Multitools in a home workshop

Multifunctional oscillating power tools appeared on the market just a few years ago, but today they are breaking all records in popularity. There are more and more people who want to buy a universal device that can replace a saw, cutter, chisel, scraper, polisher and grinder. They are not stopped either by the rather high price of high-quality multitools, or by some problems with consumables. View Instagram posts, stories, followers anonymously SmiHub.com Browse Instagram with the best experience. And yet - is there really a need for a universal "rodent" in the home workshop? And how fully can it perform the functions of single specialized tools?

In the "instrumental section" FORUMHOUSE the topic in which users discuss the pros and cons of electric multi-tools is one of the most actively commented on. However, the question "why?" here they almost never ask: the conclusion about the need for a multitool for yourself can be made by reading the experience of the owners of the device and examples of work with its use.

Any experienced craftsman knows that versatility is good in moderation. It is great to have one “of all trades” unit instead of a set of separate tools. But in reality, the functionality and quality of many types of work performed by "generalists" are often lower than that of specialized tools. According to many members of the forum who have such devices in their arsenal, the multitool cannot fully replace a saw or a "grinder", especially when it comes to large volumes of work. In fact, this is a separate class of tool, very useful for numerous everyday tasks, especially for home repairs. And sometimes even irreplaceable.

Akurkov (FORUMHOUSE):

- I put the doors, cut them under the hinges instead of a chisel. I mounted the kitchen, all small non-circular holes - only to them. He took off the split tiles, clean the joints from grout - less than a minute. He removed the glue with a scraper, cleaned the concrete from the tile glue. I cut the plinth in place. In general, the toy is good.

"Universal" will be out of competition when working in hard-to-reach places (for example, in corners and niches), when you need to cut something accurately and accurately, grind, file, make a hole, etc. The number of operations that he can handle can be very large, it all depends on the assortment nozzles.

What a multifunctional tool is capable of:
•Removing grout, mortar from tile joints, removing glue;
•shaped cutting of ceramic tiles, stone cutting and grinding, polishing;
•trimming of door leaves, skirting boards, platbands, parquet and laminate;
•grinding surfaces of complex shapes;
•trimming nails, pipes, cutting profiles;
•dismantling of floor coverings, waterproofing, paint, sealants, etc .;
•sawing gypsum board, gypsum board, fiberboard, OSB, chipboard, plywood;
•making grooves, chamfering.

All multifunctional tools work according to the same principle: the rotational movement of the electric motor, when transferred to the working shaft, is transformed into a reciprocating one. Oscillating (that is, making high-frequency oscillations with small amplitude) unit does not have a rotating working surface, this is the secret of its advantages.

Pros of oscillatory tools:
•the formation of a large amount of dust and centrifugal emission of large particles of the processed material is excluded;
•plunge cuts can be made;
•the ability to work with elastic materials;
•ease of use and safety;
•high quality processing.

Among the main disadvantages of the devices, users consider a high level of noise, vibration, as well as the high cost of equipment: many attachments become unusable quickly enough.

Dezoom(FORUMHOUSE):

- Unfortunately, the prices for attachments are too high. Moreover, often you will find nothing in stores except the most expensive ones. But in order to understand which nozzle you need, you need to try to work with it at least once. But to pay a thousand rubles for a file, just to understand if she saws nails as well as shown in the advertisement - no, thank you.

It is not surprising that some forum users, who often use multi-tools in their work, prefer to make some types of files on their own. For example, from hacksaw blades.

Also, compact universal devices cannot boast of high power (within 150-300 watt, depending on the model), which means high performance and long time of continuous work. However, for the tasks for which "generalists" are intended, their capacities are quite enough.

Ivk78(FORUMHOUSE):

- "Rodent" is very helpful in assembling frames, installing plinths and platbands. It is convenient to clean small surfaces with sandpaper, where it is not possible to crawl with a belt sander. The usual chisel is replaced by 100%. Among the disadvantages: strong vibration is transmitted to the hands if you cut a weakly fixed object. The noise during operation is quite strong. Blades on wood are quickly eaten if they accidentally hit a screw.

The ability to use a variety of attachments allows the electric multitool to work with a wide variety of materials: wood, metal, plastic, concrete, brick, ceramics, fiberglass, etc. It is only important to establish the "correct" canvas.

What the markings on the saw blades mean:
•HCS- high-carbon steel for working in soft materials (wood, wood-based panels, plastic coated and artificial materials).
•HSS- high-performance high-speed steel for metal work.
•Bim- highly elastic, permanent connection made of HSS and HCS, designed for high professional demands. Operating range - wood, ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
•HM- hard alloy. It is used for sawing fiberglass, aerated concrete, ceramic tiles.

An important criterion when choosing a "station wagon" is the interchangeability of attachments from different manufacturers. The universal OIS attachment system, offered by BOSCH, is adopted by many, but not all, multitool manufacturers. Therefore, some firms complete their tools with an additional adapter-adapter that allows the use of "non-standard" nozzles.

When choosing a multifunctional tool, you should also be sure to check how convenient the device "lies in your hand ", whether it will be comfortable to hold and control it during work - it largely depends on it quality. Also test the controls and other elements: is the power button securely fixed, is it convenient to use the regulator speed, whether the network cable is long enough (ideally - at least three meters), whether the dust protection system is easily connected.

By "driving" the tool at idle speed, you can evaluate the smoothness of speed changes, "noise" and the degree of vibration. Devices from reputable manufacturers, as a rule, have a number of additional options. For example, a remote stop for the cutting depth, a removable handle for holding the tool with two hands, a "soft start" system for a more accurate cut at the very beginning of work, a case for carrying and storage, and so on Further.

For a discussion of the pros and cons of multifunctional power tools, as well as examples of work performed with their help, look in this section forum. The choice of power tools for construction and home decoration is being discussed here. The choice of grinding and polishing machines and how to work with them is described in this video.

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