The Dremel Multi-Max was the most popular power tool of 2009, which is truly an amazing fact. The oscillating tool category is one of the fastest growing and it has become a staple in most tool cabinets, Pro or DIYer. Dremel has some new accessories recently launched with more coming out later this year. If you still aren’t sure all the different applications for the Multi-Max, here are several videos that should cover most of the current accessories.

Posted by Jay A. at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hopefully this is the first of many new attachments for the Dremel Multi-Max, as oscillating tools become a staple among many of us and we are constantly looking to get new uses out of our tools for just another $5-$30. The new MM920 ($29, Ohio Power Tool) adds a more substantial grinding option, currently there is a MM900 ($33, Ohio Power Tool) diamond paper option but this is a 60 grit and uses the hook & loop pad MM11. The MM920 is an attachment that actually connects to the tool and the 24 grit Carbide can handle a little more abuse. Both attachments are better for different jobs and materials but it is nice to have the option.

Still waiting for a good strong metal bit that can cut harder metals...

Posted by Jay A. at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The great guys over at ToolSnob.com helped us all out by making a handy little chart for the most popular models of oscillating tools and what accessories will work with which tools. The post looks at the adaptors and which tools lock in place vs simply “fit”. It also links to all their reviews on each of the tools which are all pretty comprehensive reviews. I would encourage everyone to take a minute and check it out.

Posted by Jay A. at 08:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Unfortunately I don’t have any celebrity friends like David Letterman to do my top 10 list but these are some good gift ideas on Ohio Power Tool for anyone who loves power tools, ranging from $20-$299. Also all of the following items are eligible for the Free Shipping if part of an order over $99. Just use coupon code: TURKEY before December 7^th. All these items are also currently in-stock but can’t promise they won’t run out by the holidays. Checkout the Holiday Specials Page for even more deals from Ohio Power Tool.

10. Hougen RotaCut Metal Drill Kit 11075 - $74

This hole cutter kit includes 7 different size metal drill bits from 5/16” – ¾” which are faster and last 10 times longer than standard twist drill bits. Ideal for any electrician, mechanic, HVAC, metal fabricator or anyone that does any work with metal. These bits work with standard chuck drills found in almost any toolbox.

9. Milwaukee Right Angle Drill Attachment 49-22-8510 - $49

This handy accessory can get you into very tight places and is compatible with any drill that can accept ¼” hex bits from 2.4V to 36V or corded drills. Ideal for driver bits, spade bits, ¼” hex drill bits and many other accessories.

8. Bosch DareDevil Spade Bit Set DSB5013P - $27

Every carpenter, remodeler, handyman or weekend warrior should have a good set of Spade Bits in the tool box but Bosch reinvented the spade bit with the new DareDevil bits. This is a great gift because even if they have some spade bits they will love to upgrade to these.

7. Ingersoll Rand Titanium ½” Impact Gun 2135TiMAX - $249

Probably the sexiest impact gun you could own. This titanium impact wrench is the lightest, toughest, most powerful tool on the market today. Any serious mechanic will love this gun.

6. Lincoln 18V PowerLuber Grease Gun 1844 - $267

Now a cordless grease gun is probably not going to be on most people’s wish lists however for many farmers, mechanics and other service pros this may be the ideal present to see under the tree. The brand spankin new 18V extends the battery life to be able to hand up to 8-10 tubes per battery. This alone can be a huge advantage when out in the field away from the charger.

Continue reading "Top 10 Power Tool Gift Ideas for 2009 Holiday Season" »

Posted by Jay A. at 04:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The original Dremel Multi-Max Kit 6300-01 was one of the most popular tool gifts last holiday season and it’ll probably be a popular gift on many lists this year as well. This season however there is a second option with the Multi-Max 6300-03 ($139). The new kit is basically the same Multi-Max tool but with a longer power cord, larger black case and more blades. The additional blades include two MM422 metal (non-ferrous) & wood, MM500 for grout removal and the ridgid scraper blade instead of the flexible one. A very useful applications I’ve found for these type of oscillating tools is replacing broken tiles using the grout remover blade something I always though should have been included in the kit.  

