Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)When I first bought a multifunction tool, the Rockwell was the only real alternative to the Fein. I had good experience with other Rockwell products, but there was damage to the accessory case, so I didn't get to try it before sending it back. I found the original Chicago Electric single speed tool (no longer made) for such a low price that I figured if it lasted through the job I bought it for, it would have been worth it. Plus it would give me a good idea whether to replace it with a "real" tool such as the Rockwell.
That summer, I redid my windows and door frames on a good sized two story house. I used it from morning until it got dark for about two months straight. I could not think of a power tool I had gotten in a long time that came close to the versatility and sheer usefulness of that tool.
The only problems with my first one were that it was a single speed (11,000 RPM; Chicago now makes a faster single speed one) and the part where the accessories attach did not have the raised parts that went into the small holes on the blades near the center. That meant that it occasionally slipped unless I tightened the bolt with an Allen wrench so tight it was scary, but it did not come close to stripping.
It may seem unusual that I am reviewing the wrong tool, but I was so impressed with it that I went out and bought this multi speed model. It does everything the first one does and more. It is larger and more powerful, but not unwieldy. Blade attachment is easier and they remain in place among a good choice of positions. It comes with a nice case, but it could have been designed better for storing the power chord.
Since I bought mine, I've tried a variety of attachments, and have a few that I'm sure I will need but have not used yet. Nevertheless, it's not a tool that just sits on a shelf. I probably use at as often as an electric drill, which is saying a lot in the power tool world.
The advantage of a multi speed model is that it works well for sanding at lower speeds when appropriate and at higher cutting speeds when needed. It has a similar speed range to the best on the market.
Usually when I see a tool that claims to do everything, it's a gimmick and either I would never come close to using all the attachments or the tool doesn't measure up to what I saw on TV. This one was different. It exceeded my expectations in every way.
One attachment worked well to dig out silicone caulking from around doors and windows so they could be redone properly. It also served to scrape off flaking paint easily and thoroughly. There is some risk of gouging, but I haven't found anything better for that application.
Where it really saved more than its price in a single use was for plunge cutting. If you need to cut off a section of wood that needs to be left in place, it can't be done with a circular saw or jigsaw and even hand tools can't help with what I needed. Being able to easily replace a section of rotting wood on something like a garage door or door frame can pay for the tool alone compared to replacing the entire section of wood.
I was even able to cut down the inside of a door frame from top to bottom along the edge of the molding that the door closes against. Any carpenter would have told me that I would have needed to redo the entire frame for my French doors, and replacing the doors themselves would have been more practical given the same labor. But I was able to fabricate a replacement section using this tool, a router and a table saw.
It really does allow you to cut straight lines in wood freehand. A rotary "zip" style tool is an example of something that looked great on TV but had limited real life use. If you want to cut out sections of drywall to put in switches, outlets or medicine cabinets, this is the tool to use instead. And you will have no problems doing it freehand. You also have the option of nailing a board in place temporarily and using it as a guide, since you can literally plunge cut along the edge of it. But you may find that drawing a pencil line works just as well.
I've had a finishing sander for years, and it's handy for tight corners and special needs where no other sander will work. I didn't use it much and didn't think I'd gain much by having yet another tool to do the same thing. But the multifunction tool worked better than the original, and I'd recommend the finger sander as an add on. Having the tool literally already in hand when I needed to sand made me realize how flexible a finishing sander can be and I now use it a lot for that. All it needed was a quick change of attachments.
The stock attachments really do work well for jobs such as stripping linoleum and removing glued down carpet. The only job I found where it did not fully meet expectations was slicing through copper tubing. If you get up above 3/4 inch it will be slow going, and there are better tools for the job unless you need a flush cut and can keep the pipe rigid enough that it won't vibrate independently.
I've even used it to cut slots in screw heads for screwdriver use. Although a Dremel works better for that if you have one already, it's still a good tool for use in a pinch.
The biggest difference between this and other power tools is that there are so many jobs that it not only does well, I can literally think of no alternative short of demolition and replacement. I thought it would be a specialty tool for those rare tasks when nothing else works. But it's so much more, and one of the few power tools I'd hate to be without.
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Variable Speed Oscillating Multifunction Power ToolThere's no need to buy several power tools when this one tackles all sorts of cutting, scraping and sanding tasks by itself. Our easily affordable, variable-speed multi-function tool from Chicago Electric Power Tools works at 10,000 to 20,000 oscillations per minute to give you control and power over every job, and it's easy to switch attachments depending on the task. Multi-tool cuts through cable, downspouts, air ducts, plasterboard and pipes, sands down cement, concrete, plaster, stone, tile adhesive, paint and wood...even saws through wood up to 2-1/4" thick.* Includes 3" triangular sanding pad (with 2 sanding sheets), half-moon cutting blade, angle scraper blade and angle cutter blade* Variable speed: oscillates at 10,000 to 20,000 strokes/minute* Compare to MultiMaster that costs several times as much* Die cast aluminum gear housing* Sealed bearings for durability120 volts, 60 Hz, 2 amps, 1/4 HP6-ft. power cordOverall dimensions: 11" L x 2-7/16" W x 3-1/2" H
Click here for more information about Variable Speed Oscillating Multifunction Power Tool
