Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx

On Nov 30, 3:04*pm, "Bob-tx" NOBSPAM wrote:
Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. *I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. *So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

It's a saw, scraper sander, etc. Helluva deal for the price.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx

Look it it up on www.harborfreight.com. Click on 'Buy Now'. You'll be
glad you did.
You're welcome.

Joe

"Bob-tx" NOBSPAM wrote in news:4cf566ed$0$14832
:

Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx




More descriptive, it's often called an oscillating tool. A blade is
mounted to it and it only moves left & right like 5 degrees at 10k to 20k
oscillations per minute. Very good at plunge cuts & getting into places
where you can't with other tools, expensive or not.

Check out http://oscillatingtool.org to get your feet wet. Google around.
Post any specific questions back here of course.

On 11/30/2010 4:04 PM, Bob-tx wrote:
Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I bought as far back as 50 years
ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured you were talking
about like a pair of pliers with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much as he thought he did. So my
question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx


The original Fein MultiMaster started it all. They got and still
get big bucks for their units. Here's a link:
http://www.fein.de/fein-multimaster/us/en/main/
It's basically a orbital tool that accepts a sander plate or
cutters. The good thing is that you can get into places where other
tools can't. You can get copy cats for $40 or even less, with some
brand names (not Fein) costing maybe $100 or so.

Red Green wrote in
:

"Bob-tx" NOBSPAM wrote in
news:4cf566ed$0$14832 :

Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx




More descriptive, it's often called an oscillating tool. A blade is
mounted to it and it only moves left & right like 5 degrees at 10k to
20k oscillations per minute. Very good at plunge cuts & getting into
places where you can't with other tools, expensive or not.

Check out http://oscillatingtool.org to get your feet wet. Google
around. Post any specific questions back here of course.


ps another link.. Lots of Google info as I said. Should you compare any
"kits", make note of the number of pieces the kit contains based on
price. They toss in a bunch of pieces of sandpaper. A 5¢ piece of
sandpaper counts as much as a $10 blade.

http://oscillating-tools.com/

On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:25:11 GMT, Red Green
wrote:

"Bob-tx" NOBSPAM wrote in news:4cf566ed$0$14832
:

Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

Yeah, me too.

What I don't like about multi-function tool is that it woudl have the
same name, no matter which set of functions. It should be called a
screwdriver-voltmeter-chainsaw, so we'd know what it does.

More descriptive, it's often called an oscillating tool. A blade is
mounted to it and it only moves left & right like 5 degrees at 10k to 20k
oscillations per minute. Very good at plunge cuts & getting into places
where you can't with other tools, expensive or not.

Check out http://oscillatingtool.org to get your feet wet. Google around.
Post any specific questions back here of course.

OT. Then what's the angle grinder that has two circular blades going
the opposite direction? Specifically, what does harbor freight call
their cheap one? I suddently need one, I think, but don't remember
what it's called.

Thanks.

"Bob-tx" NOBSPAM wrote in message
...
Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured you were talking about like
a pair of pliers with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much as he thought he did. So my
question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx



In addition to everything that has been said, it will do stuff that these
tools can not:
jig saw
rotozip
dremel
recip saw
and I am sure I could add to that list.

I bought and used mine the first time for a specific cut that no tool I
owned could make. That was cutting 1/4" off the bottom of some fake rafters
of a dormer that was sitting on a roof. I needed to be able to tuck some
shingles up there like the builder did in 1963.

The most understated thing, in this thread, that it can do is remove about
50 years worth of bad caulk jobs from a brick house and the brick mold with
no damage to either. It can do this in 1/10th or less the time it would take
to do it by convential methods. We are talking about that old petro based
caulk for the first 20 or 30 years. Worth the price if you never use it for
anything but this.

As soon as I find the time to write it I plan to post a photo illustrated
article or two about this tool.

--
Colbyt
Please come visit http://www.househomerepair.com

Bob-tx wrote:
Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?


As others have said, it's a consumer version of an orthopedic surgeon's bone
saw.

In addition to sanding in tight places, making otherwise impossible cuts in
wood, substituting for a hacksaw on copper pipes, scraping the bejesus out
of almost anything, slicing through grout, it can also emulsify otherwise
non-miscible liquids (i.e., oil & water) and, when fitted with the
appropriate attachement which I have yet to find, drive females into
paroxysms of pleasure.