In addition to the new Multi-Max kit there are also now bulk accessory packs which make it cheaper to buy some of the most popular blades and sandpaper. The new kits include MM80P, MM80W, MM491, MM450B, MM440B, MM422B which are all currently in-stock and available from Ohio Power Tool.         

Posted by Jay A. at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Consider this your official invitation to come out to the Ohio Power Tool Columbus location and have some fun at the Bosch Tailgate party. In addition to the full tailgate spread there will be Bosch representatives on hand to answer any questions and give tool & accessory demos. Lots of Bosch prizes including hats, tee shirts, accessories and tools. The event will be Thursday, October 22^nd from 10:00am – 2:00pm. It’s not just for the locals, checkout the great deals all month long online like Bosch Grinders $49, Bosch Bulldogs $222, 18V Impactors $99, 18V 4 Tool Combo & 3^rd Battery $475 and lots of other great Bosch Tool deals, prices just got lowered yesterday.

Above and beyond these online deals if you can make it to Ohio Power Tool for the event, there will be instant rebates on almost every Bosch tool in-stock good for up to an additional 20% off instantly. Give the guys at Ohio Power Tool a call 800-242-4424 for full details and to get your orders in early to guarantee stock but you are not going to do better buying Bosch Tools this year.         

Posted by Jay A. at 03:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Exactly one year ago today we did a simple comparison post on some new oscillating tools coming out from Dremel and Bosch that would compete directly with the Fein Multi-Master. See Some Fein Looking Tools – Bosch PS50 & Dremel Multi-Max 9/9/08. Since then this post has held strong as our most viewed post ever. I wanted to take a second to revisit the post and perhaps add some more related links, photos & insight now that these tools have been around the block a few times.

Since the original post we added several YouTube Videos (See Below) as well as some additional posts for Bosch PS50 Accessories and Dremel Multi-Max Accessories as well as found some great post on other blogs including this post on toolsnob, one of the best I’ve seen.

Just for good measure I snapped twenty or so more pictures of these two tools and put them in this Facebook Album. Some of the points I was trying to highlight in the added photos would include the difference in size and shape, often people think the Dremel is larger but in fact the Bosch is slightly longer. The difference in Cases, the Bosch is a clear winner here. Also a few pictures of the vents, both of these tools can get hot but the Dremel is often run continuous for longer amounts of time and can get really hot. The Bosch being cordless is less equipped to run continuously so it often has at least a minute or so to cool during battery changes. One guy I spoke with who runs the Dremels all day long actually uses two Multi-Max and puts different attachments on each and use each for 20-30 minutes then switches to the other which saves him time from switching blades but also give the tools time to cool.  

The accessories are also more substantial on the Bosch; in general the Dremel accessories are smaller, thinner metal but less expensive. The sanding pads do work interchangeably but you can see in this photo the Bosch sanding pads are slightly larger. Also you will see in this picture the Bosch adaptor which allows you to use Dremel or Fein blades as well. The Dremel is pictured with a simple washer because this is what we have found many of the tradesmen using so they could use the more substantial Bosch blades with the corded Dremel tool. Funny thing is I didn’t tell them to do this (legal disclaimer: nor would I ever suggest anyone ever alter a tool or make their own adaptors for any tool or accessory ever) but amazingly several different heavy users of these tools came up with the idea on their own. Obviously end users are going to figure out work arounds, manufacturers should accept that and make things easier on everyone.

If you are looking for Dremel Multi-Max ($99) or Bosch Multi-X PS50-2A ($179) PS50-2B ($199) or any of their oscillating tool accessories; Ohio Power Tool keeps all these tools and accessories in stock and able to handle quantity orders.

