MultiMaster - Stay or Go?

[lkazista]

So my very generous wife decided that for my birthday she was going to buy me a tool. Knowing that I had not spent mush on tools since our daughter was born, she went a little over board. She picked me up a Fein Multi Master. I did a search here, and it seems like for the few jobs you might need it, it can not be beat. But.... How often will I really use this?

It came wit a $300 price tag, making it the MOST expensive tool that I own. How do I justify a hand tool that cost twice what my TS did?

So the question to you all is this: Keep the fein or trade it in for a drill press?

Thanks,

Lee

[WayneJ]

Lee,
I don't own a multi-master. I have a mouse detail sander and a dremel rotary tool which i rarely use. I would trade those for a drill press any day. Of all the tools in my shop its the most used. Once you have one you will wonder how you got along without it. JMHO
Wayne

[scmhogg]

Lee,

If it weren't for the fact that it was a very generous gesture from the mother of your child and your LOML, I would trade it in a hot minute.

Fein tools are really top of the line. I would love to have one of their shop vacs. But, I can't see paying the price.

I think you would have to do an awful lot of detail sanding and finishing to justify the cost for a small shop. I have a small cheap detail sander that works great. However, I find that I rarely use it as it is usually faster to wrap sand paper around a small block of wood.

The LOML factor can only be evaluated by you. Would a return or exchange in any way act as a negative, and perhaps discourage future surprise tools?

Steve

[cwsmith]

Lee,

This sounds like something the LOML would do. She's always been great about my tool purchases, to the point where a couple of times I was looking at something less expensive and she's pointed me toward a much better tool.

With some question in my mind, I just posed the question to her to see her response. So from our perspective it would depend on what you mean by "trading it in for"?

If you meant, taking it back for a complete refund and then using that to purchase the drill press, then that would probably be a great idea. The thinking being that, you probably know more about your needs and the specific tools than she does, and also with the "It far too expensive for my needs" kind of reasoning that would be a great move!

On the other hand though, if you'll swapping it for a tool that might be perceived as "somewhat less" than she values, you might be in trouble.

(Sort of the feeling I got back in the 70's, when I gave my kid brother my 68' Valiant, knowing he needed a reliable vehicle for his first job. It was 7 years old, but only had 48,000 miles on it. I had the garage completely check it out and I put a new battery, brakes and tires on it. Next thing I know, he traded it in on a broken-down 65 Ford Vam, that didn't run, but he thought it would be cool.... I wasn't very happy with him at the time.)

CWS
From my perspective (

[leehljp]

I have the Fein MM and you are right. It is a lot of money for an occasionally used tool. But that tool has saved me much more money than it has cost when I had to totally re-do a tile bathroom. It has helped on doors, walls, wall switch and electrical outlet installation etc. RotoZip tools are not even on the same planet as a MM for doing that. I know that is a relative statement.

For me it has saved be huge amounts of frustration as compared to a rotozip. Rotozips are messy, the MM is not. LOML makes sure that I clean up my mess. If anyone has allergies to dust made from repairs, the MM will cut dust down by a factor of at least 2 or more. MM dust falls straight down. Rotozop dust flies everywhere. This is not noticable to if no one in your family has allergies but it IS if someone DOES have an alergy to the sheetrock or sawdust.

I hated jagged edges when making switch and outlet holes. I hate having the sheetrock dust going everywhere like it does with zip tools. But for some people, that is no big deal.

I have a Delta detail sander with more than a dozen tips for sanding detail areas. The MM does a much better and easier job for me.

The things that I have added, fixed or changed using the MM make it price justified if I think like this:

1. How much would I pay a professional to do that, and one that would clean up his mess when he finished, including dust?

2. Does this tool allow me to do the same level of work as a professional? I honestly cannot make straight cuts with a rotozip. I cannot keep dust contained with a rotozip. Flush cut saws still come out a half a degee off when cutting door jambs vs what I achieve with the MM.

3. How much of a perfectionist are you when you try to do repairs yourself? This tool has taken a huge frustration factor out of my small repairs.

It is just a cool tool to have! In 2001, I broke my arm just above the wrist - a week before my return to Japan, and had a cast. Doc said to leave it on 6 to 8 weeks and have a doctor in Japan remove it. I left it on 8 weeks and took the Fein MM and cut it off myself.

(For those unfamiliar, much of the medical community here leave a lot to be desired.)

[lkazista]

GO it is!

All good advice, and a wonderful review from Hank. I spoke with LMOL, and first off she was stunned to know that this would be my single most expensive tool. "What about your Table Saw?" She asked, "I know you said it was only $150 on sale, but I always thought you were lying about that."

Well, she claims to agree that I should return it, and pick up a Drill Press with my credit and the gift certificate that my folks got me there as well. Should a time come that I need to regrout a bathroom, or cut drywall with no dust, I may just run out and re buy me one of those Multimasters.

OK - so what drill press? Rikon, Jet, Delta? Looking in the $350-$425 range and Woodcraft has 10% off EVERYTHING on July 27th!

Thank again for the always helpful advice.

Lee

[leehljp]

"What about your Table Saw?" She asked, "I know you said it was only $150 on sale, but I always thought you were lying about that."


LOL! We DO fool them once in a while, don't we!

[Ripsaw]

lkazista, you may want to consider getting a small plaque engraved to put on your DP.

This may alieviate frustration on your wife's part that she decided wrong and will choose something she knows more about next time (read clothes).
Paying tribute will show her an appreciation for the gift that is unexpected and encourage her to try it again.

LOML just got me a spanking new lathe for our 25th anniversary, and to make it extra special she included a plaque in the card.

You would not believe the lengths I am willing to go, to encourage my wife to invest in my hobby.
I have honed this skill to such a level that now she doesn't want me to settle on less expensive models when I buy a tool.
I do buy quality, but she always asks if there are better ones that I should get instead.

Hey! Smoozing's a craft too!

[430752]

huh? MM all the way.

I dunno, but i get more use of my MM than my drill press. Of course, I'm still doing more DIY around the house than true woodworking, but still.

consider this, that you're more likely to buy a drill press (and find a way to get it done) regardless of whether you own a MM, but you're never as likely to buy, or get clearance for a MM, whether or not you have a drill press. Plus, you can make do with a cheap drill press for a $100 in lieu of a big dp, much better than you can make do with a $100 thingamajigit over a real MM.

Well, just my thoughts. I love my MM. Of course, I do have to point out that the accessories for the MM are a bit steep and for many of the items, you have to buy fein replacements (carbide rasps, e-cut blades, etc.).

well, enjoy the drill press!

curt j.

[scmhogg]

Lee,

I have the HF 16 speed floor model 43389. I have no complaints at all.

It often goes on sale for around $189. With a 15-20% off coupon it is a real bargain.

Steve