Just ordered the Multimaster

[Jim Ledger]

It should arrive tomorrow if previous orders from Jamestown are any indication.

You know what this means, don't you? That's right, the faint beginnings of the return of consumer confidence, and I expect that this purchase will be just the push the Nation...wait...the World, needs to get the ball rolling again.

I did my bit.

Meanwhile...there are some massive crown moldings and deep chunky baseboards in the Summer cottages of the 1% that need some attention, and we'll put this thing through its paces in the next few weeks.

Stay tuned...

[Paul Pless]

Stay tuned...

There must be some boat building/boat repair application that you have in mind. . .

[Jim Ledger]

There must be some boat building/boat repair application that you have in mind. . .

I don't repair boats.

[Paul Pless]

boat restoration use then. . .

[RFNK]

I think you'll be happy with it Jim! You're a careful person and I'm a klutz so please read the following tips in that light - it is the voice of an experienced klutz! If you sand anything with the odd shapes gadget, run the machine at very low speed or the gadget will fly to bits. In any case, this machine sands really well at low speed so I always turn it down to about half speed for sanding anyway. And, the locking mechanism for blades is very convenient but also powerful. Be careful to check the alignment before locking a blade in or you'll break the blade's alignment tabs out, and have to swear a lot as the blades are expensive.

Good luck with the new project!

Rick

[David G]

I got the cordless Milwaukee version about a year ago. I am quite happy to have it. I keep finding new uses for it.

[JimConlin]

I have a ten year old Fein tool and i would not part with it happily.
There's a Ridgid cordless gizmo that has several different heads, including a multi-tool type head. This spring, I got a reconditioned one for use in the boatyard. Was about $60. I have low expectations and it's surpassed them.

Jim, thanks for your confidence in our economy. I can almost feel something trickling down on me now.

[Mrleft8]

So now Bobbys really is the last carpenter w/o a multi tool.......... Well.... Not that you're a carpenter carpenter, Jim.... But.... You know.... What I meant was..... Oh..... Never mind.....

[Bob Adams]

I have a ten year old Fein tool and i would not part with it happily.

Bought mine in 1989. I'm with you!

[Robert Meyer]

I hate to rain on your parade but I've regretted purchasing the Multimaster for the past two years. First of all I bought the inexpensive model that requires you to remove a screw to change each tool. First thing the lousy screws strips using the silly tool required to drive it. Buy lots of replacement screws if you get the inexpensive model. Then I purchased the dust attachment to connect to my Fein vacuum.


This flimsy silly unit is held in place with a plastic snap clip over it's ugly rear end which continually un-clips itself. BTW, the screw in hose connector continually strips itself out of the socket - all of which makes dust collection most frustrating.
When first purchased I had to return the unit when the power switch shorted out on the first try. However, Fein does give your patience a really good workout waiting for a replacement and trying to collect dust. Did I say how much I dislike this thing?

[JimConlin]

So now Bobbys really is the last carpenter w/o a multi tool.......... Well.... Not that you're a carpenter carpenter, Jim.... But.... You know.... What I meant was..... Oh..... Never mind.....

Are you lamenting the passing of the Miss Ridgid Tool calendars?

[john welsford]

I think you'll be happy with it Jim! You're a careful person and I'm a klutz so please read the following tips in that light - it is the voice of an experienced klutz! If you sand anything with the odd shapes gadget, run the machine at very low speed or the gadget will fly to bits. In any case, this machine sands really well at low speed so I always turn it down to about half speed for sanding anyway. And, the locking mechanism for blades is very convenient but also powerful. Be careful to check the alignment before locking a blade in or you'll break the blade's alignment tabs out, and have to swear a lot as the blades are expensive.

Good luck with the new project!

Rick

I'm told that the latest BOSCH tooling fits the FEIN

John Welsford

[David G]

I'm told that the latest BOSCH tooling fits the FEIN

John Welsford

As I recall, that is true. And Bosch offers an adapter to allow the use of their blades and such on any other manufacturer's tool.

One thing I like about my Milwaukee is that they include an adapter that allows all other mfgr's blades and such to be used on the Milwaukee tool. A slightly different approach than Bosch (and some others). So far, I've been able to use blades from Fein, Bosch, Dremel, a couple of independent brands, and even Harbor Freight.

[Breakaway]

The older Fein, which I have, does not have the star mount for blades, and as such, can use generic tools from Horror Freight and others. I believe, but am not sure that there is an adapter for the newer Fein that lets you do the same thing: escape the tyranny of the Fein Blade price.

( A'course if your building the blades into a job for folks with 20,000+ Sq ft summer "cottages", you may not give a hoot

Kevin

[andrewpatrol]

Jim, I hope you have a use for it on the cat boat cos I'm hangin for an update

[McMike]

Thats over the top Mr. Cleek!!!!

[John B]

Multimasters didn't really have a representation here until only a couple a 4 years ago. I looked at them then , specifically for the seam routing tool but enquiries left me with this ludicrous , incredible pricing on the tooling.

Now the market is flooded with knockoffs like the bosch and all sorts of other imitations.

So I'm conflicted , I think the Fein is the quality tool, but they're also incredibly greedy with their tooling prices. What do I buy?... a cheaper tool and tooling that does the same job, or a great tool from the greedy bastards?

