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Discussion Forum

Multimaster metal cutting blades.

BillHartmann | Posted in Tools for Home Building on December 31, 2008 06:36am

Are there any multimaster blades that can go a good job of cutting metal?

The last time I look AL (Multiblades) does not make any. But I think tht the guy on ebay does and so does Fein.

But how much can they cut.

I justed replaced 2 old basin faucets and reset a toilet. As it turns out they came out fairly easy. the worst was the p-trap, but that just collapsed as I tried to remove the nuts.

But I have had ones that I have fought in the past. And then there was the toilet that someone had used steel bolts on.

I had my Dremel with cutoff disk with me.

But I thought that this would be a good place for the Multimaster if there where some good metal cutting blades.

.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid – Shoe
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Replies

  1. GregGibson | Dec 31, 2008 07:00am | #1

    I think the oscillation speed of the MM is just too much for a metal cutting blade. The heat it would generate would slay the blade in a very short time. I guess if I had one, I could probably feather it in and keep it cool to make a cut, but it would have to come with experience. Most of us try to push a regular hacksaw too fast, and the heat ruins the blade.

    But I wish they offered one, too.

    Greg

  2. Waterbear | Dec 31, 2008 07:13am | #2

    Their video shows a MM cutting some copper flush to the wall -I think with their standard blade. I think anything harder than copper would eat the blades pretty quick...

  3. User avater
    IMERC | Dec 31, 2008 07:22am | #3

    they seem to do well against brass anchor bolts and common mild/soft steel nails...

     

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

     

    "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

  4. BoJangles | Dec 31, 2008 07:48am | #4

    Bill,   I am having trouble posting pictures again after installing a new Norton system.

    If I could, I would show you the best blades I've used on a Multimaster.  I made them....and they cut metal like a hacksaw....because they are a hacksaw.....they also cut wood better than a Multimaster blade.

    I used 16 ga. sheet metal and made several blade mounts, similar to the original blades.  I took some long bi-metal hacksaw blades in 14 tooth and 18 tooth varieties and cut the blades into 1 1/4" long sections. ( The same length as the original blades)  These blades are 1" wide.

    Then I butt/spot welded the blade mount & the hacksaw blade section together and ground the welds down with a quick session on the belt sander.

    I am going to experiment with other tooth numbers (less teeth per inch)

    I found it was critical to make the new blades the correct dimension (from the center of the mounting bolt out to the end of the teeth) otherwise the path of oscillation isn't enough to make the blades cut properly.  It makes a huge difference!  That's why Multimaster blades are a certain length.

    I can turn them out pretty fast and I'm sure they will last many times longer than the high priced blades. 

    The hole is 10mm  (old style MM)  I would recommend a 10mm reamer instead of a 10mm drill bit to make the hole.

    When the blade dulls, you just cut it off of the blade mount at the weld line and weld a new blade section to the mount.

     

     

    1. Jer | Dec 31, 2008 02:35pm | #5

      I don't have a welder, but this is really peaks my interest. You weld it yourself? I'm sure if I took a bunch of these to a local shop....(or friend) it would be easy as 1-2-3.

      1. BoJangles | Dec 31, 2008 04:20pm | #6

        Yes,  I've got 3 welders.  The problem is...the day I made the blades, the little one with the gas that I use for sheet metal, was out of gas.

        So I used my big one, which wasn't easy.   Like any sheet metal job, you just tack, tack, tack on both sides until the seam is welded up.   Don't get it real hot or you might ruin the temper on the teeth.'

        I use a propane torch to gently heat up the paint on the hacksaw blade.  The paint will soften up easily and you can just scrape it right off and clean up with a little sandpaper before you weld it.

        I clamp a 1x2 piece of real flat wood in a vise so it sticks out of the vise about 8", and then clamp the two pieces together on top of the wood with a vise grip welding clamp.  Attach the welder ground to the clamp.

        If I can get back to sending pictures, you will see what one looks like.

         

  5. toolbear | Jan 01, 2009 01:01am | #7

    Are there any multimaster blades that can go a good job of cutting metal?

    @@@

    What kind of metal? Most of the rigs will do non ferrous. The ferrous is the issue.

    Fein has a dramatic photo in their brochure of the MM about to cut one of three steel nails in a board. The blade is "Universal Metal & Wood", (order # 6 35 02 152 01 0)

    Anyone out there with a Fein who can attest to this?

    The ToolBear

    "You can't save the Earth unless you are willing to make other people sacrifice." Dogbert

    1. User avater
      IMERC | Jan 01, 2009 01:26am | #8

      cut quite a few nails with mine....

      deliberately.... (metal blades)....

      and not so deliberately..... (not metal blades).... 

      Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

      WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

       

      "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

      1. toolbear | Jan 01, 2009 04:03am | #12

        cut quite a few nails with mine....deliberately.... (metal blades)....and not so deliberately..... (not metal blades)....@@@Do the metal blades hold up? Love something like a naily wood recip blade, but ??The ToolBear

        "You can't save the Earth unless you are willing to make other people sacrifice." Dogbert

        1. User avater
          IMERC | Jan 01, 2009 04:47am | #13

          so so....

          soft nails only.....

          not cost effective... 

          Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

          WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

           

          "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

          1. toolbear | Jan 01, 2009 05:08am | #14

            Guess I better keep those Torch blades for the recip.I dream of an industrial sized version of the MM.The ToolBear

            "You can't save the Earth unless you are willing to make other people sacrifice." Dogbert

        2. brucet9 | Jan 04, 2009 04:01am | #19

          The metal/wood (Bzw Metal/Holz) blade will cut mild steel but drywall screws tear the teeth off.Don't ask how I know...BruceT

          1. toolbear | Jan 04, 2009 04:14am | #20

            The metal/wood (Bzw Metal/Holz) blade will cut mild steel but drywall screws tear the teeth off.Don't ask how I know...@@@I know how you know. DW screw hardened? I betcha.Would it cut the occasion 16d sinker it might encounter without damage?The ToolBear

            "You can't save the Earth unless you are willing to make other people sacrifice." Dogbert

          2. brucet9 | Jan 04, 2009 04:44am | #22

            DW screws are indeed hardened. That's why they break when bent sharply.the occasional 16 sinker is no problem.BruceT

    2. Snort | Jan 01, 2009 02:41am | #9

      Bill, one of my supply places has a real Fein blade that will cut through a car door, dunno why you'd wanna, but it's 100 beanshttp://www.tvwsolar.com

      Now you see this one-eyed midget

      Shouting the word "NOW"

      And you say, "For what reason?"

      And he says, "How?"

      And you say, "What does this mean?"

      And he screams back, "You're a cow

      Give me some milk

      Or else go home"

      1. User avater
        BillHartmann | Jan 01, 2009 02:51am | #10

        I just got a 1lb package of 15 different beans to fix some ham and beans tomorrow.I might just count out 100 of them and see about one of those blades..
        William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe

        1. Billy | Jan 01, 2009 11:59am | #15

          Oh, no, I got some beans to cook tomorrow too. That's the good part of the day.I also got to cut out the ceiling in m kitchen to chase down a pinhole leak. It's time for MM.BillyEdited 1/1/2009 4:00 am ET by Billy

          Edited 1/1/2009 4:01 am ET by Billy

          1. Snort | Jan 01, 2009 05:01pm | #17

            Mrs 'Snort came up with some chili that'll cut thru metal...http://www.tvwsolar.com

            Now you see this one-eyed midget

            Shouting the word "NOW"

            And you say, "For what reason?"

            And he says, "How?"

            And you say, "What does this mean?"

            And he screams back, "You're a cow

            Give me some milk

            Or else go home"

      2. KenHill3 | Jan 01, 2009 03:04am | #11

        "Bill, one of my supply places has a real Fein blade that will cut through a car door, dunno why you'd wanna, but it's 100 beans."Ok, and that supplier or that particular blade is...............?

        1. Snort | Jan 01, 2009 04:58pm | #16

          http://stores.paynestoolandsupply.com/-strse-template/about/Page.bokgive 'em a call.http://www.tvwsolar.com

          Now you see this one-eyed midget

          Shouting the word "NOW"

          And you say, "For what reason?"

          And he says, "How?"

          And you say, "What does this mean?"

          And he screams back, "You're a cow

          Give me some milk

          Or else go home"

    3. unTreatedwood | Jan 04, 2009 02:44am | #18

      Yes,
      I had to take out a fair amount of casing and baseboard to install a built-in before year's end. (It needed to be reinstalled so we couldn't just rip it out.) We used the "e" blade to cut all the nails without incident. It was a very clean job and there were no problems. One note: the speed can be adjusted quite a bit (#1-5) on the dial. I dont' know the rate of speed change that represents, but it is quite noticable.
      At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.” -President George W. Bush

      In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.

      1. toolbear | Jan 04, 2009 04:16am | #21

        We used the "e" blade to cut all the nails without incident. It was a very clean job and there were no problems. One note: the speed can be adjusted quite a bit (#1-5) on the dial. I dont' know the rate of speed change that represents, but it is quite noticable.@@@What is the best speed setting when encountering nails? Low, high?The ToolBear

        "You can't save the Earth unless you are willing to make other people sacrifice." Dogbert

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