" wrote in
:

On Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:41:59 -0500, Jim Yanik
wrote:

" wrote in
m:

On Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:24:29 -0500, Jim Yanik
wrote:

" wrote in
m:

On Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:40:13 GMT, Red Green
wrote:

" wrote in
news:5rpev6l1e87oian1ggjdlg2l1mmk66p2aj@4ax. com:

On Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:32:34 GMT, Red Green
wrote:

Vic Smith wrote in
news:2ak4v6pvscd0a5lnv5ncqu47ck5i5lns98@4a x.com:

On Fri, 10 Jun 2011 09:44:54 -0700 (PDT), Bryan Scholtes
wrote:

Maybe it's the tool I bought, but whenever I use my new
oscillating tool I'm just not impressed with it.

Cutting wood takes too long. Cutting metal (cuting nails)
takes much too long versus a Dremel. And it's LOUD.

I bought a Menards-brand Li-Ion cordless model. Is there THAT
much of a difference versus the others? I can't find a review
that implies cheap oscillating tools are necessarily worse
than, say, Rockwells.

I know that cheap power tools aren't as good as expensive
power tools. But when I buy Harbor Freight I get about 80% of
the effectiveness and ease-of-use.

I bought a HF multi-tool when I did some remodeling last year.
Basically to cut the door stops near the floor so I could fit
thresholds. Worked fine.

Yes, excellent.

Also worked well for some sanding in tight spots.

Never tried for that.

It's not loud at all.

Working inside, I disagree.

Anticipate using it for cleaning out tile grout and some more
sanding.

I've used it for grout but found it very slow. Especially on
very old grout. Crappy HF blades I assume. What literally rips
through grout, and I mean like a few feet per minute, is a
Rotozip with a diamond blade.

...and makes a total mess of the tile in the meantime. The bits
don't last long, either.

Bits? You talking about a rotary tool?

Well, that's kinda what a "Roto-Zip" is, so yeah.

I was addressing the HF-MF tool that uses blades.

Is that why you said: "What literally rips through grout, and I
mean like a few feet per minute, is a Rotozip with a diamond
blade."?

*THAT* is what I was addressing.



I've seen TV ads for a new Rototool cutoff saw,that uses rotary
BLADES,not bits.

the Rotozip is merely a fancy Dremel Mototool,or a small trim
router.

WRT the HF oscillating sander/saw,has anyone tried an incandescent
lamp dimmer for an external speed control?
I use one for my Dremel 270 Mototool.

Is "dimming" a multi-tool really useful? I've always used mine (a
Dremel and a Bosch) flat out. For that matter, I've always used the
moto-tool flat out too. ;-)



for some bits and some materials,using a slower speed on the Dremel is
better,less burning or melting and less chatter.
just like routers with variable speed are preferable.

The reason for variable speed routers is big bits.

ONE reason,not the sole reason. even the woodworker mags mention slowing
for different woods,to prevent burning.


Turning a
panel-raising bit at 25000 RPM gets exciting. ;-)

I hear ya!

I've never used a multi-tool or oscillating sander/cutter.

HF does charge a lot more for their variable speed multi-tool.
Besides,a variable speed control is one more thing to break or get
flaky.

Again, I don't see the point. Every tool, like these, I have is
always cranked to the max.

try using a Dremel on plastic;it will melt instead of cut.
same for a router or saw.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com