I tried the search but, as usual, no luck finding anything useful.
Anyway, I was wondering if there was any plan to do a comparison test among the Multimaster and its various clones/copies either in Fine Homebuilding or elsewhere?
I am in the market for one of these and while I am sure the Fein is the best I can’t justify the cost for a tool I will use sparingly unless it is soooo much better than the others.
So far I have noticed the Fein, the Craftsman, the Dremel, the Rockwell, the Harbor Freight and I am sure some I forgot.
I was wondering about which blades will fit which tools and if I really need more power (higher amps) to do basic cutting/scraping?
Any info/opinions are helpful.
Thanks.
Replies
I bought the HF multimaster, it works pretty good for the 40 bucks I paid for it. The front of the tool gets pretty warm when used for a several minutes.
The bosch blades will fit it. I haven't tried the others.
The bosch looks nice but I would rather have a corded one when grinding out alot of grout to remove wall tile.
Just my two cents.
Webby
See "Tools in Use", p.142 here for a rundown on the current crop of MM/clones
http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/ipaper2.htm
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I read a good bit on this recently. The consensus was pretty much that the HarborFreight one is worth the money. It's not as nice as the Fein but it's a tiny fraction of the cost. You may need to put extra effort in to make sure it doesn't loosen at the blade but those who bought it found it worth the money.
"unless it is soooo much better than the others."
In my opinion, the fein is indeed sooo much better than the others in every way. The question really is do you need this level of quality. If you're not sure, I'd get the HF tool and if you find yourself using it more than you thought (and I'll bet you will) when/if the HF tool breaks you can spring for the Fein.
Hey fingers, do you own a HF? If you don't, trust me I do and I have used the fein. Fein, nice tool, and it should be for the money. The HF is not bad at all. In fack I am buying another. That plus 8 more until I get to feins price.
Only reason I am buying another is because I lost some parts, my fault not the machine.
I have the Fein, haven't used the others. All I can say is that I've used every attachment that came with the kit and have yet to be disappointed. The comparisons are like buying cars from what I've heard, you can buy a German auto that handles and performs flawlessly, or you can buy a lesser version that may give you the same results most of the time.
Now I certainly cannot afford to drive a Benz or bemmer, however I can own a tool that handles like one.
I got the Dremel MM a couple of months ago and it's become one of my "basic load" tools. "Basic load" tools are the ones that always go with me.
It's in the same class as the 9.6v Makita I bought (very reluctantly) in the 80's and within a day was wondering how long this had been legal and why wasn't I informed sooner. - lol
not have'n driven the fein... and guessing I never will... all i can comment on is the HF
like others have posted it's as much of a must have as a cordless drill... maybe more so... it just does things that would be very time consuming without it...
I save time by just reaching for it and doing the work ..knowing exactly what I'll do and how with it... where if i didn't have it.. I'd spend time thinking how... and....getting the 2-6 tools together to do what i can do without thought with the multimaster
the run them on sale for $34 all the time... most blades they run on sale for $5.99 and you can usually find a 20% off coupon...
it's stupid not to own one... I know my first use paid for it several times over...
P
>>>the run them on sale for $34 all the time... most blades they run on sale for $5.99 and you can usually find a 20% off coupon...Sheesh... now you've got me thinking about it, and I don't even have a "project in waiting".
Does HF do business up here?
There is a store on the Renton- Kent border, 3 hours south of you <G>
Let me know if you drive down, I'll buy you a beer - <G>
A very kind offer. I guess I'll have to get my passport renewed which I have been putting off doing.
There's a store in everett. Not far off of I-5.http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/retail_stores.taf?f=detail&Retail_Store_ID=52..It's all fun and games, until someone puts an eye out..You are always welcome at Quittintime
MINI-micro Fest!!!
OK, if I'm in town, and if fingers drives down, I will drive up that 40 miles and buy fingers 2 beers (and Luka a gatoraide or whatever)
Heck, even maybe lunch for all
Who ever said I wuz cheep!
fest..fest...fest...