The latest Harbor Freight flyer, which I received just today, has a coupon
for their model at only $24.95.

I heard the ghost of Billy May, when I was reading that. And what
would you pay for that? 99.99? No! How about....

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...

As others have said, it's a consumer version of an orthopedic
surgeon's bone
saw.

In addition to sanding in tight places, making otherwise impossible
cuts in
wood, substituting for a hacksaw on copper pipes, scraping the bejesus
out
of almost anything, slicing through grout, it can also emulsify
otherwise
non-miscible liquids (i.e., oil & water) and, when fitted with the
appropriate attachement which I have yet to find, drive females into
paroxysms of pleasure.

The latest Harbor Freight flyer, which I received just today, has a
coupon
for their model at only $24.95.

"HeyBub" wrote in
m:

Bob-tx wrote:
Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?


As others have said, it's a consumer version of an orthopedic
surgeon's bone saw.

Orthopedics used them to remove casts at least 20 years ago.


In addition to sanding in tight places, making otherwise impossible
cuts in wood, substituting for a hacksaw on copper pipes, scraping the
bejesus out of almost anything, slicing through grout, it can also
emulsify otherwise non-miscible liquids (i.e., oil & water) and, when
fitted with the appropriate attachement which I have yet to find,
drive females into paroxysms of pleasure.

The latest Harbor Freight flyer, which I received just today, has a
coupon for their model at only $24.95.

Orthopedics used them to remove casts at least 20 years ago.

The cast cutter saw has been around for a long time. Dr. Stryker
invented the oscillating saw and it was patented Nov 16, 1947. Later,
its use, for bone cutting, was introduced into the sterile surgery
arena, but it had to dispense with the electrical cord, so it became
an air driven instrument. The Stryker company makes many medical
devices, these days. Stryker.com

wrote:

-snip-
Yea, except DO NOT buy it from Harbor Freight. All I have seen on
this newsgroup is people having problems with them, particularly the
blades breaking or getting chewed up quickly. And it now appears that
you have to get replacements ONLY from HF.

What???? I saw enough positives on the HF version here I went out
and bought one to throw in a tool box in case I ever found a use for
it. I've found several uses and think it is one of the better $40
I've spent on tools.


Of course, anyone who knows anything about tools, dont buy them at HF
anyhow. Pay more, get a name brand, and get something that will last
and has blades available at the local hardware store.

HF *is* a local store for me. Spend all you want on tools. I'd
rather buy good bourbon if a HF tool can do the same job its expensive
cousins can.


HF sells garbage. Rather than waste the gas to drive to HF, just
flush the money you planned to spend at HF down the toilet, and save
the gasoline.

There is certainly garbage there--- but I have a growing collection of
HF tools that are 'good enough'.

Jim

wrote:
On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:17:38 -0800 (PST), Joe wrote:

On Nov 30, 3:04 pm, "Bob-tx" NOBSPAM wrote:
Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

It's a saw, scraper sander, etc. Helluva deal for the price.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx

Look it it up on www.harborfreight.com. Click on 'Buy Now'. You'll be
glad you did.
You're welcome.

Joe

Yea, except DO NOT buy it from Harbor Freight. All I have seen on
this newsgroup is people having problems with them, particularly the
blades breaking or getting chewed up quickly. And it now appears that
you have to get replacements ONLY from HF.


You must be Lexdyksic.

1. There have been NO reports of HF tool failure on this newsgroup. If I'm
wrong, please re-post the complaint.

2. The ONE instance of reported blade breaking involved another brand.
Here's the post from Mike D on November 29th.

"Ok, so I bought one at Sutherlands, an off brand, but better than HF
quality, Genesis brand. I replaced 1 window and the blade shattered. I went
to the Borg and they said I need to buy the brand-specific blade. Aren't
they interchangable?"

3. Your claim of blade uniqueness is patently false. I have used (and
reported here) Dremel blades in my HF Twitching Tool. Others have reported
using blades from both Bosch and Fein (that I recall). Still others have
reported using HF blades in their Dremel and Fein.

