Best Oscillating Tools - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide

Oscillating Tools: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Many people would think why they need and oscillating tool, but once they get familiar with the number of things you can do with it, they realize how this versatile piece of equipment is great to possess.

Usually, the tool comes with a wide array of accessories which are there to make the tool produce different results.

You can use the unit for cutting, sanding, grouting or scraping.

But, before determining which model to buy, it is significant to know what you want from the tool.

Why do I need an oscillating tool?

Whether you need an oscillating tool or not is up to you.

Being that it performs many functions it can be useful having one.

The majority of users use it for cutting, as this multi-tool enables you to cut things that are hard to reach and even cut at angles.

So, it is ideal for some difficult tasks which are impossible to accomplish with traditional tools.

The tool can be furthermore used as a sander, being that the tool comes with the multiple sanding pads allowing you to determine the degree of smoothness.

As the pads are in a triangular shape with curved sides, you can sand across corners and curves without much difficulties.

Additional advantage is that this can be used as a grouting tool.

The grouting is usually done around tiles when you want to install new tiles.

This multi-tool is ideal for scraping, as well, in case you want to remove putty, rust, or mortar.

The features are extraordinary and there are so many applications of this multi-tool. You can use it to prepare the workpiece or add finishing touches to your workpiece.

The mentioned functions are just the basic ones, and if you are an experienced worker, you can achieve much more with this tool.

What should be taken into consideration prior to purchase?

As you have decided to buy an oscillating tool, we are offering you some suggestions related to the things which need attention.

• Power: Power is important as it determines the maximum thickness of wood you can cut. If you want to buy a corded machine, power is a function of its amperage, meaning the current the equipment draws from the mains. The majority of units are a 3 A machine which is considered powerful enough for all the tasks that this multi-tool can do.
• Performance: This is the effectiveness of the machine, as there are two machines that have the same power but the results are not the same.
• Versatility: This shows the number of functions the machine can perform and this is quite dependable on the number of accessories that go with the product. Some machines comes with a few accessories, while others have many. Good thing to know is whether a unit comes with adapters which will enable you to use accessories from other brands.
• Control: On an oscillating too, you can control the speed at which the tool oscillates and the angle at which the accessory rests relative to the oscillating tool. If you have more freedom you will have a better control.
• Durability: Durability of any product highly depends on the products’ build- quality. You can determine it by taking a look at the warranty period. The longer it is, the better the product is. A 3-year warranty is considered reasonable enough for a quality product, showing that the company is confident about its model. Additionally, you can take a look at product reviews of both satisfied and dissatisfied users.
• Cost: For many people, price is a factor to be considered, especially for those with fixed budgets. It is better to buy a more expensive product and do not regret than buying a low-cost one.

What factors affect the quality of a cordless oscillating tool?

As you have chosen to buy a cordless oscillating tool, you should think about the battery.

There are many things related to battery that are hard to understand, so we will try to explain you in order to understand its importance.

Manufacturers advertise Ampere-hour (Ah) and voltage (V) so let’s see what it is about.

• Ampere-hour (Ah): So as to explain it, we will compare two batteries that have the same voltage. The one is a 2 Ah battery and the second one is 4 Ah battery. If you have the same workload, the second battery will last twice as much as the first one will.
• Voltage (V): Now, we will compare two batteries that have the same Ah but different voltage. If one is a 10 V battery and the other is a 20 V battery, the second one is twice as powerful as the first one.

You can conclude that the higher the voltage, the unit will be more powerful, while the Ampere-hour would determine the battery life.

I think I got it, what are my options?

We did our best to offer you everything you should know about oscillating tools and what to have in mind when purchasing one.

If this information is not enough, you can do your own research and we advise you to take a look at range of products from the following brands, being the most quality ones –  Bosch, Milwaukee, Craftsmen,DEWALT, Porter Cable, and Makita.

Conclusion

In the end, we can just go through the most important features of the above mentioned models.

Number one, the Dremel MM40-05, has ideal price which is in line with its performance. The Rockwell RK5141K 4.0A Sonicrafter is equally ideal as the Dremel in terms performance, but the company is less reputable.

Furthermore, the place where the tool is made is significant, being that the MM40-05 is made in the USA and the RK5141K is made in China.

For those interested in a cordless unit, we are offering the DEWALT DCS355D1 whose ideal purchase protection makes it even better tool.

However, if this model is too heavy for you, you can consider buying the Porter Cable PCC710B which does not come with a battery and charger.

This safe, versatile, and powerful tool has advanced a lot and choosing one can be difficult, so we hope that you found this article helpful and beneficial and that you now know which one to buy.

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