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Oscillating Tool (saw) reviews

CarterKraft

CarterKraft

Red Skull Member
Joined
May 21, 2020
Member Number
892
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4,272
Loc
DFW
I think I need one of these oscillating multi tool type deals. I am doing some reno converting a bedroom to a laundry room and need to remove some 2x4s from a stud wall with out disturbing the other sides drywall/tile etc. and the high speed nature of this type of saw might be perfect for the job.

EVERY manufacturer makes them, they all look about the same.

I have Ryobi and Milwaukee 18v batteries and Milwaukee 12v batteries so I could go cordless if the tool still has good power etc.

I think I want a quick change blade but am not sure if that is a gimic and the blade will constantly come loose and get ruined.

BLADES: Price varies pretty wildly. I am thinking a guy should just order $50 worth on aliexpress and get a lifetime supply of the same shit at the box store for a third the price.
 
Milwaukee 18v.

Quick change isn't a gimmick. The blade won't come loose.
 
as a finishing contractor, i use the hell out of mine. i've used cheap 'disposable' ones as well as expensive ones and honestly havent seen any difference in life span.
here, the blades are stupid expensive in stores so i order bulk of amazon for a quarter of the price.
quick change is the way to go, never had a problem with lose blades
 
Benny said:
Milwaukee 18v.

Quick change isn't a gimmick. The blade won't come loose.
Click to expand...

This is the way I was leaning to go. The price on these things doesn't vary much from the cheapest to the best so It didn't make a ton of sense to get the super cheapo, unless it truly doesn't matter.
 
Use them daily at work.

Employer staryed with the harbor freight $10 versions. With daily use, they’d last a couple months.

After a couple years of that, we convinced them to spend a little more. Have two cordless Dewalts, and a corded Rigid. The oldest Dewalt (about 2 years old) has triggers issues now, it’s full send or nothing. But, other than that, they have been fine.
 
In my experience the middle of the road on blades is best bang for the buck and make sure you are using the right blade for what you are cutting. You can easily ruin a blade in a minute or two by using it improperly or in the wrong material. I haven't noticed a ton of difference between brands but if you go cordless definitely get the 18v the 12v just doesn't have the ass for much more than drywall imo.
 
I'm a Dewalt guy and have all 20/60V stuff. Their multi tool is great. works fine, seems to have longevity, blade doesn't ever come loose and only takes a sec to change.

Someone mentioned getting the blades on Amazon. I need to look into that as they are stupid expensive at home depot.
 
Pocahontas said:
In my experience the middle of the road on blades is best bang for the buck and make sure you are using the right blade for what you are cutting. You can easily ruin a blade in a minute or two by using it improperly or in the wrong material. I haven't noticed a ton of difference between brands but if you go cordless definitely get the 18v the 12v just doesn't have the ass for much more than drywall imo.
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So for what I am doing cutting nails/drywall screws in 2x4 to remove them from a finished wall would the half moon wood/nail blade be the correct blade or just try and get a metal specific blade?
 
blakes said:
I'm a Dewalt guy and have all 20/60V stuff. Their multi tool is great. works fine, seems to have longevity, blade doesn't ever come loose and only takes a sec to change.

Someone mentioned getting the blades on Amazon. I need to look into that as they are stupid expensive at home depot.
Click to expand...

They aren't bad at all on Amazon, they all look like the same blade (looks wise) does anyone have a link to some they have used that are good?
I was going to start with this set and add bulk of the types I like.
 
I have a little 12v Milwaukee oscillating tool without the quick change. Works for what I need it for. I bought a pack of bi-metal blades off e-bay that will cut through nails and stuff... I've ruined a few on plaster walls, but they actually cut quite well and once the teeth wear off I just continue using them in the plaster until I need to go back to a new blade to cut through wood again.
 
CarterKraft said:
So for what I am doing cutting nails/drywall screws in 2x4 to remove them from a finished wall would the half moon wood/nail blade be the correct blade or just try and get a metal specific blade?
Click to expand...

I would get a cheap pack of blades off Amazon, last time I ordered they were 30ish bucks for 5 wood, 5 bimetal and 5 in-between blades. Then I would pick up a metal blade from hd/lowes/ace for the nails(I've had good luck with the Bosch carbide blades). When doing what you are doing I usually try and use a Sawzall to cut through the majority of the wood then use the oscillating tool to run down the drywall on the finished side to cut any nails/screws/adhesive and fishing the cut through the 2x4. I found usually its easiest to work in 2-3 foot increments.
 
I have one of the early dremel corded versions (when Fein's patent first expired) and the Ryobi 18v one. I haven't touched the dremel in years since getting the Ryobi in a kit. (Not sure I would have bought it if it didn't come bundled.)

Good things about the Ryobi:
-Comes with two different reversible blade adapters (4 sides total) that work with just about anyone's blades - most of the earlier ones only worked with the manufacturer's specific blades
-It's actually a Jobmax attachment - you can take the oscillating head off and use and Rigid JobMax attachment on the power base. They have a couple of handy attachments.


