Comments on: Dremel Multi-Max Review, A Poor Man’s Fein Multimaster?

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:06:10 +0000

Glad the review was helpful Carla. The Fein is still worthing checking out even if you’re on a budget (their prices have come down, and the thing that used to be the biggest budget killer. . . Fein accessories. . . are now more readily available from other brands). Hope Santa is good to you! ; )

By: Carla Dosh

Carla Dosh — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:49:46 +0000

I’ve always wondered if the Fein is worth all that money. Way out of my reach but nice to see a good review on the Dremel. Sounds like it’s worth the money to me! Thanks for the article. May be on my list for Christmas!

By: Liz Stocker

Liz Stocker — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:45:36 +0000

I’ve never used the Fein, but I’ve used the dickens out of the Dremel Multimax. This is a great tool for the money.

By: Fein MultiMaster Boat Building @ CPOFein.com | Wooden Boat Kits

Fein MultiMaster Boat Building @ CPOFein.com | Wooden Boat Kits — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:50:07 +0000

[...] Dremel Multi-Max Assess, vs the Fein Multimaster [...]

By: Ty

Ty — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:13:14 +0000

Yesterday I received a Dremel Multi-Max (this was an additional review tool Dremel provided to HomeFixated for me to supplement Marc’s Multi-Max review above). The first thing I noticed was the case. Rigid construction, plenty of room for accessories, extra sanding paper, and easily identifiable. This probably doesn’t seem like a big deal, but to me it is. If I have a tool box full of cases I want to grab the tool I need the first time. It’s probably just my own time management (or lack thereof), but during projects or jobs it seems time is always at a premium.
I don’t want to cover too much that Marc already did but–Dremel’s attachment system is superior to any oscillating tool I have used. Less He-Man on the arbor bolt and the slot on Dremel’s attachments really are handy for switching.
I tried out the flush cut blade on some old fir trim I had around, and props to Dremel for the markings on the blade denoting depth. I was sure I could wear these off rendering them useless—but even really cranking on the tool, the best I could accomplish was loosening up the blade causing me to tighten the arbor bolt again. (I was purposely trying to bog the tool, and heat the blade up—normal people wouldn’t do this—or shouldn’t).
Another thing I noticed about this tool was the noise level. It is fairly quiet—even at the “10” level. (To my disappointment—it does not go to 11. If I owned a tool company, I would have 11, just because it is awesome). Obviously—hearing/eye protection should be used. I will just say that professionally, there were plenty of times where I did neither. Using a tool that screeches all day can be just plain taxing. Would I want to listen to the Dremel for hours with no hearing protection? No, but the few cuts I made with it without were not headache inducing.
All in all—the Dremel performed just how I had hoped it would. As an oscillating tool capable of doing its job, and everything I would expect from Dremel.

To Reader Greg: According to the Janka Hardness Scale, Brazilian Cherry is roughly two times as hard as White Oak. A few of the woodworking sites I’ve checked out are claiming it is pretty darn tough on saw blades. Without actually ever having my hands on it—try to score a line with a really sharp utility knife blade to cut the fibers of the top layer of wood. Next, being careful to not mar outside of your score line—take a sharp chisel and use the corner of it and give it a few raps with a hammer. This should make a bit of a “pocket” to get your oscillating tool blade into—and will help prevent it from chattering outside your line as you start your plunge cut. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:09:02 +0000

Thanks for the insights and commentary Richard! I moved your comment from another page since it was posted to the wrong article. I’ve definitely shared your frustrations with the rotating blade issue on the older Fein MultiMasters. And my wallet has cried bitter tears when buying Fein accessories (although I haven’t experienced a cracked blade).

As to accessory cost, I just did a quick check on Amazon for a frame of reference. Both Fein and Dremel make a very similar semi-circle shaped wood cutting blade (the most noticeable difference being the Fein blade is offset slightly for flush cutting). One Fein blade currently runs $25.89 on Amazon. A pack of 3 similar Dremel blades runs $15.40. So about $5/blade on the Dremel and about $25/blade or Fein. The price differences are less dramatic on certain other blades, but from what I could tell, the Dremel blades were always cheaper. So is a Fein blade 5 times as good as a Dremel blade to account for the price difference? Although I love my Fein, I’m not convinced.

By: Richard Kurth

Richard Kurth — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:54:54 +0000

I was pleased to read your review of the Dremel tool which is similar to the Fein Multi-Master. I have had a Fein for a number of years, and really appreciate the unique applications for which it can be so effectively used. But, on the last job I had for it, I was disappointed in it’s performance. I was attempting to make a straight finish cut on already installed 3/4? Oak flooring. This is an old tool that came out before the star spindle was introduced. I was able to run not much longer than 10-15 seconds before the blade rotated out of position and I had to stop, reposition and tighten it. I would not encourage anyone to think they are getting a bargain if they find a used one of these older tools at an attractive price.

Then before I finished the job, which amounted to cutting less than 2 feet of material, the blade cracked. My local hardware store did not carry a replacement so I had to go to a tool supply store in an adjoining town to find one (my fault for not having a spare on hand and a tight schedule). The price was shocking – Roughly $36 for one. I am sure they are cheaper on the Internet. This was not a brazed carbide grit coated tile blade, but a simple steel wood cutting blade.

Having decided maybe I was pushing it too hard with the first blade, and out of consideration of the price, I slowed everything down with the new blade. Even with going slowly, avoiding heating and torquing the blade, and taking a shallow cut, this blade also cracked in less than 5 minutes. Fortunately I had made a very clean cut all the way across on the surface (which it did a beautiful job of) and finished the unseen part of the cut with a wood chisel.

Maybe there is something I do not know about using the multimaster, but I have not been disappointed with it’s performance on previous jobs. Other than less, I do not know what a similar blade for the Dremel tool would cost. But, with a $36 price tag on Fein blades, it would seem it might not take long to pay for a Dremel tool and less expensive attachments. Hopefully competition will cause Fein to reconsider their attachment pricing structure.