Oscillating Multi-Tool Blades

Re: Oscillating Multi-Tool Blades *LINK*

John in NM

Believe it or not, I get one I like at Harbor Freight. A lot of junk in that place, but a few things they do well.


multi-tool blade

to cut what?

John K Jordan

What type of blade (straight, curved, etc) and what do you want to cut (wood, pvc, steel)?

I like these (bi-metal) to get into tight places to cut a variety of materials. Not cheap but high quality.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005D7HIYQ

If you are wearing out high quality blades perhaps you are using too much force.

May I join and rant?

Barry Irby

I have two Bosch Multi tools. Have had them for ten years. Used them in the shop and flipping houses.

Most recently to cut two gib bolts on my planer. Tried to do it without damaging the gib or the head. Spent over $50 on blades. Ran the blades in oil and dry. The Dewalt Bimetal blades died a painful death. On a side note: the idiotic package did not SAY what the blades were for. Eventually I realized that the little tiny pictures and the letters Para were supposed to convey the things they would cut. I am left to figure out that one of the pictures was not of steel. Side Side note: I hate the packaging in three languages. Not enough space to tell everyone everything, so they don't tell anyone anything. If I am buying a quart, I take the time to read the label on a gallon so it will be big enough to see.

And the price is absurd for what you get. $12 to $14 for a few minutes of use? They should be ashamed. Harbor Freight is a good deal in comparison. So stock up at Harbor Freight and treat them like disposables.

(I had just sat down to right a email to Dewalt and give them a piece of my mind about the $40 three pack and their stupid packaging when I saw this. Sorry for the rant...not!)

A tip or three...

Jason Roehl in Lafayette, IN

1. Try lower speeds--some material/blade combos actually cut better at lower speeds.

2. Keep the blade moving--don't concentrate all the cutting in the middle of the blade. It will overheat and lose its temper, then go dull quickly.

3. Clear dust frequently. Dust holds heat and will cause more friction where you've already cut when it builds up.

I guarantee your blades will last longer. I had to spend a few extra bucks on blades to figure all this out a number of years ago.

Jason

Metal cutting Oscillating Multi-Tool Blades

Lee Schierer in McKean, PA

I've had excellent results cutting metal with the Rockwell RW8963 carbide metal cutting blade.

Lee

Re: Metal cutting Oscillating Multi-Tool Blades

Barry Irby

That's the blade that finally did the job. It lasted just long enough to finish cutting two 8mm bolts.

It's odd to me that these saws are not more efficient at cutting metal.

Those blades with the "Japanese" style teeth in them cut great until you touch a piece of metal. Then they are snaggle toothed.

Japanese style teeth

Lee Schierer in McKean, PA

The ones I have like that are marked for wood only.

Re: Japanese style teeth

John in NM

Yeah, but these tools are most useful (to me anyway) in remodeling, where there is a significant risk of hitting nails and knocking some teeth off.

I find the tool so incredibly useful that it is worth the risk though. I don't think I'd find it quite so useful without the aggressive blade though. Even when just cutting drywall, the large teeth make all the difference. The solution that was mentioned earlier - treat the blade as disposable - is the way to go.

Re: Japanese style teeth

Barry Irby

Exactly...I don't intend to hit the nails or other metal but they are sometimes cleverly concealed. It only takes very minor contact to ruin one of the blades with the Japanese style teeth.

The saw is incredibly useful in remodeling. The first one I bought was a battery version that was "Naked" but I already had many batteries and chargers. It was so cheap It was an impulse purchase. Then I fund it so useful I bought the cord version....MUCH more powerful and useful. Its one of those tools that once you have it you find lots of uses for it. Even the snaggeled tooth blades will cut drywall like butta...

The blades are just too expensive to be treated as disposables so I have a box full of worn out and trashed blades.

Sharpen them

Tom Dunlap

With a small triangle or feather file a sorta sharpening job can give a little more life to a chewed blade. I keep the resharpened ones to use as beaters when I expect to find hidden metal. Gotta get the oink outta the pig!

Re: Sharpen them

Barry Irby

Oh, I have sharpened many of them. At more than the cost of a semi decent circular saw blade my frugal packrat nature insist I get everything but the squeal out of those little pigs. I just looked on Amazon and found some for a couple of buck each in packs of 20. I was about to jump in when I read the reviews...they are two piece blades either riveted or tack welded and they break, easily. I guess you get what you paid for of NOT.

I took the Dewalt blades back to Lowes. I had bought them on a store credit and did not have the receipt. They said they were a high theft item and would not take them back without a receipt. So I retrieved the receipt and took them back on another trip. Dewalt responded to my Email and gave me the address of their local service center to return them. Too late, Lowes had already taken the hit. I'm trying to feel bad about returning them, but I don't. I bought some replacements that specifically say they cut metal, just to have them in my stash.