Dremel introduces Oscillating Tool

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Looks like Dremel is trying to compete with the Fein Multimaster.

http://mdm.boschwebservices.com/MDMCache/t06/0000003/r03345v21.jpg

[JBreeze]

About $100 US

http://www.dremelstore.us/multi-max.html

[Captain Blight]

Bosch just came out with one too.

[JimConlin]

I had an earlier Bosch detail sander and i agreed with the opinion that it was more useful as a sex aid.

[Bob Cleek]

Okay... this is power tool marketing 101. As soon as anybody comes out with a new power tool, all the other "monkey see - monkey do" manufacturers will bring out their own versions of the same thing. Usually, the original is the best and stays that way. The moral of the story is that the value of the tool isn't in the material to build it, nor in the design, but rather simply in marketing as many as you can for the profit of it. Which, I guess, is how the economy runs.

Question is, does the Dremel version's attachments, obviously designed to get around Fein's "second generation" "geared" mounting hole patents, allow one to mount them on an old style Fein Multimaster? I'm guessing that hole in the middle ought to be the same size as the hole on the Fein attachments. In fact, it may even be possible with a little file work to make the Dremel mount fit the new Fein "geared hole" attachments.

If so, expect Dremel to sell a lot more attachments than they do motors. Dremel is a fairly good product line, though, for what they are in the lightweight range (they grossly overstate their grinder abilities, though), so maybe the new oscillating number might knock Fein out of the box yet.

Fein has a great product in the Multi-master... but their attachments are an inexcusable rip off price wise and they certainly don't seem to care one wit.

[gregleeber]

I get a little chaffed. I prefer my wax on wax off buffer...