Posted by Jay A. at 01:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For the month of May you can get FREE GROUND SHIPPING on all Bosch and Dremel accessories from Ohio Power Tool. This applies to all orders over $55 within the continental US. If you want to take part in the free shipping deal and meet the minimum order, simply use COUPON CODE "MAY" in the checkout and when you get to the shipping options Ground will be FREE and overnight, 2 day, etc will all still be available with pricing attached.

This is a great time to stock up on accessories like Dremel Multi-Max Blades, Dust Collection Guards, Brute Bits, Bosch Multi-X blades, T308B Jigsaw blades, Dare Devil Spade Bits, Multi-Construction Drill Bits, Speedwave Diamond Blades, Cup Wheels, Rebar Cutter, X5L full head carbide, etc. Visit the Bosch and/or Dremel pages on Ohio Power Tool for full list of all available accessories.

Don't Forget to use the COUPON CODE "MAY" or you won't get free shipping! Don't want to mess with using a coupon code... just call 800-242-4424 and say give me the Bosch accessory free shipping deal.

Posted by Jay A. at 07:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Dremel Multi-Max has received plenty of positive press from tool blogs, forums and national news sources and for good reason. This tool has been a huge success for Dremel, possibly bigger than they expected. It has been eating into Fein sales of the MutiMaster, I haven’t even seen the infomercials recently. One problem for the Dremel however is that it is not yet really compatible with Fein accessories. The Dremel tool does have a good selection of accessories at very affordable prices however they need to add many more and until these are released over the next year, Fein still has some nice specialty attachments not available from Dremel.

The Bosch PS50 Multi-X was smart enough to include an adaptor with every tool which allows them to work with Dremel & Fein accessories. The Bosch PS50, a very well built tool, has been less popular than the Dremel Multi-Max simply because the cordless oscillating market is much smaller than the corded version. Run times for sanding and scraping are pretty low however nothing beats the convenience of cordless for certain jobs. Bosch may also come out with its own corded version within the next year but I have not heard anything official yet.     

If you don’t want to wait until Dremel comes out with an official adaptor, which I’m sure is on the way, you can always make one. Recently I saw a post from a fellow Power Tool Blog on Tool-Rank.com where they make an adaptor from an old Dremel blade. From the pictures you can see the Fein blades fits perfectly over the Dremel mounts but with nothing to hold it in place it just won’t work. An additional washer of the right size could do the job but this keeps everything much more secure and what else are you going to do with a used Multi-Max blade?

Posted by Jay A. at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Recently I had the opportunity to work with Construction Distribution Magazine and report on some of the new products that were featured at the STAFDA trade show. In total there were 6 of us “Roving Reporters” and it was interesting to see the different products that were mentioned in the article. I personally could have gone on forever with so many new products, if only I had the time and patience, there were easily 100 products which should have been mentioned.

Some of the products highlighted in the article are: Milwaukee M12 Cordless Tools, Spyder Scraper, Recipro Tools, Ridgid MicroExplorer, Malco TurboShear FC, Bosch Laser Levels, Dremel Multi-Max, CP Hydraulic Power Pack, Wright University Online Courses, Bosch Laser Range Finder, Concrete Destroyer from DiTeq Diamond, Joy Jaw saw guards, Grill-N-Chill tailgate BBQ, Gear Keeper Tethered products, Bosch PS50 Multi-X and portable CO2 tank from JacPac.  

Read the full article with pictures now on the Construction Distribution website, also the article will be in the December/January issue of the magazine which should be available this week or next.

Posted by Jay A. at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At Ohio Power Tool you can now get great deals on all Dremel tools in-stock. Supplies are limited, so when they are gone that’s it. Dremel tools make perfect gifts for woodworkers, craftsmen or any tool lover. Some of these units are currently at the absolute lowest prices on Google Shopping.

The Dremel Multi-Max 6300-01 (avoid the Big Box 6300-02L) has been a huge seller over the past few month and it will continue through the holidays and beyond. This tool is very handy, has a great price and has been very popular with the tool press along with the other new oscillating tools.