[Phil Y]

There's a side to Mr Cleek I hadn't seen before

[Bob Cleek]

Multimasters didn't really have a representation here until only a couple a 4 years ago. I looked at them then , specifically for the seam routing tool but enquiries left me with this ludicrous , incredible pricing on the tooling.

Now the market is flooded with knockoffs like the bosch and all sorts of other imitations.

So I'm conflicted , I think the Fein is the quality tool, but they're also incredibly greedy with their tooling prices. What do I buy?... a cheaper tool and tooling that does the same job, or a great tool from the greedy bastards?

Buy the best machine and then buy the aftermarket off brand attachments. Some attachments, like the seam compound reefing tools, can only be obtained from Fein and they've got you there, but they are worth it. As for common attachments like the saws and scrapers, Fein's are also a notch above the competition, but nowhere near worth what they charge for them, IMHO. (Hit a nail working with the plunge cutter in drywall, for instance, and you've just ruined the attachment.) In fact, I think Fein's high priced attachments business model backfired and actually encouraged the explosion of aftermarket attachments. If you google "Fein attachments" you'll find all sorts of small outfits making custom Fein Multimaster attachments these days.

Unless you have severe power access limitations, I would encourage buying the corded model. Battery powered tools aren't ever all that good, unless you can't find a power outlet.

[John B]

I think Fein's high priced attachments business model backfired

Thats exactly what I concluded. Infiltrated by Bastards International.

[bobbys]

So now Bobbys really is the last carpenter w/o a multi tool.......... Well.... Not that you're a carpenter carpenter, Jim.... But.... You know.... What I meant was..... Oh..... Never mind.....

.

I feel bad but i do have a 70s Ridged calendar in the shop.....

[bobbys]

There's a side to Mr Cleek I hadn't seen before

.

Saw him once having lunch with Rodney Dangerfield!

[bobbys]

I think you'll be happy with it Jim! You're a careful person and I'm a klutz so please read the following tips in that light - it is the voice of an experienced klutz! If you sand anything with the odd shapes gadget, run the machine at very low speed or the gadget will fly to bits. In any case, this machine sands really well at low speed so I always turn it down to about half speed for sanding anyway. And, the locking mechanism for blades is very convenient but also powerful. Be careful to check the alignment before locking a blade in or you'll break the blade's alignment tabs out, and have to swear a lot as the blades are expensive.

Good luck with the new project!

Rick

.

Good tip.

When i get a new tool i put it on High and never look back.

[John B]

I think Rick is a rennaisance man... probly even does the whole RTFM thing too.

Just like you Bobby!

[RFNK]

Well, if that acronym has anything to do with reading manuals, then you're dead wrong; especially in regard to the specific manual you seem to be referring to. You have to trust me when I say I'm not boasting but I seem to have a special, natural ability in that regard!

Rick

PS I wouldn't have bought the Fein for the price charged in Oz. I was lucky to find them being brought into Vietnam at about half-price while I was there, so I grabbed one. Happy that I did!

[Jim Ledger]

Thanks you all for the replies.

My intention is to use this tool for cabinet installation and remodel work. The sanding feature is secondary, but useful.

The ability to plunge cut into solid material is an advantage that can't be overstated. Being able to do something like cut an outlet opening into a cabinet back without pulling the whole thing off the wall can give you a real edge in planning an installation.

Moldings and trim are always having to be cut back out of the way of new work. The less they have to be disturbed the better. Removing a molding and cutting it makes, at best, a patch and putty and repaint job for somebody. Often it's not an option, as when old moldings have thick paint that makes intact removal just about impossible.

I see from other threads that some hold the opinion that this kind of work can be done with a saw and chisel. Maybe it can, if time is no object. Spend fifteen minutes on your knees trying to cut a big baseboard with a hammer and chisel while your client watches your back, and tell me how you feel. Looking competent matters a lot and appearing to sweat and struggle can quickly destroy your carefully crafted image.

Here are a couple of test holes in plywood, similar to what an outlet cut-out would be in a cabinet back. Each one less than a minute. The cuts are less than precise, but are well within reason for this type of work. Although a jigsaw could have done these had they been too close to a corner, or had an obstruction behind, the that option would be out. Hammer and chisel...not fun.

[johnno]

My only issue was a slightly too firm on/off switch after a little bit of use. I did try a bit of compressed air to fix it, which it did a little, but then I tried WD40 worked very nicely and it has stayed easy to switch on and off ever since. I too mainly use mine for renovation work on the house, but it found a little work on the boat too.

[Bob Cleek]

Thats over the top Mr. Cleek!!!!

Musta been. It just evaporated inexplcably. No PM from Scott and I'm posting this, so I guess it was a "close call" and I dodged a bullet.

Heck, they advertise that stuff on my local TV stations these days. I didn't think it was THAT far over the top!

[Bob Cleek]

There's a side to Mr Cleek I hadn't seen before

And apparently, (see post above) never to be seen again.

Wonder why the Rigid tool girl made it past the censors. Looks like favoritism to me.

The next time anybody posts a thread about lubricants in here, I ain't sayin' nuttin'!

[Bob Adams]

Cleek....hows about my favorite SCREW LUBRICANT!

[Bob Cleek]

Cleek....hows about my favorite SCREW LUBRICANT!

I've heard of thread drift, but "thread slip?"