Luka PS - been so busy I've not answered your e-mail or even looked at my stash of pumps, but sure I have a whole good one . Will be in france this week but will check out the hardware and email when I get back.
If we can get it arranged, you bet I'll be there !=0)I wonder who else we can con into, er, I mean, convince to join us in a mini-fest ?I probably won't be able to afford any tools, but walking around the store and drooling on them, and getting to have lunch with fingers and yourself, is a great excuse for making the drive.=0)..It's all fun and games, until someone puts an eye out..You are always welcome at Quittintime
Slow down a bit. I'm not allowed in! An unintended consequence of everyone tightening up their rules, was that several years ago my government invalidated my birth certificate, which had been based on a handwritten note from a long-dead French Canadian priest. Although I have had several passports, I now can not renew mine without going through a labyrinthine process of getting a new Quebec birth certificate. I'm a threat to your national security. Much as I'd like to meet you guys, right now I can only wave from the border.
Ski across at night.
Oh come on now. Let's be more hospitable than that!We can pick up a dozen MM clones and parachute into Canada.You in? Might have to wear that Rasta Honky getup so you are incognito, though.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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Rasta Honkey would bust through the gate pumping flares at the guards.
Ya gotta be stealthy on the way in baby. Save the flares for the return trip and the 'how do you like me now, sucka?' speech. Drives 'em crazy.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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True. Maybe that's why I got banned from the country last tim I tried to go in.
I smell a trap. Is this some sneaky extraordinary rendition attempt? Let's compromise: David Meiland lives in Friday Harbor. I can see it from here on a clear day. Let's consider his place neutral ground (although it's technically yours won in the Battle of the Pig). I'll send down a duffel bag of our local Island product in return for an equal weight of MM clones. Sound fair?
Dang !..It's all fun and games, until someone puts an eye out..You are always welcome at Quittintime
What I have will work in the meantime.No problem.=0)The leak is getting bigger. And it IS a crack in the body of the pump itself.Still the best pump I've ever had.=0)..It's all fun and games, until someone puts an eye out..You are always welcome at Quittintime
Are you a carpenter or remodelor doint this for a living?
If yes, I did and would advise going for the most expensive thing available-the Multimasteer.
If not, I guess I wouldn't advise, but could assume you'd pick one of the lessor costing clones.
Best of luck.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
There was a tool review in either FHB or JLC in the past year. I tried the Dremel (felt very cheezy and underpowered, like a dremel). And the Rockwell (it looked and felt like something from HF and was not impressed). Can't afford the Fein, so I settled for the Bosch cordless. I don't use it daily, but probably more than once a week. So far, no regrets.
The dremel does feel light and cheep. I've used one quite a bit and its worked great but does get pretty hot fairly easily and don't think I was hard on it. The cheep feel and the heat issue made me think twice.
I've used an older Fein just as much and its real solid built runs like you'd expect and no heat issue, that one has a lot of miles on it too, not in good shape anymore but still functions like you'd expect.
I picked up and handled the Harbor freight in the store, was pleased that it felt solid and not a cheep feeling. Cant comment on use because I chickened out, even though I was sure to buy one, just the solid feel made me think its gotta be worth 40.00. I think Ill man up next time I'm there.
Go for it Danno, you won't be unhappy. Look pontl and I have been singing the virtues for the last year.
I bought the Fein as a rebuilt I think on Amazon. It's the old model so any and all blades will fit it. I use it all the time because of the type of work I do. It performs like you would expect, flawlessly, easily sailing through whatever you bring it up against. It's very well built & solid.
It's the only kind I've ever tried, but I understand the others do well. If you don't think you're going to use it all the time, get the HF or a lesser priced one. If you are going to use it daily, it definitely would pay to get the Fein.
Look for a rebuilt like I got, same tool, same warranty. I think I paid $225 or thereabouts.
if... HF made the only one and there was no fein... if i used it one time and saw what it'd do... I'd pay $225 for the HF one IF it was the only game in town... but @ $40 it's like my subaru forester... I don't think I'd ever buy buy one for it's market value but i got such a great deal on mine and it has done far more than expected for me... that I now have great affection for it..
p
Sounds good to me. I use the damned thing so much I just might pick up a HF as a backup.Not that I'd ever need it...
