Fein MultiMaster vs Rockwell Sonicrafter
johnjingles
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
I need to purchase either one this weekend – does anyone have any comments on either tool?
Thanks for your time.
Replies
Because you say "need" you must have the info on the multimaster that makes it the cats pajamas for remodeling. That's what I have and know nothing about the Rockwell.
Merry Christmas
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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Edited 12/25/2008 9:37 pm ET by calvin
I haven't used either one but if you search on this board, you will find a lot of info on the Fein, the Rockwell, as well as the Bosch and the Dremel.
There is a huge price difference between the cheapest unit (Dremel) and the most expensive (Fein). Also look at blade costs and availability. The Fein blades are outrageously expensive.
Based on my budget and the amount of times I'll actually use it, I have settled on the Rockwell and had put it on my Christmas wish list...but no Sonicrafter under the tree I'm afraid.
Unfortunately there are not too many Canadian suppliers. The only retail store that carries it in Canada is Home Hardware and they were on back order. Luckily for me, it's now on my birthday wish list for January and the shipments are coming in during the next week.
I think Fein will be forced to lower thier price on the Mutimaster. they had it patented on it for many years. Not that it ran out there is competition from Bosch/Demel and Rockwell. Im sure other companies wil come out with something similar soon. The Dremel and Bosch seem well made and much cheaper blades. Im not convienced that the Fein is better because its more expensive, its just the company had a monoply for many years on its product.
I will say hands down that the Fein is a heftier more durable tool.
You just have to figure in the blade cost for each job.
I bought a variety of blades from the internet and I have gone through the 6 wood cutting blades pretty quickly.
For the last 2 weeks I have been replacing rotted sills over 12' long on several window bays.This tool is a dream come true for this kind of work.
I will worn people that extensive use will agrivate tendinitus in your elbow.
I have yet to see the Rockwell version, but the tooless blade changing on the fein is a great asset not found on the others.
ANDYSZ2
WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Get the Fein, hands down. Yes, the Fein branded blades are very expensive, but they are also very high quality. Like the tool itself, you get what you pay for. There are also aftermarket blades available at about half the cost of the Fein blades. The Dremel and Bosch blades will also fit.
I think you would be very hard pressed to find anyone who owns the Fein Multimaster that regretted buying it over the cheaper 'clones'. I love mine and would never have anything else.
I am not too impressed with the quality of Fein blades. I used the wood tooth blade for some cutting of oak and it knocked all the teeth off. Fein initially gave me a hard time about replacing it (via my local hardware supplier). I couldn't believe that withy all the money they charge for simnple blades and whatnot, they would even be such jerks about their product standing up.
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I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
Pete-Which blade was it, exactly?
FYI - as of Sunday night anyways... Amazon had the 2 1/2" E-cut blades in a 10 pack for $137 or so.Never seen em anywhere close to $13 each, even in quantities.JT
this one...
View Image
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I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
Hi, Pete-
Frankly, I've had the same thing happen to me with the blades having bigger, longer teeth- breaking or bending. I think one of Fein's really weak areas is their lack (or obscurity) of information regarding blade product information and application guidelines. It's amazing how far you have to dig to even get a glimpse of what all is available and how to use it!
For hardwood, I think that I have had better luck with with the smaller tooth design, like this:View Image
I had this problem with that blade. I later found out that I needed to move the blade in such a way as to clear out the sawdust. This varies depending on what you are cutting. Since I ruined that first blade, I have been able to use the next one on numerous jobs and it is still working like new.
Generally, I move the blade side to side in a way that pulls the sawdust off of the edge of the cut. If you are doing a plunge cut, go slowly and angle the blade left and right to push out sawdust. You can figure it out while you are cutting.
I think the compressed sawdust was getting hot and ruining the heat treatment on the blades. At that point, pushing hard on the blade was breaking off one tooth at a time.
Also, the Harbor Freight MM version looks like a pretty good deal.
Thanks. The more experience we share on this the better we'll get at using this tool. Fein certainly isn't much help.
Check out this for better prices on the blades, also bosch ones will fit too.http://forums.jlconline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42120&highlight=Multiblades
I can't seem to figure out how that website works, maybe they're not done building it. But I have ordered blades from these guys and I've been very happy with them.
http://multiblades.com/index.html
My decision - I picked up the Fein MultiMaster. So far so good. I practiced with it this weekend. I used the E-cut blade that came with it to cut thru molding clamped to the workbench. Read the manual (short read), installed the blade, turned it on, reved it up to high (recommended) and the blade came loose - rattled right off the machine. I obviously did not tighten in down correctly. Reattached it and tightened the blade much tighter and everything worked perfect. So I am excited I have it and look forward to using it.
My complaint: I am not sure why the blade alignment "star" is so shallow - the imprints of the "star" which lines up to the imprints on the blades are so so shallow - why aren't they thicker to provide a beefier hold?
Anyway looking forward to using the tool.
Even though it's late for the op, has anyone used the rockwell?