Replacement for Fein MultiMaster

[Ferdinand]

I have had a Fein Multimaster tool for more than 10 years, and I am looking for a cordless one.

 

Can anyone recommend?

 

I am tempted to go Makita or an Aldi/LiDL if a special buy turns up.

 

If I go Makita is it a standard Makita battery? Or could someone recommend a different brand? My existing tools are almost all Metabo, but a number of years old so it may be time for a change.

 

My requirement is not going to be heavy or constant work, but I normally go for either good quality or disposable, not "just OK".

 

Cheers

 

Ferdinand 

[PeterW]

I would be hard pushed to recommend anything but another Fein. 

 

 Axminster do a reasonable cordless range - depending on the makita battery system you have there are 3 different cordless ones 

 

http://www.axminster.co.uk/power-tools/multitools-precision-modelling/oscillating-multitools/cordless-oscillating-multitools

[Guest Alphonsox]

I've been using a Makita cordless and am very happy with it. It takes the standard Makita 18V Li-Ion batteries. I've also got a Lidl corded version, also good for the price (around £20 when I got it).

 

The Makita comes with a three year warranty if you register online.

[Onoff]

+1 on the Lidl 230V one. Also got an early Draper but the non standard tool fitting means than really it just sits there doing nowt. If I went cordless it would be Makita to suit the drill & impact batteries.

[Crofter]

Another happy user of the Lidl corded one here, cannot compare to any other makes. In my experience it's the sort of tool that's invaluable for the occasional odd job but not one that I find myself using all day long, so I'm perfectly happy with a cheap and cheerful one.

[Onoff]

My mate's an apprenticed cabinet maker and a good one. The sort that sharpens his own chisels by hand on a stone and veneers things. When he bought a multi tool I thought he'd sold his soul to the Devil!

 

However...he did a job for me where it really was the ONLY thing for the job. I borrowed it and am now a convert. Lost track of the times and variety of jobs where I've used it.

[jack]

Makita all the way for me with this sort of thing. Their chargers take 20-odd mins to give you a full recharge - important when you don't want to be standing around waiting.

 

There are also good options available for unbranded batteries.

[Nickfromwales]

4 hours ago, Onoff said:

My mate's an apprenticed cabinet maker and a good one. The sort that sharpens his own chisels by hand on a stone and veneers things. When he bought a multi tool I thought he'd sold his soul to the Devil!

 

However...he did a job for me where it really was the ONLY thing for the job. I borrowed it and am now a convert. Lost track of the times and variety of jobs where I've used it.

Which one was it ?

 

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, jack said:

Makita all the way for me with this sort of thing. Their chargers take 20-odd mins to give you a full recharge - important when you don't want to be standing around waiting.

 

There are also good options available for unbranded batteries.

I'm 80%+ makita, and they're great, but you'll be hard pushed to match the Fein IMHO. If it's a daily driver, go with another Fein, but if it's occasional then the makita is an excellent choice. Don't buy an early model or you'll be stuck with the tool change for the blades, the newer one is tool-free. 

For eg

 

[Onoff]

45 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

Which one was it ?

 

His first was a Mac Allister I think (B&Q own brand?) bought on offer. He now has a Dewalt cordless as he's a Dewalt nut.

[CC45]

My stuff is Dewalt - no issues at all. I buy recon ones.

 

CC

[Onoff]

The fwd/rev on the Dewalt drill I have is the opposite way round to my Makita...

[Nickfromwales]

12 minutes ago, CC45 said:

My stuff is Dewalt - no issues at all. I buy recon ones.

 

CC

The Dewalt multi tool is a lovely bit of kit. I really dislike the on off switch position on the makita, and the Dewalt one is variable speed on the trigger too so a real contender. Fwiw, the new Dewalt stuff has me SERIOUSLY tempted, with just the price tag on the new 54 volt stuff keeping me well away.  ?

[CC45]

Marshall & Parsons Ltd on ebay is where I've bought my recon tools.  So far they come out of the box like new - not a mark.  One drill had issues getting into hammer mode & they sent a carrier to pick it up for repair - less hassle than if I'd bought it locally.  If they havent got it advertised then if you phone them they will tell you if / when it's due in.  That's where my multitool (Xmas essential) is going to be bought. Makita are great tools but not that good I feel the need to change from Dewalt.

 

CC

[jack]

When it comes to battery power, you tend to stick with the first one you buy.  Batteries are expensive, so once you have a couple, there's a very strong incentive to stick with that brand for other cordless tools.

 

Most guys involved in building our house who had cordless tools used either Makita or Dewalt.

[Onoff]

On 12/11/2016 at 19:03, jack said:

Makita all the way for me with this sort of thing. Their chargers take 20-odd mins to give you a full recharge - important when you don't want to be standing around waiting.

 

There are also good options available for unbranded batteries.

 

Was it you who put up a link a while back to Makita clone batteries?

[Ferdinand]

I have a Dewalt cordless drill which is excellent (not as far ahead relatively as the Metabo from the 1990s which died three years ago), but very good for the size. But I heard things about Dewalt going for a less high end market with their newer products in the last year or two, so I am not committing to them long term. They can be the mistress.

 

That was from my local trade powertool centre who maintains his Dewalt 'ticket' so he can access repair services etc for customers on dealer terms.

 

So it looks like Makita, as a better "spouse".

 

Ferdinand

 

Edited November 14, 2016 by Ferdinand

[Ferdinand]

OK. About ready to decide.

 

Which Makita battery system is the one to use from a fresh start?

 

I need it to be around for another 5-10 years, and be both light and powerful  .

 

Ferdinand

Edited November 14, 2016 by Ferdinand

[Guest Alphonsox]

18V Li-ion is their tatest offering

http://www.makitauk.com/lithium-ion.html

[jack]

13 hours ago, Onoff said:

 

Was it you who put up a link a while back to Makita clone batteries?

 

I was one of a couple who posted I think.  I can dig the link out again if you're interested.  

 

They were just some well-reviewed 4Ah batteries from Amazon.  Still going strong 18 months later.  Having come from a very cheap 10 year old cordless drill, I still can't get over how much work I get out of a single battery (which is a good thing given that the second one I bought went walkabout from the site at some point!)

[jack]

2 hours ago, Ferdinand said:

OK. About ready to decide.

 

Which Makita battery system is the one to use from a fresh start?

 

I need it to be around for another 5-10 years, and be both light and powerful  .

 

Ferdinand

 

I've tended to buy at the cheaper end of the Makita brushless technology, rather than higher up in the brushed range at a similar price.  With brushless, you get more battery life, lighter weight for the power, and less heat.  As someone said earlier, you're trading brushes as a failure point for electronics, but I haven't heard of any issues with the reliability of the brushless tech.  

[Crofter]

+1 to the Makita 18v range.

When you buy a new bare tool (I have a bit of an addiction) they send you a pamphlet with all the different tools that the 18v batteries work with. It's mind boggling.

I don't know whether to go for the bicycle or the coffee maker next.

[Onoff]

6Ah batteries with Makita too.

[Ferdinand]

4 hours ago, Onoff said:

6Ah batteries with Makita too.

 

Does something that big physically unbalance a multitool ?

 

I find that a 2ah battery gives me a huge duration on my 14.4V cordless drill, so I am not sure I need a huge one for this.

 

Ferdinand

[Ferdinand]

Edited

Edited April 21, 2017 by Ferdinand