I can't believe it but I guess the HF sounds like the best deal - This from a guy who swore never to buy a cheap tool again.
I am a D.I.Y.er but pretty advanced - in tools if not always in skill and ever since I bloodied my knuckles rounding off sockets in a cheap imported ratchet wrench set, I tend to buy only the best I can find.
Certain tools I will use only once or twice (toe kick saw comes to mind) but there is nothing worse than buying a cheap tool and then using it so frequently that the better one gets purchased anyway.
I am sure I will find uses for the tool that I never thought of, but I guess for 29.95 I can't go too wrong with the HF to start off with.
Next question - since there is no HF store near me - will other brands of blades fit the HF tool? Or should I stock up via mail order so as not to break the last blade 3" short of finishing the last cut?
Thanks for all of the responses.
I don't know if other blades will fit or not. I don't see why they wouldn't. Maybe Frammer can tell you.Don't rule out cheap tools. As a pro, I almost always buy the top end stuff, but there are many instances where I needed a backup or a throw- away just to get the job done and I bought the homeowner line of B&D or Craftsman or a knock-off brand for a quarter the price of the high end, only to have it last & last for several years. I'm thinking specifically of a hammer drill and a sawzall I once had. They don't run as smoothly, and they may heat up more readily, but they got the job done and that's why I bought it.I don't make a practice of it, but when it's there and I'm in need, I will buy the cheap tool.
I believe the bosch blades fit. Any of them that are circular.
Yeah, I think they have a 3/8" opening.
I waited 15 years, can wait a few more months till the HF ones are $19.95.
Interesting comments on the usefullness and sudden indespensibility from those like me who never would have sprung for a fein.
Have used angle grinders and air orbital sanders for years with a saw blade on them, will be interesting to see haw a MM is better whenever they get to 19.95. HF has had them on sale here all the way down to 24.95 so far (parking lot sale last month, plus you got a free LED flashlight just for showing up. Spent $100 that visit, dont even remember what I bought now, but they were deals?
It is worth the 24.95! Didn't you have a 20% off coupon also?
I was just thinking about this very issue (is the HF multimaster clone worth it), so it's nice to see this discussion. Thought the dremel clone would be a more reasonable compromise between the Fein and the HF clone, but it sounds like the HF version is really not a bad buy after all.
Incidentally, sometimes a cheap tool ends up really shining... I've had pretty good luck with Menards' Tool Shop brand. Had a $40 hammerdrill for five years, worn down a dozen bits, and the drill is still going strong. Also picked up a cheap belt sander that works like a champ too. Of course, I've also had a HF 1/4 sheet sander that I dropped once and broke it instantly (oh well, I'm out $9), and a HF tile snapper that was garbage, so it can really be hit and miss. But when you're a DIYer working around the home, you just can't drop a couple hundred bucks on contractor-grade tools.
Looks like I'll be using one of my HF coupons this weekend and adding a new tool to the inventory!
One point to consider is: How will you carry and store the tool and it's accessories?
With Fein, the engineering doesn't stop at the tool. Their case is the best tool case I've seen since metal cased went the way of the dodo bird. It has two latched compartments for the accesories and manuals.
The Fein also has a pretty long cord - often enough you don't need an extension cord.
When I was in HF I could buy a nice aluminum case for my HF special for around 15 not on sale.
My HF is in a dewalt drill case that has been emptied( drill broke)
Just an FYI (You know, I always say this when the HFMM comes up):You can add infinite speed control by purchasing the router speed contorller for $19 - it works just fine.
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
Add two more clones to the list, both sold by Specialty Diamond on Ebay. I'm just gonna guess they're more Chinese stuff.