While the oscillating tools have many possibilities obviously you need the right accessories to take full advantage of all that potential. Below is a quick reference for all the Dremel Multi-Max Accessories currently available, hopefully this will help you get the most of your new tool.

MM450 - 3” Wood & Drywall Saw Blade - $8.75
The round saw blade is really great for precise cuts in drywall, plaster and plywood. The MM450 is ideal for cutting openings in walls or floors for venting, repairing damaged floors or installing electrical boxes. Depth of cut is ¾”. One of the most popular blades so far this is included in the 6300-01 kit but not the 6300-02L sold at your local big box store.

MM440 – ¾” Wood Flush Cut Blade - $10.94
This blade is ideal for soft materials such as wood, drywall and plastic. Typical applications for this blade would be cutting doorjams, windowsill or trim work while installing flooring. Depth of cut is 1-1/4” giving it a full ½” over the MM450 or MM422. This is included in the 6300-01 kit.

MM422 – ¾” Wood & Metal Flush Cut Blade - $12.63
Very similar to the MM440 however this blade is also rated to cut non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, brass or copper. The blade also does a great job of cutting wood, drywall, etc however the depth of cut is only ¾”.

MM411 – 3/8” Wood Flush Cut Blade - $10.10
This blade is identical to the MM440 with a smaller width. Still a good choice for cutting doorjams, windowsill or trim work while installing flooring, this blade is better for the more detailed cuts. Best as a secondary blade.

MM500 – 1/8” Grout Removal Blade - $30.65
Oscillating tools in general have made the task of grout removal so much easier than this has ever been in the past. This blade makes it very easy to cut out and replace a broken tile in minutes. Watch Grout Removal Video. 

MM501 – 1/16” Grout Removal Blade - $30.65
Identical to the MM501 blade except it has a thinner cutting surface. Ideal for smaller grout lines common with smaller tiles or wall applications.       

MM610 – Flexible Scraper Blade - $10.10

MM600 – Rigid Scraper Blades - $10.94
Similar to the MM610 but this blade has an even larger scraping area and as the name would indicate is much more rigid. This blade is a great option for removing vinyl flooring, carpet or tile adhesives which can be particularly difficult to remove.

MM11 – Hook & Loop Pad - $8.75
This pad is included in the 6300-01 kit so you will probably not need a replacement for a little while unless you accidentally loose it of course. It is an important item because it’s required for all sanding and grinding.

MM70W – 60, 120 & 240 Grit Sanding Paper for Wood - $5.24
This sand paper is for direct contact of bare wood, nothing stained or painted. Each pack includes 3 different grit sanding paper to take your raw wood from rough to very fine. One of each of these pads is included in the 6300-01 kits.

MM70P – 80, 120 & 240 Grit Sanding Paper for Paint - $5.24
Each pack includes three levels of sanding paper. The 80 grit is ideal for removing paint. The 120 grit is for sanding primer, removing brush strokes and paint runs or drips. The 240 grit paper is best for final sanding of primers before coating.

MM900 – 60 Grit Diamond Paper for Grinding - $38.52
The Diamond Paper is for rough grinding, shaping and smoothing of masonry, stone, cement, plaster and thin-set mortar. This pad is also good for preparing surfaces for tile replacement and other installations.  

I have been in contact with the nice people at Dremel and it looks like this list will possibly double by the first quarter next year. We can’t wait to see more accessories come out for the Dremel Multi-Max and make this tool even more multi purpose.    

Posted by Jay A. at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1.      PS50 Bosch Multi-X
Oscillating tools are the most popular tool gift for 2008 holidays. Fein owned the market for several years with their MultiMaster but at $300-400 outside of most people’s budget. Bosch’s new cordless Multi-X expands nicely on their 12v Max line up and is available in 2 models :PS50-2A ($179) & PS50-2B ($199).

