I am considering buying a Fein Multimaster. I especially like the fact that it can plunge cut.
I was hoping that I might get some feedback from others here that have used them or own them.
I see that the accessories for them are rather pricey.
Tell me, what are they good for… what are they not so good for? Would you reccommend them as a tool to buy and use?
I saw the series of videos on their website that illustrate the tool being used. Some of the videos looked hokie to me but probably because they were shot while an actor used the tool, not someone that is familiar with it.
I’d love to hear your honest opinions and reccommendations.
Replies
It does so many things well that I can't count that high.
But here are a couple:
It is a sanity saver. So many of the jobs it will do that I used to have to ruin other tools on while taking skin off knuckles and wasting an extra twenty minutes for what is a two minute job with the MM while getting frustrated and cussing and kicking myself ...All that makes the investment in peacefully working along making smooth progress well worthwhile. You can go home with a smile on your face and hug the wife instead of growling like a dog and kicking the flowers...
It is an advertising machine. Once a customer sees you whip out a "specialty tool" that can work magic, they will be impressed and will start that word of mouth advertising going. They get the impression that you area real pro, especially by comparison to the schlock who uses the sharp edge of a broken beer bottle to make his plunge cuts.
Warning though - it will not save much time at first, because you will be standing there just marveling at the tool, mouth agape, or you will be talking with fellow workers about how wonderful it is, or you will be bragging to the customer about how smart you were to have invested in the tool.
Once you have it, you just keep finding new uses
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
So, are saying that you like it? LOL
I know that it works through oscilation... so, does it tend to make your hands numb after prolonged use?
http://www.petedraganic.com/
No numbing. You don't even feel the vibrations because they cycle so fast and short.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Here's another question for you guys....
Is there a substantial difference between the previous model and the current model of the multimaster. I can get the older model for a bit cheaper than the newer one... but want to know if newer is worth the extra bucks.
http://www.petedraganic.com/
use the search Pete. There have been a few threads on it. I only have the one older as I understand it, so I can't compare. Seems like I recall the discussion on the new that it has a better blade attachment situation.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
the new one has a star type blade attchment, the old one a circle, so sometimes the blade could shift if too much pressure or not tight enough.
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter WFR
"But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG
The system that mounts the blades/cutters is new, with splines that hold the blade in position. On mine, only bolt tension hold the blade and it will slip from time to time.
Also looks like one of the newer models might have a tool less blade/cutter/sander change.. I dunno.
I use mine a lot. Especially for tile. It's really easy to undercut jambs with it.
I've used it for a lot of other things too from polishing, to vibrating concrete, to sanding, to usually cutting things in place. Works great for lots of remodeling tasks that would have taken a lot of time and a chisel without it...
I used mine for cutting out the old grout in bathroom tile and it worked like a charm.I also used the profile sander attachment worked great to"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do
not."
- Thomas Jefferson
Any Jackass with a tiny bit of knowledge or some heresay is suddenly an expert.
-seeyou
Can't believe you don't own one.
look up the threads on making your own saw blades
the round blade is nice
I've used it to cut a section of 2x4 in a tight spot, took awhile
used it to cut plaster w/rock lathe
used it to trim a piece of 1/2"x 1/8" x 4' trim
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter WFR
"But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG
My best "gee-whiz" use was to cut post-formed countertop out for a free-standing range in place of a drop-in range. No other tool would have done such a clean, precise job. I just plunged the oscillating blade into the laminate, and cut it clean and square.
Greg
You should know that the MM is not a particularly fast cutting tool. It works on vibration. If the piece you are cutting is not firmly secure, it will vibrate and no cutting will occur. It's a good alternative to cuts you might have to make with a chisel. Things like cutting back a piece of baseboard that is in place or cutting some existing clapboards for a repair. You would not want to use it in place of a toe kick saw for large and multiple cuts unless you have a week to do it. Nails, screws and hard knots make a mess of the blade but you can use another portion of the blade when part of it is toast. It has limited depth ability. One of the most common uses for me is trimming the shims after hanging a door. You need a steady hand to keep it on line and to limit the depth of cut. It will cut an outlet hole in sheetrock pretty fast. Tile repair is another use. With the attachments it can remove grout. The detail sanding attachment isn't very good. It will whack against anything that is adjacent and the straight vibration leaves noticeable sanding marks. It would be OK for some paint prep in tight spots, where a soffit meets the back of a fascia, for example. You have to be very careful when flush cutting since it will often cut into the material you don't want to cut.
It's a high quality tool and you will know it the minute you pick it up. It is specialized and takes a patient and deliberate hand to use it. If you do remodeling, repair and installations, it can be very handy. I hang a lot of doors. I use white cedar shingles for shims. I rip them into 2" strips and crosscut them into 3" - 4" pieces. Trimming the excess is a breeze with the MM as long as the shims are solid. People often imagine it will do things that it won't. Small straight in cuts, it's great for. Trimming the length of a widow jamb that is proud of the drywall, it's not so good for.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Pete buy the damn thing.I t's one of those tools that the more you use it the more you find uses for it..its unlimited..
it's one of those tools that 3 months after you buy it your happy you did.