VOSS 911Z:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250529673986&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching
HARDIN AZ318-2:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120484405144&_trkparms=tab%3DWatchingView Image
Interesting - that Hardin looked pretty nice
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
Is the HF version everyone's talking about the Chicago Tool one?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=67256To compare that with the Hardin and Voss mentioned earlier on Ebay it looks like there's less power in the HF tool. Has anyone here used the Hardin or Voss? The HF is $40 right now and there's no coupons that I found so I'll take time to look into it a bit more but I think I'll probably go that route when it goes on sale.
My son saw the commercial and told his wife "that is what i want for christmas"
She calles me and tries to explain it. I realize what he wants(I've had one for 6 years) and send her a link to MM. She flips at the price and says "he!! no".(he's buying her jewelry). So after this, I send her the link for this thread and the comparison article. She calls back and say that he better like red...
I told her to start looking at the nailers, grinders, too.
I mean, for his military income and occasional use, harbor Freight is more than fine.
I have a Fein and honestly I dont know that they're the best. First doesnt necessarily mean the best.
I'll tell you this, with Fein, at least you'll pay waaaaay more for blades.
I'm lucky in that I have an older model that accepts Dremel blades. About a third of the cost.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
There are currently cr^ploads of aftermarket blades available for the MM, especially ones for the older MM with the 10mm arbor.View Image
What about the Rockwell? I read the above including the "This is Carpentry article" and the one comment that said the Rockwell felt cheap, but I gotta wonder was that on a test drive, or just picking it up in the store. Hate to say it, but I didn't even know Rockwell still made tools.
A guy let me use his Fein multimaster on the jobsite the other day and it was awesome but there is no way I'm spending the 400 clams or whatever it is.
My immediate job is to cut the bottom of on the casings and jambs of about 20 doors for the flooring guys since they never do it the way I want it done, and again, I can't bring myself to spend $300 on a jamb saw that I'd probably use about every 4 months.
The fact that the HF one has it's blades held in only by friction seems problematic. Also I'm not always easy on tools so cheap tools have not necessarily served me well in the past.
Re the Bosch, I'm not to interested in a tool with a 10 minute runtime which I think is what that web article tested it at.
Not the same Rockwell. See here
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=112224.4'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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I think HF has changed its mandrel now, so it fits the 8 hole bits.The friction fit one I have is pretty beefy, BTW. Only problem is the friction washer is too big for some of the blades from other manufactures.
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
Thanks Paul and budgetless...
I stopped by HF on the way from work and got one. Hope I don't regret it. It was on sale for $34 or $35. I also had a 20% off coupon, but you can't use them on sale items. So I got the tool and included accessories, a cheesy plastic tool box with a metal latch, and some more blades and sandpaper and spend $61. She asked me if I wanted the extra warranty, but I'm gonna take it to work tomorrow and put it to the test - so, we will see. If I break it on the first day I'll let you all know.
BTW - like I said - I used a Fien the other day. Today when I got the HF it struck me how much they had copied the original. Without having the 2 beside each other the HF looked to be the same shape and the switch was nearly identical. I'll bet the performance won't be the same...
well now that we have pulled you to the side of cheap tools............
did i mention i had burned up my first one!! lol
don't worry ,keep your reciept, if it happens walk in and get another new one. i gain a couple blades that way.
if 35 bucks is the most you ever blow on a tool ,you'll be okay. i have a 2500 freon reclaimer that i have used for 2 hours in 15 years.good investment.the older i get ,
the more people tick me off
Regret it? You just strolled on over to HF and bought one for 35 bucks. I guess I'll go to Canadian Tire on the weekend and buy the the Dremel for the $140 they charge. Regret it? Funny guy!
When I buy a tool and it doesn't perform I regret the purchase. Especially when it leaves me high and dry.
I bought a HF button cap stapler. It was DOA and I ended up hand stapling/button capping tarpaper on 5 front porch roofs that had to be done that day due to incoming rain. Not a monumental task but it was some work. Was I a happy customer?
There will be a comparison ot the Fein, Bosch, Dremel and Craftsman in our next issue.Brian P. from FHB
I understood that Bosch made the Craftsman. Why do both?
