It seems that everybody who uses the multimaster loves it, but hates the cost of the blades.
Options that i have read include buying knock off blades on Ebay, cutting up old handsaws and finally, waiting until someone else makes a Fein knockoff with cheaper blades (Dremel, Bosch, HF).
I too value the Fein, but the idea of plunging a $75 blade into the abyss of the unknown doesn’t do it for me.
Went to Homer on the weekend and bought a “pro laminate saw” made by Buck Brothers for $15. Managed to make 4 Fein type blades from that one saw. The blade has 16 TPI which as close as i’ve come to matching the Fein’s 18 TPI.
The top of the laminate saw also has a curved portion on top that has saw teeth….i guess for making plunge cuts in floor boards. Managed to turn that portion into another blade ( i don’t know what it is called) that comes with the Fein. Used for cutting panels, i think
So, 5 blades for $15 and about an hour of fiddling. Not bad , i suppose. Should last until the Bosch comes to town.
Toolman 65
Replies
That is a very good idea, I read that in the fhb mag a while back, but still a good idea.
questions:
how exactly did you cut the blade? (grinder? shark with laser on it's head?) How difficult was it to make the star hole the right shape?
to perform this operation you will need:a solid workbench
2x6 block of wood 24" long
quality clamps, min of 2, no spring clamps
angle grinder and/or a bench grinder
jigsaw with a fine tooth metal blade
drill and drill bits
center punch and hammer
safety glassesi started by using my grinder to take the heads off the rivets holding the handle. knock out the rivets using a hammer and a center punch. discard the handle.place the sacrificial piece of 2x6 lumber on the workbench, clamp the blade at both ends so the bench, the 2x6 and the blade become one unit.layout the steel for cutting. i copied the fein blade so, each section is 1 3/4" wide. i laid out the holes centered width wise (about 15/16")and roughly 3/4" in from the back of the blade.mark the center of the holes with a center punch and hammer. Drill a hole slightly over 3/8" in diameter through the blade. the blade MUST be properly clamped when you do this,also,use a sharp drill bit and wear safety goggles.use the jigsaw to enlarge the holes so they fit the fein's pattern. once the holes fit snugly, cut the steel into separate pieces using the jigsaw. use the grinder to clean up any rough edges.fitting the holes was the most tedious part. i only cut a basic crosshair pattern rather than the 8 point star.i originally tried this with a replacement blade for a B&D NAVIGATOR
but i found the TPI was too low to cut properly. the laminate saw i mentioned in my post works much better.toolman65
thanks much. I pick up a saw today (currently $9 at HD) so I'll dig in to this over the weekend.
Use a 10mm drill. Makes a perfect fit, but then, I have the older MM.
shear and a hydraulic bunch...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
shear and a hydraulic bunch...Sounds like a rock band from the seventies. Did they have any songs I might have heard?
indagoddadevida...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
on a thread earlier in the summer, someone posted this website:
http://www.multiblades.com
worth the time to look it up.
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
thanks for the tip. sadly, i didn't see any blades rated to cut metal.....which is what i really want for x-mas.toolman65
Email Al and see what he says about making some metal cutting ones.And I believe that the guy that amkes sells blades on ebay has metal cutting ones..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
sorry about that. Maybe the market will respond soon to your need. I only use it on wood tear outs, etc. good luck."The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
I found a new trick using my MM.
I bought several different blades and was using the japanese style 3 edged blade to cut out a window sill that was in terrible shape.
Normally I relieve some of the sill to slide under the window jams and the plastic guides for the sashes. But I got the bright idea to try and cut the plastic guides with the MM. So I slid the new sill up to the jams and cut away as needed and then slid it further in place and cut again.
It is amazing how thin a slice of the plastic I could cut away without cracking or breaking. Literally paper thin slices.
This is so much better as the water doesn't get trapped and you can lay a bead of caulk on the inside of the guides to keep the water out.
ANDYSZ2
WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Edited 11/27/2008 6:43 am by ANDYSZ2
Edited 11/27/2008 6:44 am by ANDYSZ2
I just installed a built in with a guy in the area who had never use the MM. He was amazed and got angry with me because I did not bring it the second day!! ( I didn't need it any more and he did not ask!) He got one and uses it almost every day. Thanks for the idea with the sill...it makes a lot of sense.“At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.†-President George W. Bush
In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.
did not bring it
Are you kidding me?