In short, if you already have the ryobi batteries, it's a decent tool. It'll definitely get you through a couple remodeling projects. You can probably get it cheaper on ebay or directtools.com.
 
I bought a corded Bosch several years before getting into the M18 club. The Bosch has a bit more power but for a tool that is usually only used for short bursts the M18 does fine. Have not used that Bosch in a few years. Bosch blades seem better than the generic stuff but they all seem too pricey for what you get. Id be anxious to hear if any brand of blades is head and shoulders better than the others.
 
I have several of the cheaper Fien, they last a few years in construction use. One of my guys has the Milwakee M18. Its just as good as the corded.

Don't buy the super cheap blades for finish work.
 
I have one of the original Feins. A lot of power and the blades last along time. The thing has the longest cord of any power tool I own.
 
I have corded deWalt. Works well I went corded so I wouldn’t have to replace the tool in 10 years when batteries change. If I was using it daily I would have went cordless. Amazon for the blades.
 
billybob_81067 said:
I have a little 12v Milwaukee oscillating tool without the quick change. Works for what I need it for. I bought a pack of bi-metal blades off e-bay that will cut through nails and stuff... I've ruined a few on plaster walls, but they actually cut quite well and once the teeth wear off I just continue using them in the plaster until I need to go back to a new blade to cut through wood again.
Click to expand...

They have a 12v fuel multi-tool with quick change. It might be released now, if not very soon. I will be buying one as my old 12v unit got stolen.
 
Benny said:
They have a 12v fuel multi-tool with quick change. It might be released now, if not very soon. I will be buying one as my old 12v unit got stolen.
Click to expand...

The one I have now will probably last me the rest of my life. It is one of those tools that I don't use very often, but is handy when I do have to use it.
 
Against good recommendations I bought the Horror Fright Bauer 3A tool.
Because I am impatient I bought a Carbide Half moon blade for the drywall but found it blows for cutting drywall... The normal plunge blade works much better but I promptly destroyed it on a few nails... My Amazon blades will be here tomorrow so nail cutting can resume then. I bought a extra bi-metal plunge cut blade and it works really well on wood, very happy with the accuracy of that.
I was easily able to cut some blocking in a previously covered over window frame and even a piece with some romex through it with out damaging the wire.

So far the tool seems fine, I went round and round on the saw but in the end I think this one is a decent mix of price vs power/features.

Any RPM or specific suggestions for the nail cutting parts of the job? I got the first nail cut pretty quick but upon moving to the second I could see the blade had flat teeth. I think that failure was a HSS blade and too fast of RPM. I might have to spring for a trick carbide blade for the nail cutting.
 
I've had a Milwaukee M18 version for about 5 yrs. It helped me through a home remodel and a shop build. I find all kinds of stupid uses for it.

I just bought a 10 pack of varying blades from Amazon and I still have a few left. Avoid the 16d nails and they last a lot longer.
 
Fein.
I use the widest wood blade for drywall and plaster. Run it until it's half as long as it was when I put it on, then throw it out. Blades are cheap on a contractor account. I'll have to look at Amazon though.
 
Bggrnchvy said:
I've had a Milwaukee M18 version for about 5 yrs. It helped me through a home remodel and a shop build. I find all kinds of stupid uses for it.

I just bought a 10 pack of varying blades from Amazon and I still have a few left. Avoid the 16d nails and they last a lot longer.
Click to expand...

Those are the ones I need to cut the most haha
 
Benny said:
Milwaukee 18v.

Quick change isn't a gimmick. The blade won't come loose.
Click to expand...

I see you can preorder a brushless version.....for $100 more for the tool....what funny is the whole kit version is only $10 more than the brushed kit..


In most tools I would say go brushless for sure....but for this tool?
 
I've owned 3 of the milwaukee 12v tools and all 3 failed at the power connection to the battery. The contact posts are thin and fatigue over time, eventually breaking off. I was a commercial electrician at the time and used them on a regular basis. They would last a year or less before failure. I switched over to the dewalt version and never looked back. Zero failures after years of abuse and changing blades or blade angle is a snap. Variable speed via the trigger v a dial wheel as an added bonus. Night and day difference between tools.
 
pennsylvaniaboy said:
I see you can preorder a brushless version.....for $100 more for the tool....what funny is the whole kit version is only $10 more than the brushed kit..


In most tools I would say go brushless for sure....but for this tool?
Click to expand...

I saw the fuel version but that is getting way up there in $$ for a home gamer.
I of course could be eating my words and have to buy it in a few years.
 
I bought a standard M18 jigsaw thinking that it is a seldom used tool and didn't need to spend the extra on a Fuel. Then I used a Fuel jigsaw and now hate my standard M18. Will now only buy the latest Fuel tools.
 
ChiScouter said:
I bought a standard M18 jigsaw thinking that it is a seldom used tool and didn't need to spend the extra on a Fuel. Then I used a Fuel jigsaw and now hate my standard M18. Will now only buy the latest Fuel tools.
Click to expand...



yeh, I will admit, if I am buying a new tool, I want the best one their is in that class. Like fuel tools
 
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