17438 Multi-Tool Review
This cordless Multi-Tool inclides a built-in dust-collection port and a useful work light
This tool has a lot going for it. It’s cordless, affordable, capable enough to make plunge cuts into 3/4-in. oak flooring without whining, and compatible with Fein replacement blades. It has a built-in dust-collection port and a useful work light, but it’s the only tool in the test without variable-speed control. Perhaps it’s because the Craftsman operates at fewer oscillations per minute than the Bosch model (15,000 vs. 20,000), but the battery lasted a bit longer, averaging 11 minutes when sanding and about 7 minutes when cutting wood or removing grout. Unfortunately, the kit includes only one battery pack, which limits its functionality severely, and the motor heats up during use, sometimes to the point of being uncomfortable. This heat combined with the tool’s mostly plastic construction left me feeling unsure about its long-term durability. Finally, I needed to remove the accessories to put the tool in the case, a pet peeve of mine that tipped the scales enough for me to pass on this model.
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