On 9/25/2015 12:54 AM, Leon wrote:
-MIKE- wrote:
On 9/19/15 11:52 AM, -MIKE- wrote:
I know this group and what a huge can of worms I just opened up, but
we'll see if I can though this with any actual information. :-D


[snip]


On a whim, I bought the Fein 350Q for $200 and WOW.... just wow.
As for my criteria...
It's remarkably quiet for an oscillating multitool.
No discernible heat whatsoever.
The quick release is a thing of beauty. So easy and fast, it is no
longer even a second thought whether to reposition or change blades. I
just do it. It's about as fast as changing hand position.
As for performing better than the HF. Well, it costs 15x as much and
easily performs 15x as well, as I always suspected. I'm still just as
much an advocate of the HF because it does very well and for the price,
it does a whole lot better than it should. But I'm very happy I finally
bought a *real* multitool. But the Fein cut much faster, much cleaner,
and is much better to use.

Pleasant surprises about the Fein:
SOFT Start! I had no idea it did this and wouldn't want it any other
way. There are so many advantages to this.
Virtually vibration free! My hands used to get a bit numb with the HF
after continued use. With the Fein, you almost don't know it's on and
it hardly moves if you set it down while running.
I mentioned it's much quieter.
The 17ft. cord! One of you mention not liking it and Karl mentioned
liking it... well, I'm with Karl in this one. I always needed to have
an extension cord with the HF but I don't think I'll ever use one with
the Fein. It's a very high quality, braided sheathed, cable so I don't
see it getting kinked up any time soon.
It's smaller around than the others I looked at. Not a whole lot, but
it's a lot when you hold it and have to maneuver it. I don't have big
gorilla hands, so it's an advantage for me when using it.
It takes Dremel and Ridgid blades (and likely others). Using only their
own blades was a big issue when the Fein first stormed the market, but
things seemed to have changed and blades are more universal.

I'm actually still thinking about the cordless Bosch, but I needed to
use this today and no local stores carry the Bosch. But if I end up
keeping the Fein (or returning it and getting the deal at coastaltool),
I don't think I'll ever look back.



Soooo, you like it? :-)
FWIW. The blades for that thing 7-8 years ago were a minimum of a about
$37.00 each.
Now that Fein finally has some competition there are a lot of options for
blades.
You might want to also look at Imperial for replacement blades, I
understand that they are good and make blades for most any multi tool
brand. I have not yet tried them, I wonder if anyone here has ant
experience with them.


Thanks for the interesting review of the Fein, Mike. It's always
interesting to read of others experiences with new tools - the reviews
not fueled by ad dollars coming in or slipping away, g

Blades are expensive, no doubt about it. My tactic has been to watch
for sales of the house brand or others at Menard's, et al. While I use
my Bosch every chance I get, it still is not "overworked" and I have a
nice supply of blades that I got on the cheap. IIRC, I bought one of
the "batches of blades" at Menard's for maybe 80% off.

I have yet to say "Damn! I sure wish I'd bought a better blade so this
job would look better, go faster." IOW all have been adequate for the
job. Might a better blade last longer?

Well, I'm reminded of the 85 year old who hooks up with the dynamite
hooker while visiting the casino in Reno. As they head up to his room,
the pit boss cautions him about the intended exertion and he replies,
"Hey, I'll take the risk. If she dies, she dies!"

Crappy blade? Still cuts well enough and if it dies on the job, what do
I care? Not worried about screwing up a $20 blade, I am more "creative"
with what I attempt with the multi-tool