The Renovator from BIG W

[Handyjack]

I work part time as a handyman. Yes I have a multifunction tool in the back of the car. Mine is a green Bosch. It has done jobs that I may not have been able to do using other tools.
One of the times I have flogged it hard was removing a broken mirror from a metal cabinet door using a scraper blade. The body started to get hot. The cause was probably all the adhesive on the blade. I kept stopping to clean the blade with turps (and to give the machine a rest). The machine still works.
In my case having a variety of blades (and papers) is essential as I can not always pre-plan what I will be using it for and when it will be next used.
I have used it in conjunction with a circular saw to cut openings in boards; neat straight cuts with out over cutting.
So far I have only used Bosch blades, and except for cutting metal or pushing in hard wood they are holding up.

[Superbunny]

I just bought the new Fein 115mm sanding disk attachement after seeing a demo at the Brisbane TWWW show on the weekend. It fits to the bosch blue with an attachement. I gave it a go during the week and it is now my new finishing sander for wood projects, and if this is all I got from the show it was worth it, does a nice job indeed.


SB

[peter56]

I have both the Ozito MFR250 & Fein Multimaster. I bought the Ozito first just to get an idea of how the tool worked. It has come in handy at times to have them both set up with different attachments, although tool changes with the Fein are very quick.

The Fein segment blade (circular serrated with a flat cut off) has been ideal for removing putty from old timber windows – the main reason I bought it in fact.
I’ve found the standard wood cutting blades good for cutting flush & in confined spaces – the main thing is to keep the blade moving to clear the sawdust and prevent heat build-up. Also the nature of the blade motion makes it unlikely that you’ll cut through something you don’t intend to. I’m not so fussed on what they call precision blades – I find them less precise than the standard blades.
The sanding function is actually pretty good, though the Velcro backing on the sanding sheets doesn’t stand up to repeated removal & reattachment to the sanding pads. Dust extraction works. You can get in nice & close but once again need to keep the pad moving.
I don’t like the profile sanding set, a good idea but poorly designed & implemented.

The Ozito does the same things as the Fein. The blades supplied are not high quality but Bosch blades fit. It doesn’t have dust extraction so sanding can create a lot of fine dust. The instructions & tool nameplate state clearly that it is for DIY use only, so I don’t give it too hard a time.

So far I haven’t been impressed with the Fein universal bimetal blades, which can cut through metal as well as wood. I bought a Bosch blade which was cheaper & I think superior. I ran into a nail cutting through a tenon in a hardwood floor joist using a handsaw, so completed the cut using the Bosch blade in the Ozito. A 3 inch nail had been put through at an angle so the section of cut was 8mm long by 4mm deep – no problems at all, but once again the blade was kept moving in the cut to clear the sawdust & give all the teeth a go at the nail.

Given my experience so far, I’d recommend both of them with some reservations. The Fein has a good reputation, a nice big case, a longer lead & a 3 year warranty, but the blades are overpriced. If I was buying one new now, given there is a blue Bosch & others available, the choice would be pretty confusing I think.

Peter

[darsev]

I bought an AEG Multitool about 2 years ago, primarily for the right angle head screw driver and drill - the blades just came along for the ride. I was making a lot of repairs in spaces that a normal driver/drill couldn't get into, which meant a lot of disassembly and re-assembly for relatively simple jobs. It is now a standard part of my tool kit and am surprised at how often I use the blades for cutting timber flush with something else, or a plunge cut such as a mortise in awkward situations, or something else. Cost was $199 at Bunnings. My only issues are 1: the battery is small and tends to run out too quickly; and 2: the soft case it comes doesn't hold the bits and pieces in place. End result: One of the blades cut into the power lead on the charger leading to some unwanted fireworks when trying to charge a battery once. The lead is now repaired, but half the length. Also, the drill is a bit gutless, particularly compared to the driver, but given its ability to get into tight spaces, that is usually forgiven as the alternative is even more work.

Darryl

[tdrumnut]

For those that have a Fien multitool with the star attachment, the Trade Tools renegade blades fit this machine and are heaps cheaper and nearly as good quality.

[fletty]

re the discussions above about replacement blades, I did a review earlier on Fitzall vs Fein blades here….

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f13/fe...titool-151058/

… just as a brief update, I now use Fitzall blades for 'rough work' and Fein only for sheet metal work if the result is to be seen.

fletty

[Swarts Tools]

There was a mob at the Sydney woodshow flogging blades, but for the life of me I cannot remember their name.

My Bosch blue one gets used a bit and I am also looking for reasonable quality and priced replacements.

Hi,

Thanks for the recommendation. It was us. You can check out our range at www.swartstools.com.au

sincerely
Swarts Tools