hammerhead

My local Orange Borg has had the Bosch PS50 for either 99.99 or 109.99 for some time. I wish they would do a corded model in addition to the 12V battery model.

Handyman

Hammerhead After using my HP multi tool and loving it my boss bought the Bosch cordless 12 volt multi tool. Cant tell you the model number of it. What I do like about it is it come with an adapter plate that allows you to use almost any brand blades. The bosch has a row of pins that hold the blade in place. He went to buy the dremel at lowe's but saw they had a bosch cordless. He already has a whole set of bosch tools that take the same battery.
I looked at the one sears sell today and it is about the same size as the dremel, but the sears one has a blade that won't fit any other brand. So I wouldn't buy the sears model. We buy replacement blades at HP because the sheetrock half moon blade is around $5.00. The same blade at Lowe's is almost $19.00

__________________
Collector of Old Tools
Fixer of all things broke
Expert = Drip under pressure

cabinetman

When I bought mine, I figured it would be a fluke if I ever used it. Well last week, I installed a new microwave and had to trim 1/4" off the top of the splash between two upper cabinets (for 30"). It was mica laminate on 3/4" plywood up against a stucco wall. It took about 10 minutes, but was easier to do than any other method. It cut nice and clean up against the cabinets.

I wish I had it recently when I had to notch a baseboard for a toe kick. Easier than a chisel and a hammer. The size of it is OK, fits my hand comfortably. Does get a bit hot.

We should start a Multi-Function Tool club, and have meetings, serve coffee and doughnuts, and each of us could get up and introduce ourselves and tell our unique stories.

woodnthings

And do you have to own one? Can you just gawk without participating? How much are dues? What kind of donuts, cream filled are my favorite? Will others bring their worn out blades? How hot does yours get? What brand is it and how much did it cost and where did you buy it? How long have you had it? heh..heh bill

__________________
If you're not making dust, you're gathering it. After I reread my own posts, I agree with myself even more.

Gene Howe

I don't know if it's relevant or not but, the online manual for the Dremel comes from Bosch web services. Is the Dremel made by Bosch?

scribbles

I am not sure, but i think so. They are verry similar tools.

__________________
http://www.sacramentomillworks.com

hammerhead

I've held both the Bosch and the Dremel. I like the feel of the Bosch. My wife did too; it's narrower and fit her smaller hand well. We usually do remodeling projects together and believe the multi-tool tools could be useful. If Bosch has not come out with a corded model before our next project we may just go with the cordless Bosch.

[We have the Bosch driver (not the impact driver) that uses the same batteries. We love that driver. ]

Handyman - thanks for the info about blades

__________________
A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. - Charles Darwin

renoos08

Lots of functionality for a knife. The file works great in conjunction with the magnesium fire starter. The rough edges of the file scrape more flakes making your fire starting task that much quicker.

__________________

woodnthings

Did you read any of the above posts before you answered?
Are you selling these? If so, it's not allowed.

__________________
If you're not making dust, you're gathering it. After I reread my own posts, I agree with myself even more.

phinds

I bought the Rockwell a couple of months ago and have been very pleased with it, although it does run awfully hot sometimes. They warn about that, particularly at low speeds.

I've played w/ all the attachments and used a couple in projects and they all work very well.

Can't even remember now why I chose it over the Dremel. The HF sounds like a good deal if it lasts for a substantial amount of use.

__________________
phinds
-------------------------------------------
www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/

LarryS

Got to agree whole heartedly here, you get what you pay for. Save Time money and frustration by buying Fein, and when you decide to sell it or hand it down, you can. The other brands are disposable.

Larry

LarryS

Thanks for the information

ga.possum

I agree with glassyeyes. I bought a Fein when they first came out. Great for remodeling and it paid for itself the first job I did with it. BUT!!! the replacement blades are expensive. The average around $35 to $40.00. I can't buy them locally and have to order them. For the price of two replacements, I bought the Dremel from Lowe's. Replacements are cheaper and I can buy them here. Both work great. My last project was refinishing an old dresser I bought at an auction. The sander attachment was great for getting into the tight corner without messing up the old detail work.

wrc.six.eight

Many months ago I posted how the blade on the HF model would spin no matter how much torque I tightened the hex bolt down with. I modded a remedy, but later saw that It uses 2 washers, One having been left out of my Kit. When I use 2 washers without using my modification, the flat washer on top of the conical washer, it no longer spins what so ever.