I know it sounds stupid, but you really should have tested the HF model.
You're right that Craftsman doesn't manufacture their own power tools, and that they are often offshoots of Bosch tools. Bosch may be making the Craftsman oscillating tool, but I'm not sure because it does look different than the Bosch and performed differently as well.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
I just looked at them in Sears. Not too much difference, but you are probably correct. I was just repeating what the Sears salesman told me>G<
Justin, have you at least looked at the HF version?
We haven't looked at the HF version. I understand that from a cost/benefit perspective HF tools may make sense to get a specific job done before petering out, but I just don't think they belong in full head-to-head reviews.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
I can understand the reluctance of FHB to include "homeowner quality" tools in their tool reviews ... but I think this is one time to make an exception.
At 1/10 the cost of the Fein, and with similar feedback in this thread, I think this is one time to include the HF version. That's just too big of a price difference to brush aside.
I can understand the reluctance of FHB to include "homeowner quality" tools in their tool reviews
95% of the mag is aimed at yuppie McMansion owners now so what's the diff?
Joe H
Guys, I have a favor to ask ....
Justin and I have been around this bush several times. While I really, really appreciate your help - it wasn't that long that my simply mentioning HF on this forum resulted in a chorus of jeers - I was happy to leave the issue at asking him nicely to reconsider.
Indeed, it might not be long, and we'll see an article along the lines of "Cheap Import Tools: How Far Thay've Come Since 2000."
So, lets cut the guy some slack. It's only a matter of time, and we will have enough positive posts that serious tool reviews will have to take into account the generic tools.
There's another, mostly forgotten, element to 'tool snobbery.' I think we got so accustomed to only seeing union tradesmen using tools made by unionized companies that we forgot that there were other choices out there. Today, without the union domination that the trades once had, we're seeing all manner of new players in the tool business.
Ironically, a number of 'quality' brands are letting their standards slip. Craftsman has become a "K-mart" brand, and Ridgid lets its' name be used on all manner of stuff. Even Milwaukee acolytes will grumble that the name isn't what it used to be.
Yup, PC, MW, and others are merely pedestrian anymore.Hopefully, we won't have to watch any of that happen to high quality tool makers such as Fein, Festool.View Image
> Ironically, a number of 'quality' brands are letting their standards slip. Craftsman has become a "K-mart" brand, and Ridgid lets its' name be used on all manner of stuff. Even Milwaukee acolytes will grumble that the name isn't what it used to be.
When Hilti went into Home Depot a few years ago, I had that "too bad, it used to be a good name" discussion with their guy there. I think he got it that what HD does best is demo reputations.... ;-)
-- J.S.
I wonder -- Did a patent expire or something? It seems like all of a sudden these Fein MM clones came from everywhere....
-- J.S.
Yes, that's what happened.
I wonder -- Did a patent expire or something?
Apparently that's exactly what happened. Take a look here:
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/9449/fein-multimaster-patent-has-expiredcompetitors-on-the-move
I liked one of the comments on that blog: "You buy the best and you cry only once!"View Image
I received the Dremel Multimax for Christmas and have not opened it yet. According to the specs it is a little underpowered (1.5amps versus 2.5 amps for the Fein, etc.)
Any idea when the tool review in FHB will be published?
I will wait for it before using the Dremel if it will hit the newstands soon.
Thanks.
Tolls of the trade did a review when the clones came out,end of last year, and gave it a rating just under the Fein, only because of lack of variable speed.
Trust me Justin, I had the same view of their tools as you do, but have changed my mind in the last year.
The quality of their tools has come way up. It may not be a tool you need everday place to buy, but their tools are the equivalent of the dremel and the Craftsman, for the most part.
Hand tools can't be beat, low prices and no hassle no question lifetime guarentee!
You made a mistake by not putting the Harbor Freight in the head-to-head. No, HF probably will not advertise in FHB magazine, but it should have been included and given a fair shot in the interest of journalistic integrity.When readers start barking about correlations between advertising and tool reviews, you should not have to ask yourself why.
