I’m considering buying a Fein Multimaster. What accessories and spare blades should I get?
I’m a general DIYer, with no specific job in mind for the unit, other than some minor kitchen remodeling in the next year or two. But going on our church work trip in a month and thought I should get it for that.
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Replies
Dan, Fein sell two multimaster kits. the RS, and the XL version . tools are the same except that the RS kit comes with sanding pad, sanding paper 5 each 60,80,120,180 grit, scraper blade,e-cut universal blade,carbide rasp,carbide grout blade,HSS segment blade,2 screws,allan wrench and plastic box. XL kit is a metal box and all of the above plus polishing pad and profile sanding kit. there is a dealer look up on the web site to find the closest dealer near you . good luck.
http://www.feinus.com/
Is the XL worth the $100 (list) you pay over the RS? I don't have much need for the profile sander setup, so it looks like all I'd get is the metal case.
Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm but the harm does not interest them. --T.S. Eliot
Dan: Price for the RS kit is $279 and the XL kit is $339. List price of the case is $56, polishing sanding pad is $40, and the profile kit is $63, so for additional $70 dollars your getting a better value , especially the case, will hold more that the plastic box in the RS kit. ben
Yeah, I was looking at list prices -- $326 for the RS vs $436 for the XL.Is the metal case pretty nice? Not too heavy?
Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm but the harm does not interest them. --T.S. Eliot
do you know about the eBay guy that sells blades for about half the price of Fein's?
I can dig out the link if you don't.
********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Yeah, I haven't searched closely, but will keep that in mind.I'm wondering which blades it's good to have spares of, if you don't know what you'll be needing.
Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm but the harm does not interest them. --T.S. Eliot
Dan, I use a Multimaster at least a few times a week for one thing or another. I don't know how I ever got along without it!
Regarding the blades...I have bought the blades from the guy on e-bay and there is nothing wrong with them except they are a very coarse tooth and are not suited for fine work like the e blades are.
For instance, yesterday I was cutting door jambs to retrofit hardwood flooring and his blades worked great. But later on, I was trimming the top and bottom corners off of expensive kitchen cabinets to install custom moldings around the top and bottom of the cabinets and there is absolutely no way I would have touched that job with anything but the fine toothed e blade.
So I don't think you can have enough different kinds of blades for a tool that is so versatile.
The eBay guy sells about 4 different blades (for wood and metal), and those are the handiest to have around. however, there are other blades that can be useful if you are setting up for tile work. they also sell various attachments for profile sanding; these came in the Fein kit that I bought, but for me, they really aren't useful. I know what you mean though; Fein offers a bewildering array of blades, scrapers, rasps etc. And they are so expensive it's hard to justify just loading up the whole collection, on the basis of "just in case."For general remodeling tasks, the four eBay blades will probably cover you for 95% of the uses you will encounter.It is a wickedly handy tool to have in your inventory.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
The ones I made out of an old pull saw worked really well, and can have greater depth of cut.
If you can drill it and file it, it can be a blade.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
I see what you mean...the "e-bay guy" has a lot more blades available than he did the last time I ordered some!
I agree that those would pretty much take care of any situation.
Last I looked, the eBay guy only had about 4 blades. Has he added to the line? It would be nice if added a couple of those half-round blades that cut on the side.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I must say that I'm not impressed with the quality of Fein blades, especially for the outrageous price.
They get dull awful fast just from cutting wood.
I'm working on a system now to tack or braze sections of Milwaukee's torch blades on to old e-blades. I think that would be a very handy blade to have with the Fein.
Humm - that sounds good - maybe like a blade welder on a bandsaw? I sure love Torch blades.
Forrest
blade welder<<<<<<<<<
That's what I was thinking. Should work. Get a patent. Sounds like you could make some money.
I like those Torch blades too, but I don't know how well they would work with the Fein. Usually (with the Fein) you need to go slowly with great precision, and the Japanese style teeth work great for that. Would your technique work with the method Luka was touting sometime back for making Fein blades from a Jap hand saw?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I've looked closely at the Torch blades compared to some others I have for the Fein and I think they would work just Fein ;)
I was thinking of using a technique like McDesign mentioned. I've got all kinds of welding equipment so I'm going to do some experimenting.
I remember reading Lukas idea a while back and I thought it was really good, but with the Torch blade being only about an inch wide, I thought I'd weld it on to a portion of the e-blade to keep about the same length as the original e-blade.
I figure a Torch blade would last about 10 times longer than a Fein blade and then I could just cut it off when it got dull and weld another one back in the same place.
If the blade works out, maybe you should start making them and selling them on eBay.................... I think th guy who handles the Fein knock-offs sells a ton of them.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I like the grout blade. I used it to remove some grout and regrout a tile counter top.
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One came in the kit I bought, but I haven't used it yet. Like you, I have heard from others that it works great.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
It doea work great. I saw the other day another more aggressive looking grout blade. I gotta pick one of those up and a wide wood cutting blade as well. My kit came with a 2" or so wood cutting blade. I want the bigger one
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Stay tuned! I'm leaning toward the torch brazing process because it won't damage the characteristic of either metal and it will be easy to control and replace the blade when it is dull.
I'd just spot it with a MIG, torch braze will anneal the steel if you get it hot enough to melt the filler braze, and then the blade is useless. Unless ya reharden and retemper.
My way of cutting new blades from a pull saw is way faster and easier.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
<My way of cutting new blades from a pull saw is way faster and easier.>
Have you done this yet? Post some pix?