2. 2420-22 Milwaukee M12 Hackzall
The new Hackzall is a very cool new tool. Basically a mini version of the popular Sawzall reciprocating saw this tool is great for pros and DIY guys alike. The Milwaukee M12 tool line up has been expanded tremendously and there are combo kits and free tool promotions that make the Hackzall very attractive. Price is $179 on Ohio Power Tool.  

3. 30063 Seesanke MicroExplorer
Probably outside more people’s gift giving price range at $690 the MicroExplorer is an investment. For pros it’s probably one of the best gifts you could give yourself. The inspection camera can record images and videos along with many other features including digital self-leveling.   

4. T308B Bosch Jigsaw
At under $10 per 5 pack these saw blades might make a great stocking stuffer for any woodworker or handyman. Unlike typical jigsaw blades these extra clean cut saw blades leave you wood cuts burr free and practically a finished edge. At only a few cents more per blade who wouldn’t get the T308B jigsaw blades?  

5. 2611-24 M18 2 Tool Combo Kit (free battery)
Milwaukee has long been known for some of the best cordless tools in the market. The new M18 hammer drill puts them well above the competition with 650 lb. torque. For a limited time the hammer drill includes the M18 Impact tool for free ($179 value)! To make the deal even better until Dec 31 Milwaukee is giving a free 3^rd battery (mail-in rebate) with many of the M18 tools, this kit included. Sale price $349.

6. IQv144K IR Cordless Impact, drill, light (free socket set)
Ingersoll Rand, one of the top brands among mechanics, has been known for their air impact tools for quite some time. IR has proven they can also be one of the top brands for cordless tools. The new 14.4v IQv kit includes 2 batteries, 3/8” impact, drill, charger and LED flash light which will run for hours. Price on the kit is $398, for a limited time that also includes a free 3/8” socket set.  

7. 36614-02 Bosch 14.4v Drill (free battery)
Recently Bosch introduced all new 18v and 14.4v lithium tools. These have all been really great performers but the 14.4v Compact Tough drill for $199 has been a real standout light weight drill/driver. These new tools are high quality, made in Switzerland and come with a free 3^rd battery (mail-in rebate) until December 31^st. If you are looking at light weight compact drills it would be hard to look past this one.

Most people are aware the new Dremel Multi-Max tool is out and that you can buy it online but why bother everyone is selling it for around $100 might as well go to the local big box store and pick it up there for about the same price right? Ah but if you read the fine print the 6300-01 model which everyone else on the planet is selling is not the same as the box's 6300-02L (Wonder which store the L could indicate).

The regular 6300-01 kit is pretty lean on accessories in the first place, it comes with the MM610 Scraper, MM440 ¾” wood blade, MM450 3” round wood & drywall blade, MM11 sanding pad with several kinds of sand paper. This is just enough to get started and do a few projects. The 6300-02L looks identical in almost everyway to the 6300-01 except the different model number in the lower left corner. What’s the difference? The difference is the 6300-02L in missing the MM450 3” round blade, the most useful of the accessory in the original kit. The cost for this blade at a big box store $9.95 ($8.75 on OPT) that would make the kit 10% over everyone else price for the Multi-Max tool. I have no problem with the big box stores marking up their products and making bigger margins. They are convenient and you can go there for all sorts of junk and will pay a little more for things but don't lie to us. This is misleading and just plain old fashion shady. The intent from the start was to misrepresent this product as the same as everyone else and most people have no idea just as the box stores planed. If I went into all our 6300-01 kits and stole the MM450 blade then sold them as normal people would call me a thief right.

This happens all the time at the big box stores and nobody really says anything. I couldn’t sleep at night if I mislead and ripped off my customers like this. However that is probably why we have a single location in Columbus, Ohio and the Big Boxes are scouting new store locations on the moon.

Posted by Jay A. at 09:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We previously reviewed these two tools and even did some comparisons in a YouTube video. My initial though was that they would probably sell pretty evenly as each tool has its advantages. So far however the Dremel has proven to be the favorite of the two selling out almost as quick as they are coming in. The accessories have also been hard to keep in stock. This will be one of the hottest guy gifts for the 2008 holiday season, no question.

