades that have high rotational inertia, since this will be translated to vibrational motions in the tool, and make it uncomfortable to use, and encourage development of vibration white finger a.k.a. Raynaud's syndrome.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I put them firmly in the category of "Awful but Indispensable".

There's lots of tasks that are either far easier or only possible with a Oscillating Tool...

But I can't think of a single time I've used one which wasn't deeply unpleasant due to either noise, vibration or both.

An hour with a 300w Oscillating Tool, can make your arms feel like you did a day with a 2400w 9" grinder!

 

[oldbikedavey]

Air saws aren't a whole barrel of laughs either....

 

[addjunkie]

I put them firmly in the category of "Awful but Indispensable".

There's lots of tasks that are either far easier or only possible with a Oscillating Tool...

But I can't think of a single time I've used one which wasn't deeply unpleasant due to either noise, vibration or both.

An hour with a 300w Oscillating Tool, can make your arms feel like you did a day with a 2400w 9" grinder!

Sums them up rather well!

 

[oldbikedavey]

Well , we'll see soon enough.
Didn't cost much, and may serve a subtly evolvable purpose , somehow or another.....

 

[oldbikedavey]

There are quite a few variations in blade design for a range of applications. Try not to create blades that have high rotational inertia, since this will be translated to vibrational motions in the tool, and make it uncomfortable to use, and encourage development of vibration white finger a.k.a. Raynaud's syndrome.

Knocking up flexible abrasive heads for the things might be interesting, using , say , Vinamold and silicon carbide grit..... ?

 

[GRW]

I've got the Screwfix Erbaur one... & have to say I think its a brilliant thing. I always wear ear defenders as they do make a racket, but it's quite meaty, and I can't say vibration has been an issue at all with mine.
When I table saw died, and I hadn't bought my track saw, I found the multitool was pretty good for cutting quite long straight cuts in ply sheets when doing my camper build with a wide Japanese toothed saw bit fitted (there's enough length & width to make it relatively easy to cut along a pencil line without wandering - way, way easier to control than a jigsaw say without a Fence).
I've seen a trick where 2 blades are fitted (one upside-down, the other below it right way up) to enable you to use the tool to make perpendicular "chasing out" type cuts (though not tried it myself yet).

It's so handy & easy to use that often it's my go-to instead of digging out a saw, not to mention its "proper" uses.
Wish I'd got one years ago.

 

[Jasper42]

No tricks, but a get out of jail tool at times. I now have the makita 18v brushless, not used a lot but it definitely has its place when nothing else will get into the space.

 

[jsf55]

I recently bought one and used it too remove the tile grout on a bathroom spruce up, worked well with the fancy carbide? blades and also removing the gluey stuff of the workbench after I'd removed the leather topper

 

[Bornfree]

Until you buy one you're probably thinking they are just a gimmick. After you've bought one you think how did I do these jobs before I had it.

 

[GRW]

Until you buy one you're probably thinking they are just a gimmick. After you've bought one you think how did I do these jobs before I had it.

I used mine to cut through the mastic securing a rooflight into the glassfibre roof of my old campervan to reseal it and stop a leak. I'd done a similar job once before, trying to cut through the really tough mastic with Stanley knives, all sorts of scrapers etc - trying to get the ***** off without damaging it or the gf roof - and it was a horrible protracted job.
I was chuffed when the multitool whizzed through the sealant and I got the rooflight off without damage in minutes.

 

[brightspark]

used a bosch chorded for 6years was well happy with it till i used an 18volt battery dewalt one .100 quid bare but i have a fair few batterys .its the business much more powerfull and handy not having to plug it in . id be lost without it at work

 

[ukracer]

Sums them up rather well!

I have a ferrex version but all it does is buzz when the switch is turned on.

 

[GRW]

I have a ferrex version but all it does is buzz when the switch is turned on.

I had one of those. It was on a stupidly cheap offer & I'd never tried a multitool, so I got one.
It's a pretty bad example if my one is anything to go by. It did enough to show me the potential of a multitool, but that's about it.
I bought a much better one.

 

[addjunkie]

I have a ferrex version but all it does is buzz when the switch is turned on.

Mines a red one brush less. And eats skirting board, decor panels, and have cut a few awkward bolts with it too. Very useful

 

[TEO]

Really ****** me off that the blades are so expensive and barely last a second

 

[brightspark]

Really ****** me off that the blades are so expensive and barely last a second

no there not there peanuts on ebay.under 50 pence a piece 20 for 9 quid

 

[brightspark]

Pardon our interruption...

here there chuck away disposable for price. i do wall chases with them and cut out socket boxes in the plaster all the time with them

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I keeping all the worn blades in a separate box and use these for rough jobs.

The thinner blades with the wider cutting heads can be sharpened and use as a chipping hammer in tight spaces. Surprisingly effective...even on cement.

Not fast...but when there's zero access for a hammer/bolster it did the job!