In other words, the multimaster is the best path to prosperity.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
okay...I'm stupid. It won't happen again...it goes in with the saw, pouch and tool bucket...every time!!!“At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.†-President George W. Bush
In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.
That's why you bought it.
Course, you aren't subsidizing the other formerly challenged guy.
But then again, you can't expect a well healed conservative to be ready for everything all the time.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Okay, now I'm REALLY hurt!! I said that I didn't need it!! he didn't tell me he was gonna need it...we were driving 1 hour one way and had to pick a choose tools. And you're right, you CAN'T expect a well healed conservative to be ready for everything all the time!! Be he will be next time!! <g>“At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.†-President George W. Bush
In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.
You really should liberal up just a bit.
or join the boyscouts.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
as you wish!! right now I'm off to shape some molding with spanish cedar. Then I'll think about "liberaling up"!!“At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.†-President George W. Bush
In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.
You might get to like it.
If nothing else, it would open up that mind a bit.
Have a wonderful day.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Has anyone made a blade to cut metal like screws or nails?
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
yes......
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Ok quit being so criptic and give me the details?
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
cryptic????
that was a direct answer to a direct question.....
MM makes the blade(s) yur asking for....
or were you asking if there is something available in the aftermarket....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I have used a couple of the metal blades, one by Fein and the other from the Ebay guy. Pitted against nails they both seemed to wimp out and die/dull. Perhaps I was using the wrong speed setting or technique. Fein's application verbiage for this blade, IIRC, seems to have only mentioned thin gauge sheet metal.
I used the bimetal blade and it ground the teeth to nothing flat in 30 seconds.
My question now is has anybody tried to make a hacksaw or recip blade work with their MM to cut something as thick as a 16 penny nail?
uncryptic enough IMERC....
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
No blade like that for "real" metal cutting. You are right-the one that says "metal/wood" on it I've found don't hold up for diddly.
Think of the very short travel of the oscillating movement-I don't know if making one out of a sawzall or hack saw would even work. Be worth a try-maybe the ''AXE" version would be good in that the depth of blade is wider.
I think piffin has mentioned using the Fein metal/wood to cut some nails with success-don't remember him saying anything about it dulling out quickly. I usually don't try to go through once hit. They do hold up better than the original wood only.
I have used the diamond disc to cut through plaster on window returns and believe I continued on to score and sometimes go through the metal lath bead. Finishing the cut by scoring several times with a sharp drywall knife. Didn't tear up the impregnated diamonds too bad.
Be interesting to hear what you find if you make up a blade.
I stopped just yesterday at my tool supplier and asked about the bosch and dremel version and picked up their blade list page. Says all their blades/sand paper and scrapers will fit the multi master 636 (whatever one that is) and bosch/dremel versions. Evidently using the abrasive disc washer along with their blades will hold them tight in the old MM. You clamp the blade thusly=spindle/blade/abrasive disc washer/screw with wide washer on top of that. Usually that abr. washer with star on one side is meant to go with the new star blades on the old MM for better holding power. That washer does work well for that.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Yeah, for siding repairs, I have been getting about a hundred SS siding nails cut with each of Fein's metal/wood blades.I don't just lean on the tool and let it cut straight in. I work the blade back and forth across the nail, and rotate a little after it is halfway in.Yeah, it is slow, but still far easier than any alternative and leaves the clapboard surface smooth and clean without needing a lot of filler repairs. And I don't have to take out as many pieces of siding to repair just one or two.Even their round wood flush cutter blade will eat a lot of nails, but not as well as the metal one. and it does not reach in far enough for the nails in most clapboards. My latest nail cutting was where I am in the process of re[placing a couple of doors. The interior casing is a special stain job that I doubt could be matched back again. so I took off the exterior casing first, then used a slim shim to drive through and tap on just enough to loosen the interior casing so I could slide the cutter in and pop nails
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Calvin-The 636 is the original machine with the 10mm round arbor. Yes, the Bosch and Dremel blades fit the 636.
Well then ken, I guess I'm in bin-ness.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I also have made blades for my MM. Very easy and cost effective. 4 to 5 blades from one inexpensive hand saw blade is a real deal. I had posted this in another thread a while ago. Way to go.
Why are those blades so expensive? I always joke that they're made form leaded crystal.
Great tool, but the blades will eat your margins.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.