Anyone have a oscillating tool?

admin

Local lowes has a new rockwell oscillating tool like pictured below in the bargain bin originally $124. and marked $20. I was very tempted to grab it but never had much faith in the oscillating tools. Anyone have one? Much good for anything?
Reply:I have a Fein.   I use it a lot on wood.  Tried to cut a few stainless bolts that were in a hard place to get to.   I would keep several blades on hand.   They go quickly on metallicalics.Miller BobcatHarris cutting outfitMiller spectrum 625 plasmaVariety of shopmade tools
Reply:I have two of the Feins and they're invaluable to me as a contractor.  Amazing the uses you can find for them.  That said, I wouldn't buy any of the clones that have hit the market since the Fein patent expired - they all strike me as cheap imitations of the original.  Just my humble opinion, of course...
Reply:I oscillate my tool if the woman's willing (or asleep).-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:Thats bad......It actually sounds like something I'd post.
Reply:I have one from harbor freight. Yes it is made cheaply but it works pretty good in my opinion and when/ if it dies it will be replaced by a better one. It is a handy tool to have for the 20$ it cost. I would categorize it as one of those tools that i don't use often but when you need it, it  saves a lot of time/aggravation. I have used it for wood mostly and it will cut metal nail, but it would not be the tool i would grab if i was working with metal.
Reply:I find mine very useful for cutting wood trim in place doing remodeling work. I can use it to cut door casings to slip tile under existing trim or if I need to remove a section of trim to say fit a larger vanity tight to the wall. It's also very useful for cutting drywall  if I have to open up a wall and want to patch it back up as the cut kerf is very small. I also use it for removing old grout with the correct attachment. with an end cutting blade I can often get into some places that I really can't with any other tool easily. I wouldn't use it as shown in the pict however unless I didn't have a choice.Mine is one of the Dremel versions, but I'm keeping my eyes open for a nice Fein unit. If I get a large enough job to warrant it, or this one dies, I'll be buying the Fein. That said, for $20 I'd have snatched that one up as a spare..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I bought one for my Dad who has a handyman/home repair business.   He says he uses the heck out of it.  Didn't know how he got along without it.   Its just the HF cheapie but works good.  I have one but rarely use it.  Not real any metal work applications for it.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:I have the Porter-Cable.  A friend bought the Rockwell and likes it.  Son-in-law bought the HF, it can't compare.
Reply:I have the Rockwell. As has been said it is really handy in tight spots w/ wood and sheetrock.                                                 MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:The rockwell felt like a nice heavy unit. I saw it as I was walking in (always check the bargain bin first) and while walking around I was thinking even just the motor part of it might be useful.Could it be used for cutting windshields (the seal, not the glass) out of cars? Does it oscillate fast enough to be used as an ultrasonic cleaner in a small container for parts?
Reply:Hi all, I have one of those type, advertised on the TV, Renovator by name.This was the first time I've seen one of those type of tools with the vibrating end, and when it came into our local general everything store I bought one......cost me $150 and as soon as I bought it I've seen at least 4 more types, the cheapest at $49.The Renovator came with an accessory pack of various shaped cutting blades for most materials,  that if you costed up all the bits and pieces in it would be $130 seperately, so I was happy with the original cost outlay, plus the fact that the parts for this one were much heavier than the other look alikes.I had to get "strongly opinionated" with the store people when the question of spare parts came up, and they promised to stock the consumeables......a week or so later.The first job I pressed it to was to cut the flanges off some 2mm sheet steel magnetic display boards for my daughter.The boards were about 1 metre long X .5 metres wide, with a 12mm wide double flange on all 4 sides, and this tool with the long cutting blade got under the edge of the flange and cut through it.The problem was the powder coat finish meant I couldn't use an angle grinder to cut the flanges off.I quickly found that if you use the cutting blade intended for wood you lose all the teeth....so out with the magnifying glass and the right one soon finished off 4 boards, cutting 4 sides on each to leave a flat piece of powdercoated steel....the edges soon cleaned up with a file and emery board.I would have to say that it's a very handy tool, well worth the money I paid, similar to an angle grinder, you don't use it all the time, but it gets used more and more, and you don't get sparks and swarf flying everywhere.It does the work of a hack saw, without the limitations of restricted space problems.You could cut a perfectly square hole in an alluminium or steel box without having to first drill holes and then go to a jig saw etc.I cut a 100mm round hole too in some 1mm sheet steel by using the end tool on it's corner and just let the tool cut at it's own pace like a jig saw.Ian.