Forrest
Here ya go Forrest.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/find/findRedir.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&mg=3251D317-460A-419A-B5AF-FA542DC52814
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
That's super! I had responded about the reamer, but never pursued your thread. I'm gonna go try that.
Forrest
Worked SUPER and two different toothings came in handy. Not as pretty as those posted at JLC, but I was in a hurry and lazy.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
I saw your method and it's a good idea. My thoughts are that the Torch blade is a much better blade than the pull saw blades and the finished product still utilizes the original Fein blade mount, which is much stronger than trying to bend and drill a pull saw blade.
I figure I could make one in 5 minutes. I agree, there is a fine line between getting the metal too hot and doing damage, but if you use the same process as in band saw brazing, it shouldn't damage the blade.
I was also going to try tacking with the MIG welder.
Heh, it's dark out 16 hours a day here and I've got to tinker with something!
I hope theybdo hold better. Thats to only down fall I have for the tool. The blade does come loose. Maybe this will prevent it.
Buy a adapter..never.... Ill make it work :>)
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I got the paint stirrer and the frappacino maker. Also the little thingy that you put between the mattress and box springs to make a "Magic Fingers". Be good for the church trip.
Forrest
I use it for sanding most of the time. I use the bi metal E blades most of the time just in case there is a nail I dont fry a 30.00 blade. The connection kit between the vac and the multi master is too many parts to keep up with, therfore I don't buy the perforated sanding pads. The rasp blade has been a lifesaver. Coastal Tool has some of the best prices on accessories for the Multimomma
I couldn't get the hook and loop to stay on the finger sander - did you have that problem?
I have pulled the paper off and so came the glued on pad with it. I hav one now setting up in silicone wher I'm trying to glue it back together.
To get back on subject, which blade style am I apt to wear out first, or wreck, then sorely miss?
Dan, Here is the listing for the eBay guy; if you have the four blades he sells, you will be ready for just about any wood cutting task. You need the metal cutting blade mainly for those times when you might have to go through a nail.http://stores.ebay.com/besserklingeI order from this guy all the time, and I can highly recommend both the service and the quality of the blades.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Aside from the four blades listed by the eBay guy, I have also found the half circle blades useful at times. They are, however, only mfg'd by Fein:http://www.feinus.com/multimaster/multimasterblades.htmlThe blade I'm talking about is Part # 6-35-02-113-01-9, and is at the top of the list in the above link.If you skim through the Fein site (above) you might find other job-specific blades that make sense in terms of the jobs you are likely to encounter. However, one of the big problems for me is keeping track of all the different blades. They're not marked, except for the Part #, and it is hard to remember which blade is for what purpose. ********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Being interested in a Fein Multimaster purchase myself, I started a web search. At the Coastal Tool site, there is a warning that Fein is about to change the shape of the mount opening for accessories from circular to star-shaped. This is being done (ostensibly?) for a 40% increase in torque. This changeover will be completed in late 2007. New Fein tools produced after that date will only accept accessories with a star shaped mounting hole. Those possessing "old" Fein tools can buy an adaptor screw to properly mate their old tool to the new accessories.
Is Fein doing this to really increase torque OR are they doing this to disrupt a customer's capability of making his own accessories from that point forward? I am sure that Fein's market in these very expensive accessories is very lucrative!
Also, I came across a reference (can't remember from where) that Fein's patents on their accessories are about to run out and that much less expensive accessories will be on the market shortly.
Purchasing a tool immediately seems to be the best way to go. You will get a tool with the old cylindrical mounting hardware and thus retain your ability to make your own replacement blades etc.
What do you think?
They have already phased out (here) the old style round hole arbor blades. All the ones you can get now are the star shaped arbor. They work with the old style screw/washer mount. More torque? I think they can achieve better blade holding power, more torque, don't know about that.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I can't really answer your question. But I do know that some of the newer Fein blades I have bought have the star shaped hole (which my machine is not equipped for). They work, but you have to torque them down pretty hard, and they still have a tendency to slip some on the arbor.What you say about the patent running out makes sense to me. I can think of no legitimate reason for the star shaped hole, except to make it more difficult (and expensive) for those people making knock-off blades at a steeply reduced price.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I get blades from the ebay guy, too. But those metal cutting blades he has are listed for non-ferrous metals. Do you really cut nails with them?Reason I ask is: I just helped a buddy on a rot job, and he bought a round, flush-cutting, fein brand metal cutting blade. I worked great, but cost 80 bucks...the depth of cut is limited to afound an inch before hitting the flush cutting dome section...it did cut 16d nails. Those ebay blades would cut much deeper, and be much cheeper<G>Funny thing, too, that blade had a new star shaped hole...he had almost stripped out the allen arbor trying to keep it tight on his older (but newr than mine) multi. I'll have to look for the star adaptor, I can see it really help stopping the blade from any inadvertant rotation...which would mean more torque... "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho FREE CAROLE
For nails, it's best to use one of the E blades from Fein, but yes, I have used the Ebay metal blade to cut thru a nail if I had to.do you know if Fein is making a lock nut that will fit the blades with the star shaped hole? Or are the newer machine models going to be designed so you can only use the star blades?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Looks like the new star arbors will only take the star blades. The old arbors will take either, and it looks like there is a star adaptor for the round units. I couldn't find it on the site, though.What do you normally use the ebay metal blade for, if not for nails? "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho FREE CAROLE
I've never had occasion to use the Fein for any metal cutting, so the only thing I've used that blade for is wood when I was sure there was an embedded nail I cound't avoid.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-