I have used mine many times, plunge cutting into 2x stock for 12 inch lengths among many other uses. I've loaned it out and had the lender return it to me with trashed blades, and a new set to replace the old. I've abused it, and no doubt he did to. The thing has paid for itself many times over.

I recently had to replace some teak and holly flooring on my dad's boat, and being 2500 miles away from my tools, I bought another HF multitool. They now come in a white box. This model had pins in the foot and corresponding holes in the blades.

I know the other makes are higher quality, but for the money the HF model is more than capable.

AndersonsWoodworks

For those concerned with the blade cost for the Fein, there are aftermarket companies making the blades much cheaper than Fein. Cheapest I have found is $12.99 for a saw blade. I haven't bought any yet but I am willing to give it a try to see how long they will last.

__________________
AndersonsWoodworks.com

Clyde Morgan

When someone on a woodworking site admits to using Harbor Freight tools and liking them, the reaction of his fellow tool junkies can be likened to a French Chef admitting a fondness for White Castle Hamburgers. I have owned a few and looked at several and advise anyone to use their common sense. I would avoid their plunge routers. They have so much slop that their cuts are about as accurate as a ten dollar pistol. I would also avoid their Pittsburgh brand wrench sets, particularly it you are working on an expensive engine and value your nuts and bolts, along with your fingers. I do own their ten amp D handle Drill which I picked up for 35 dollars with a 20% discount coupon from Car and Driver Magazine. For drilling holes with Augur bits through the oak keel of the sailboat I am restoring, nothing anywhere near the price touches it. I also have their variable speed oscillating multitool, purchased for $48.00 with another discount coupon; less than half the price of the comparable Dremel. Their 10 and 12 inch sliding miter saws look like quite a bargain. Though roughly finished and less precise than a Festool, they should suffice for the homeowner building a deck on a one time basis, or at a jobsite where they would likely be pilfered before the job was finished. If dead on accuracy is important, I don't think this type of tool would be the best choice, no matter how expensive

creative novice

hubby bought a corded one right before we started the major reno of my son's newly purchased old farmhouse. we used it so many times it amazed us! we liked it , was great for home handy stuff. alot of applications that made me wonder how we would've done them without it. for the price, for us, it was well worth it. i agree, the body is big and the switch is very tight, takes me two hands to turn it on and off, but for a cheap tool, again, for us, it was very much worth it. we will need to replace some blades next time we go to hf. so, again, imo, if you are in the trade, maybe go with the better tool, but for we home handy's, the hf was a great price. julie

__________________
"I tried it. I liked it. " Julie's 19 month old grandaughter, Feb 2009

Handyman

No doubt the Fein MM is the best tool on the market. Unfortunately it is also the most expensive. Way out of most of our range. If I have the money I would buy one my self. I am 47 and figure I have a good 25 or so years left to do woodworking. I also believe one or two 39.00 Harbor Frieght multi-tools over the next 25 or so years will do the trick. But that's just me.

__________________
Collector of Old Tools
Fixer of all things broke
Expert = Drip under pressure

GJC

Hello all, I did purchase the Craftsman lithium version, $99.00, works great. No problems yet. I have to admit though I was using it to cut some chair rail back for new trim while installing a new patio door and the Hard Oak trim killed the blade. Need a new one after only 2 cuts. thats a bummer. But otherwise...its light and very slick! Greg

__________________
GJC, President/Founder of Quick Belt System
http://www.quickbeltsystem.com

garryswf

The wife bought me the Rockwell Sonic crafter for my birthday a couple of weeks ago, all i can say is "That thing is handier than a caster on a crutch". I have been reworking my work bench in the garage and had to do alittle trimming to get the new end put in, normally i would use any crude method i could figure to perform such a task. The cut to be made was in tight quarters so i grabbed the Rockwell and "WOW" made the cut in about a minute. I give the multi-tool, whatever brand, a 2 . I wonder if a guy coild cut a mortise with one of those things.