We just moved out of an apartment into a house–much awesomeness ensues. If the awesomeness is considered to be home improvement projects, and various DIY projects. For the most part–around my house DIY means: Do It Yourself.
I guess that is what I get for learning a bit of a useful trade. You know–something that is hard on your body, dangerous, and pays like I just asked you if you want fries with that.
As I am ranting about the state of carpentry in general, I just can’t let this slide anymore. HGTV is pretty much on a 24 hour loop in the living room. I’m happy to report to the sports/tools/MANSHOWS contingent of the Fixaters–that the other TV is in my office–so I can get a bit of respite in there.
Note to all the HGTV producers that are reading this: I am available. I will relocate. I have years of experience. I will frost my hair and shop at Hollister. The carpenters on your shows are jokes. I too can put on a brand new tool belt, bear my tanned, muscular arms (snicker), wear expensive designer sunglasses (No carpenter wears expensive sunglasses. They break. They aren’t ANSI approved), and walk around a project like I know what I’m talking about. I am not sure who watches these shows (my bride) but I’ve yet to meet a real carpenter that looks like any of these people. /end rant.
Back to the original purpose of this article, the Dremel Multi-Vise. After a good wander around the tool section at the Big Orange Box Store, I was Fixated (see what I did there)? on this tool, as it appears to be a lot of things that I need, and use. It is part bench vise, and part tool holder. If you have a rotary tool from Dremel–the Multi-Vise can be used to hold your rotary tool, allowing you your hands to work whatever material that needs to be worked. Sounds pretty awesome. Unfortunately–I haven’t found a ton of use for this feature. I’d rather have my piece clamped–and free-hand with the rotary tool. Fair enough–the Multi-Vise will do that as well. I can see the tool holding function to be a great benefit to hobbyists that have to work in a pretty fine scale on their crafts. For Home Improvement? Eh…not so much.
The Multi-Vise’s big draw for me is it’s mobility. You can articulate the actual angle of the vise, rotate it 360 degrees, and move the entire vise itself. I’m a little concerned with the plastic threaded rod that serves as the tightening for the base of the vise–but it has performed just fine so far. I’m sure Dremel tested this out extensively–but I’d rather have that part be metal. Plastic does funny things when you light it on fire, accidentally hit it with a sawzall, or car.
The vise’s actual–er–vising is a bit off to me too. It works great if you don’t really need to make the object to be vised immovable. A stationary, metal bench vise would be better for this. Upside to Dremel’s vise is that it comes with rubber type pads that won’t mar or scratch your work.
Fixated Utility: If you find yourself short of a bench vise–it is a reasonably priced tool that has multi-function. Utility for hobbyists/crafters: High
Can I break this shizz?: Yes. The plastic has me a bit concerned. I’ve yet to break it–but I bet I can fairly easily.
Will my significant other stab me for buying it?: Most likely not. Price is right–you can find the Dremel Multi-Vise
The Final Word: Straight Home Improvement Fixaters will most likely find limited utility with this tool. I myself–use it for some hobbies, and with a couple of alligator clips find that I can tie flies with it for fishing. Mobility is a great advantage to this. I could see using it as a measuring stop if you were mass cutting something (like siding) and needed to be mobile.