The Dremel Multi-Max 6300-01 is the cheaper of the two by almost half at $99. I think that might be the ideal price for most people to make an impulse purchase even if they know little about these oscillating tools.

Posted by Jay A. at 09:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For those of you that might be in or around Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 22^nd I would like to invite you to Ohio Power Tool for the Annual Tent Sale & Tool Expo. This year it’s a little later than usual so it would correspond with the launch of so many new lines of tools including: Milwaukee M12, Milwaukee M18, Bosch 12V Max, Bosch 18V Lithium, Ridgid Explorer & New Seesnakes, plus many other exciting product. All of these new tools will be at the show ready for you to demo, so if you want to try out the new Dremel Multi-Max or anything else come on down. Each vendor will be there in full force including the Bosch Big Blue Trailer. Milwaukee, Ingersoll Rand, Ridgid, Chicago Pneumatic, Hougen, Power Team and many others will have tents and tables set up as well. The event runs from 10:00am – 5:00pm or when people finally leave.

This is a great event for any one buying tools or just wanting to test out the new tools! Ohio Power Tool, already known for low internet competitive pricing, really blows it out for the tent sale. Lots of existing products are discounted for that day in addition to overall discounts given on all in-store orders. On top of the Ohio Power Tool discounts the vendors on hand have even more discounts in the form of promotions, instant rebates, free tools, tool trade-ins, etc. For instance, Bosch is offering $75 trade-in on any 18 volt, working or not, to upgrade to their new 18v lithium. That would put the new Bosch 18V compact drill at $129 and on top of that you would still get off an additional discount from Ohio Power Tool.

I’m sounding like a used car salesman now but it is definitely worth checking out if you want to get some really good deals on power tools or just get your hands on some of the new tools.      

Posted by Jay A. at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here is a quick YouTube video we had a chance to shoot when we got our hands on the new Bosch and Dremel multi purpose tools. Unfortunately we did not have a lot of time to go through all the features or test the grout remover which I had hoped to try. It will give you a pretty good idea of the size and what it can do. Obviously you can get the Dremel Multi-Max or the Bosch Multi-X (PS50-2A or PS50-2B) at Ohio Power Tool. Let us know if you have any questions about either tool.     

Posted by Jay A. at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Now where have we seen tools that look like these before? It’s no secret that many companies have been waiting for the day they can legally bring products to market that can compete directly with the Fein MultiMaster. Fein has been unbelievably successful with these tools and if you have ever used one you will know exactly why. I even saw a MultiMaster Tool infomercial. Fein makes great professional quality tools however they are definitely on the pricier side which may keep these tools out of many people’s hands.

There are two new models that will compete directly with the Fein MultiMaster. Both Bosch & Dremel have new tools that will be significantly cheaper but do the same basic multi tool jobs. The Bosch will work with the existing cordless 12V max batteries while the Dremel Multi-Max will be a corded model.

Dremel Multi-Max vs. Fein MultiMaster

The Dremel Multi-Max will start at $99 vs. Fein MultiMaster Start at $245. Both are similar in size and have the same max oscillation per minute at 21,000 OPM. They both can use either brands attachments but the Dremel attachments will cost about half as much. Both feature quick change options. At 40% of the price I think the Dremel might be the choice for many people who have not picked up a Fein yet.

Bosch Multi-X PS50 vs. Fein MultiMaster ACCU Cordless

On Power rating the Fein is 9.6V vs. Bosch at 12V. On Speed the Fein has a Max 14,500 OPM vs. Bosch Max 20,000 OPM. On price the Fein Cordless in $481.50 and the Bosch PS50-2A is $179. The Bosch also works with a wide range of other great 12V Max tools, with more to come. The Bosch Accessories are about half the price of the Fein but work interchangably with Fein 636 model's accessories. I think we may have a new player in the field when the PS50 is actually available.  

Posted by Jay A. at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Posted by Jay A. at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)