This has absolutely nothing to do with advertising. In fact, I have no idea whether ANY of the other tools in the review are made by manufacturers that advertise with FHB. Advertisers aren't even on my radar.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
But you can see how purposefully omitting an option in this market leaves room for doubt, yes? (Especially when you take into account that HF does not spend any advertising money with Taunton, or do they?) I just do not remember seeing any HF ads in FHB.
I think that Taunton would be reluctant to sell ads to HF for the fear that it would make FHB look cheap. It would be kinda like Trabant supplying engines to Lamborghini.View Image
You are probably correct, but regardless of your point, they do this to themselves and then I guess they wonder why people ask questions about the integrity of tool reviews. The HF oscillating tool is the only HF power tool that I own, and it has been put through its paces and has performed flawlessly. I would be sick if I had paid the Fein price and then found the HF afterward. In this case the HF is a viable option and should definitely be included.
FHB has included Grizzly in the reviews, why not HF?I am a dyed in the wool Fein guy, but I must say that I am surprised that so many have commented favorably on the HF clone.If the HF is that bad, here's FHB's chance to really show that HF's 'apparent' bottom-of-the-barrel quality is in fact a reality.View Image
Funny, I just got home from HF with the mm tool. Haven't opened the box yet.
I think that's the first time I was in HF. They're about 30min from me but I had to pick up some windows right down the road. I wondered if their pin nailer was worth $20. I didn't buy it because it only shoots up to 1" nails but then again for $20....I'd like to know how well the Ebay models work. The Hardin model bids out under $90 sometimes and it's variable speed (up to 22500) and it comes with a lot more accessories than the HF.Anyone tried one of those?
Question for users of these tools:I look for blades and see some that are semi round and some full round. What's the point of the full round blades? I wish HF had seen fit to include info on what blades are available and which ones work for what. The tool I just bought has a center hole and 4 pins around it. I'll have to figure out where to get blades in the future.
this wouldn't apply 20 years ago, but i would put any harbor freight tool against any comparable price craftsman,any day. and if you really want to test them, take them both back and see how the return policy goes on both. there is no need to buy anything at sears anymore.
craftsman,if it's electric should not be tested in pro type tools reviews.
the older i get ,
the more people tick me off
Edited 11/17/2009 10:22 pm by alwaysoverbudget
HF doesn't purchase ad space... or maybe no one from FHB has sold them ad space... they do advertise I've seen it..product reviews are usually related to advertising in most publications
p
They have full page ads in Family Handyman, with a coupon for a multi tool for 29.99.
I know that, but Jason is a nice guy and hate to remind him that he could probably sell them space if they reviewed the products>G<
I guess I just did!
I'm just whining because I don't have the option. If you ever really want to have a bad day come up and spend some time shopping at Canadian Tire.
hf's mandrel has 4 dowels that line up with the blade, if the bolt is tight at all ,it's not going anywhere.the older i get ,
the more people tick me off
I bought the hf mm and am content with it. For my work the most common use for it will be cutting into a square corner with no overcut. ie adding an elec outlet, cutting out a piece of damaged wood flooring, cutting installed baseboard.You mentioned
"My immediate job is to cut the bottom of on the casings and jambs of about 20 doors"I am not that impressed with my experiences of cutting anything more than a few inches with the mm as the blade gets pretty hot.I think cutting the jambs and casing for 20 doors (40 legs) might challenge the HF mm with its relatively high speed.I would take xpaulcx (crx guy) frequent advice and put a speed reducer on it or cut your jambs with a japanese hand saw and just use your new mm to finish the cut up against the baseboard.Karl
My mixer has a sticker on it from new
"The quality remains when the price is long forgotten"
Joe H
I use a fein MM 15 yrs ago at a cabinet shop I worked in. Back then the only thing we used it for was sanding. At times I would use it for hours on end, and not once did I feel any fatigue from motor vibration. I missed it so much that Santa brought a MM Kit to me this year. Looking forward to using all the attachments.