4. The ONE recent report of "blades getting chewed up quickly" came from a
user removing caulking from a brick wall. As I recall, his was an
observation, not a complaint. Bricks WILL dull a blade quickly. Any blade.

wrote:
On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:04:42 -0600, "Bob-tx" NOBSPAM
wrote:

Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx



You mean you never saw the ads on TV for the Fein brand. Heck, they
were on almost hourly in the past year.

Yep. Because their patent expired. they've got to actually promote the
product.

Now we have equivalent tools from Harbor Freight, Dremel, Bosch, Rockwell,
Craftsman, and a plethora of "no-name" brands.

Now, Fein has to actually promote their product.

"Bob-tx" NOBSPAM wrote in message
...
Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured you were talking about like
a pair of pliers with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much as he thought he did. So my
question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx



Thanks, I have been well educated.
Appreciate the info'. I had never heard
of one. Not much of a TV watcher except
for college football. Not much to watch
this year as far as the UT Longhorns
though. Maybe next year. Hook em horns.

Bob-tx

I bought and used mine the first time for a specific cut that no tool I
owned could make.

As soon as I find the time to write it I plan to post a photo illustrated
article or two about this tool.

--
Colbyt
Please come visithttp://www.househomerepair.com- Hide quoted text -


I don't know how in-depth your article(s) will be, so I'll offer this
info:

I don't know how specific a cut the average Joe would make, but you
might include the use of teflon coated blades, if available in/for the
DIYer or professional construction arena.

In the medical field, original (non-teflon coated) blades were fine,
when cutting gypsum casts. These days (*since the early-mid 1970s),
fiberglass casts are often the norm and the older blades would create,
not only, excess heat (hot enough to burn a patient), but a build-up
of fiberglass would collect on the blades/teeth (contributing, more
so, to heat build-up). Heat build-up was/is, also, a concern when
cutting bone. *These days, teflon coated blades are available and
greatly reduced heat build-up and reduced material build-up on the
blade/teeth.

A build-up of resin on the blade/teeth, when cutting wood, or build-up
of a finish (many are heat sensitive) might be an issue for some DIY
and/or construction applications. Excess heat may result in unwanted
burn marks on wood, also. Teflon coated blades may/likely reduce heat/
resin/finish/(old petro based caulk?) build-up, should these kinds of
issues be a concern.

I don't know if teflon coated blades are available, outside the
medical field, for oscillating saws. I would suppose they are
available.

Sonny

On Dec 1, 12:59*am, wrote:
On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:17:38 -0800 (PST), Joe wrote:
On Nov 30, 3:04 pm, "Bob-tx" NOBSPAM wrote:
Only this one is dumb.
I have a garage full of tools, some I
bought as far back as 50 years ago.

When I have seen the threads on here
about 'multi-function' tools, I rather figured
you were talking about like a pair of pliers
with a screw driver on one leg of the grip.

You know, something like a Swiss Army
knife - one tool with lots of gadgets. I never
thought much of these sort of things, and
steered away from them, so I didn't pay much
attention to these multi-tool threads.

But, after reading a few, I have determined
that this old man doesn't know as much
as he thought he did. So my question is:

What the heck is a 'multi-tool'?

It's a saw, scraper sander, etc. Helluva deal for the price.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Bob-tx

Look it it up onwww.harborfreight.com. Click on 'Buy Now'. You'll be
glad you did.
You're welcome.

Joe

Yea, except DO NOT buy it from Harbor Freight. *All I have seen on
this newsgroup is people having problems with them, particularly the
blades breaking or getting chewed up quickly. *And it now appears that
you have to get replacements ONLY from HF. *

Of course, anyone who knows anything about tools, dont buy them at HF
anyhow. *Pay more, get a name brand, and get something that will last
and has blades available at the local hardware store. *

HF sells garbage. *Rather than waste the gas to drive to HF, just
flush the money you planned to spend at HF down the toilet, and save
the gasoline.

Absolute nonsense.

Joe

wrote:
You mean you never saw the ads on TV for the Fein brand. Heck, they
were on almost hourly in the past year.

I never see any ads, since I put together my PC based PVR.

On 12/3/2010 9:21 PM, Bob F wrote:
wrote:
You mean you never saw the ads on TV for the Fein brand. Heck, they
were on almost hourly in the past year.

I never see any ads, since I put together my PC based PVR.



PVR? Perverted Video Recorder? :-)

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

TDD