Multi Tool

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fshenkin94

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Nov 2, 2005
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136
Location
Westerville, ohio.
Does anyone have any experience with the Fein, Dremel, Rockwell, or Harbor Freight multi tools? I have a couple of small projects coming up that I could use one of these for and am not sure which one to get. I know the fein is top of the line, but am wondering how the others hold up and how they compare power wise.
 
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I know a lot of people have bought the Harbor Freight one. I don't know if the Fein is really worth what they charge for it. I am thinking of going with the Dremel myself but I may go the route of the Harbor Freight if I can't afford it.
 
I went with the Fein, and have never looked back. I needed one that I could count on and heard the HF tool was a cheap import that was prone to breakage. I considered the price, but spent the $399 and have been a happy camper with no downtime and a fast working tool!

Kevin
 
I have the Fein, bought it used off of Craig's list and it is a GREAT tool. My hand never tires using it and it will cut through anything. Worth the money for sure. Check out Craig's list.
 
I have used or played with the Fein, Rockwell, Dremel, Craftsman and HF models. I tested out the HF model in the store and broke it. The store staff was not happy at all. My neighbor got the Rockwell for a birthday gift and broke it after a weekend of use. The Rockwell was RMA'd and the next weekend the replacement was broken. He now has a Fein and it works flawlessly. I played with the Craftsman in the store and it was total crap. I understand that tools in the store take abuse but seriously, that thing is junk. I have not heard of or used a decent Dremel anything in years.

I have a Fein Multimaster Top and love the thing. It is ridiculously versatile and is always ready to go. The only problem I have with it is the cost of the blades. Then again if you pay attention to what you are doing then the blades will last you a long while. I have had mine a little over a year and it works great for me. Also the local Woodcraft has had one on display for customers to test drive for a few years now. That thing has been abused, dropped, and run through the ringer, but it still keeps chugging along. I have talked to several contractors in my neighborhood (new house area and they are still building on my street) and several of them rave over the Multimaster.
 
I have the Fein and wouldn't trade it for any of the others--been used pretty hard and still going strong. Have a friend who bought the HF one and it is pretty useless.

John
 
I've used a Fein for 6+ years and still works like a charm. Only negative is Fein replacement blades were pricey but maybe they've come down with other manufacturers in the market.
 
I have a dremel myself and love it. However, if I was doing contract work, a Fein would be the only thing I buy. I use the "rule of use" (I think I just made that up, at least the phrase), if you're going to use a particular tool a lot, don't skimp on quality. If your a weekend warrior a reputable name brand will usually suffice. If you think you might only use the tool once, go with a cheap knockoff, that way you'll be more likely to know where the receipt is when return it to get your money back!
 
I have had a Fein for 9 years, since 2000, I think (I get my 1996 and 2000 stateside projects mixed up - as to what I did and when). I purchased it for remodeling a bathroom with tile. My mom did not want dust flying everywhere and I hated Rotozip, sawzall type of blades on a jig saw, and other tools that created dust flying everywhere.

The Fein MultiMaster does cut down on the dust and it really creates super fine, straight and accurate cuts and routs as compared to other tool types. IF dust is a concern, this type of tool is a must. At around $250 for my Fein set, it was WELL worth it. It also cuts in tight spot areas that most other tools can't reach.

Another benefit: in 2001, I broke my wrist broke in two places and also dislocated it - a week before coming back to Japan. The doctor set it without having to operate, and placed it in a cast. I packed the Fein in my suitcase (3 weeks prior to 9/11) and came back. 8 weeks later, I removed the cast with the Fein! :biggrin: Later, I sent it back to the States.

In 2005/06, I was back in the States for 11 months and used the Fein for placements of outlets without dust flying around. IF there is one tool that LOML appreciates me using, it is the Fein MM. She knows that dust will be at the minimum, and she has numerous dust allergies. I like it because of the precision of cuts, the fineness of sanding. I have the PorterCable sander set which looks like it will do the same, but it is junk as a detail sander as compared to the Fein.

Was the Fein worth the original $250 - Absolutely and never looked back! Of course there were no other tools of that type available at that time. Fein tightly controlled the patent. I have the Fein but looked seriously at the HF last spring to bring back to Japan. I passed since I only had 18 months left over here. Still, I could have used it and I probably will try one when I get back to the States just to have one tool in the house and one tool in the shop. I will use the HF one for when I go help others! :wink:

Just my not so humble opinion.
 
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I have a Sears battery one and also the HF. Bottom line is how often will you use it. Both of mine have worked well, and I even trim my palm trees with them. Great one hand operation on a high ladder. HF is less than 10% of the best on the market. If you need the best, then get that.
Steve
 
I have the HF one and love it! I have put a lot of use into it in the last 2 months, and it hasn't had any issues. Also, it's fairly heavy and hasn't broken from multiple drops. I think it's actually a really good tool for the $ (about $35).

I've seen the Dremel version, and it feels like a cheap piece of garbage. I've also looked at the Bosch cordless version, and it's nice. However, reviews have said it drains batteries too quickly.

The Rockwell version is probably what I'll get after I finally destroy my HF unit. The nicer model has VS, and even has a decent dust collection system (not that this tool generates much dust).

I'm sure the original Fein is great, but not for that price!

Here's another thread from another website I go to where this tool is discussed a lot. You'll find some differing opinions than what's on here.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=47502&highlight=multifunction
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=43616&highlight=multifunction
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=45685&highlight=multifunction

EDIT: I just read the article, and it's obvious the writer has a huge bias.... Also, the writer's incorrect as well. The HF multi-tool went through a change a couple of months ago that updated the spindle to add the indexing pins they thought were missing from the tool. This was because there was apparently a patent dispute about that particular detail, and one version of the tool had the pins omitted. They're on there now, and the review done in December should have had an updated version of the tool by then.

Also, the writer says that the HF tool works well, but the blades stink... He takes the time to note that you can use another tool's blades in the tool, but there's no reason to do that. YET- as the writer states, "It's all about the accessories". So buy better blades and use them in the HF tool, and you have a tool that works well for a fraction of the cost of even the middle-of-the-road oscillating tools... Seems like a no-brainer to me.
 
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I played with the Fein version at woodcraft and the star shaped blade attachment area was worn down so that the blades barely would remain securely attached and just spin around once the "star" was completely chewed up.

I thought that for the crazy price they were asking they could have come up with a stouter attachment system or maybe hardened the "star".

I've also checked out the harbor freight and rockwell versions and I wouldn't own either of them. I've heard that Ridgid and a few others are supposed to come out with their version in the new year, but we shall see since the patent expired almost a year ago.
 
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