Reply:BTW, this tool vibrates sideways, left to right, not in and out, so you can't use it to mount a file and file out holes etc, or use it as a vibrator....LOL.But it does make a good scraper tool for skimming off rough spots on most materials with the right end blade or tool.It wouldn't make an ultrasonic replacement as it probably only vibrates at 10,000 cycles etc.You can actually hold your finger against the end of the vibrating blade while it works and it won't cut you like a jig saw or reciprocating saw would.....the sideways stroke is oný about 1mm, if that.Ian.
Reply:i have a fein,a dremel,and a harbor freight.they all work but there is no real comparison,the fein is an absolutely super tool.i found some 3 1/2 "dia  x .012 thk jeweler's slotting saw blades that really do a great job on the fein. enco sells them but they dont show up when you search their site.probaly have to call them.miller thunderbolt 250vlincoln square wave tig 175 prolincoln idealarc mig sp250everlast tig 210EXTeverlast power plasma 50chicago electric (hf) 130 tig/90 arcchicago electric 90 amp flux wire3 sets oxy/acet
Reply:Been testing out the bosch and have been very impressed with it. I've been beating it up and it just asks for more. 160 bucks and would buy one again in a heartbeat.
Reply:I've got a fein, nice tool.  Bought it for woodworking a few years back, never occurred to me to use it for metalwork.  I'll have to start thinking of some new uses for it now."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:Originally Posted by Just_GeorgeI have two of the Feins and they're invaluable to me as a contractor.  Amazing the uses you can find for them.  That said, I wouldn't buy any of the clones that have hit the market since the Fein patent expired - they all strike me as cheap imitations of the original.  Just my humble opinion, of course...
Reply:Never used one but had a few used on me, to cut casts off. Seems to work well for that Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by SquirmyPugNever used one but had a few used on me, to cut casts off. Seems to work well for that
Reply:I have the Harbor Freight one and it works awesome.  Saved my hide when I had to do some plunge cuts in a baseboard for some intersecting molding.  Also used it to cut some FRP, and it worked like a charm, albeit a bit fast for that job (the plastic would want to remelt over itself.)
Reply:Originally Posted by puddytatBTW, this tool vibrates sideways, left to right, not in and out, . . .It wouldn't make an ultrasonic replacement as it probably only vibrates at 10,000 cycles etc. . .
Reply:I bought a HF cheapie just to cut cut door casings to install some of that laminate flooring.  It made quick work of an otherwise near-impossible job in some tight spots."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:This is the only "oscillating tool" I have and it works like a champ! Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Originally Posted by aDreamSoReallol, not the same thing. The ones the DR uses doesn't cut skin.  These ones will cut your arm off through the bone.
Reply:Me and my dad use those tools a lot when doing home remodeling, its really neat and comes in handy for a ton of things. We got a deal on 2 Feins at Home Depot, paid about $60 for the both of them. Like others have said its amazing how many uses you will find for it. I would recommend getting a Fein if at all possible. I used a HF version of one once and it burned out after a few days. And keep a lot of blades handy if you cut metal with it. It works fine with wood though."If you ain't making mistakes, it means you aren't learning anything."I have a Makita 18 volt cordless oscillating tool and like it a lot. i use it to cut out dry wall and flooring for heating and cooling ducts. I even used it to run my shop air system cutting PVC piping and it worked great.and the nice thing about it is that it works with all my other Makita  tools. Its a great tool for detail work .Millermatic 211 with mvp plugs miller titanium series welding helmetstihl chain saws 8 ft welding table
Reply:I bought a pneumatic one about 16 years ago. I bought it while working at a mercedes benz dealer. They are perfect for cutting the black sealant that the windshields are set in with.I never used it at the shop. I never have used it at home. I took it out of the toolbox one day just to show my son. He thought it was cool but never asked to use it.I guess I can live without an electric one. And one that I need to weld together parts to make it cut better too!Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:I went back the next day and the discount one was gone off the shelf. Guess someone else liked it more than me and grabbed it right away. Oh well, one less tool cluttering up my cabinets. lol