View Image
Thomas Paine
It took you three months!?Another advantage is that it is bi-partisan;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I found a new use for my MM, the wife has a almost new SS cooktop and spils are a mother to remove. I whipped out the MM with the polishing pad, a little paste polish/cleaner stuff and in about 20 min. or so (didn't say it was quick) the burned on spill was gone. Beats the heck out of scrubbing with a rag and your fingers. Now if I can find a narrow polish pad to get around the back of the burners I will be a happy camper. Still I think it will be a cold day before I ever buy a stainless (what a misnomer) cook top again though. Going to swing my Shucks and see if the rim polishes they have would work any better. Would appreciate any feedback if some one has a better cleaner/polish. Or a sealer that will make it easier to clean.
Thanks
Jim
My wife swears by Sheilashine
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks Piffin, where does she find this product? I see it available via mail order but would be nice if a local dealer carries it.
I think she has to mail order too.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Maas metal polish...the multimaster of polishes! Buy it online - hard to find in stores.
I swung by Shucks last night and picked up a small can of "Mothers" chrome and metal polish. The stuff worked great, cut the burnt on stains right off without noticeable scratching. I used the same stuff about 20 years ago on the Harley I had at the time. Thought I would give it a try. The trouble up here with mail order is the cost will usually be about double by the time you pay the freight.
Thanks for the post.
Jim
pete go to http://www.coastaltool.com for fein mm or for blades used to pay 40-45 bucks each for agressive cut wood blades (plunge/jamb etc cuts), can get 3 pack at coastal for 69 bucks think they have both models, new one avail. in metal box w accessories bought first one 7 yrs ago, best pwer tool i own profile sander also has shaped rubber forms, great for small places their paper is pricey but high quality,long lasting, or place pad down on roll of adhesive paper from porter cable and quick cut to sanding pad shape w a knife
There is also these folks:http://stores.ebay.com/besserklinge
Pete: I'm on my third one . Just buy the kit only 200.00
as you've surmised, buying the tool is the cheap part. Costs of blades will easily eclipse initial cost of motor.
I discarded the original case instead opting for a metal case, makes it easier to store tool and it's really long cord.
What do I use it for, undercutting, cutting into corners, and most recently sanding garage doors in prepping for painting ( I really dunno why I am doing that though!)
The oscillating blade is nice, but it took me 80 bucks to figure out that the oscillation won't clear sawdust, and unless you rock it back and forth manually to facilitate chip clearance, you will plug up the teeth and heat up the blade to the point where it will distort and become useless. Remember that and you will be so much happier.
Good tool, has it's distinct advantages. I cannot think of any other tool which will do a lot of the finer precision tasks it can do.
Good selection of tooling available for it, but I find that even the stocking wholesalers couldn't determine if they could obtain the diamond cutters for it .
So when yer buying it, look at the bundles closely.
And them blades, they are so highly tempered that they will break in the tool box, so take em off when you put it away eh!
good tool, expensive though.
Eric in Cowtown
Pete
I got some bonus money at X-mass, decided to buy the MM because of all the talk on here.
I didnt even use it for 4 or 5 months and now I probably break it out once or twice a week - great tool.
Remodelers will use it more then new construction types but you'll find a use for it.
Doug
They have just come out with a new model BTW.
http://www.fein.de/fein-multimaster/us/en/main/
http://www.coastaltool.com/a/fein/new-multimaster.pdf
The higher cost units have more accessories but are a better value in the long run.
http://www.internationaltool.com/woodworking/tools/feifmm250qtop.html
And in case you did'nt know it, owning one of these is a requirement to become a BT member.
Edited 8/14/2007 11:09 pm ET by reinvent
I didn't realize international tool was even still in business.Not for me after they gave me the business several years ago. They are a great example of how the lowball pricing comes with the worst service and customer satisfaction. Coastal Tools is a great outfit to deal with tho.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Coastal is great to deal with online but, horrible to visit. I went in to buy a few sawzall blades and ended up spending 300 dollars! They have tons of great stuff in the shop... and great service... I didnt even notice my wallet getting lighter! jmmmm
There are two things in this world that I will never ever try, because they are just too "good" I know I will have no defense against their unlimited appeal:
1. Cocaine
2. Fein Multimaster
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Oh, good Lord, no. But I can give him two dollars and an assault rifle.
Awww, c'mon Paul, that one's easy. Just buy yerself a Supercut kit and you won't want either the Multimaster OR the drug. You only need to buy the tool once, right?Bill
On Fri I used mine to cut back some nice oak flooring to slide in the new patio door unit I was installing.
Only had to remove about 3/16" Cut on a line with the circular saw, then cut the rest out to the ends of the opening with the MM.
Perfect.