Multimaster Vs Crain 820 For Undercutting

denverboz

Hey guys, looking for a little advice from you on purchasing an undercut saw.

I got a floor job coming up, and figure its time to get an undercut saw.
As its not my primary business I have put off buying one, but gonna bite the bullet.
I believe crain has a very good reputation and the 820 looks pretty sweet.


The 812 actually looks way better, but its an extra hun at least .

So does anyone have any experience with the 820 or 812 care to offer a review.

I've also looked at the Fein multimaster, which is a bit pricier than the crain 812, but I could do so much more with it.
So has anyone used the multimaster to undercut a lot of jambs and casing?

Actually what I'd like is people who have used both and to hear their opinion on them.

It seems to me the crain would be quicker, and would leave a straighter cut , as with the multimaster the wood blade is maybe about 2.5 inches so you have to move the blade over to make a jamb cut , whereas with the crain you would just run it straight across . Hope that makes sense.

I guess the question I'm really trying to get is does the multimaster do as good a job as the 820?

Thanks for any tips or advice. Or even if some one has a recommendation on anything else.

Leo G

The crain is designed for just what you are planing on doing. It will work fast and do the job cleanly. The multimaster will do the job, but it will be slow, the advantage is after this job is over you will be using the multimaster again and again. The crain will go into its box until another similar job comes up.

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denverboz

Thanks Leo. That's kinda what I'm thinking also. I pretty much figured the 820 is the far better tool for undercutting, so its a matter of spending that money for a tool I don't use a whole lot. On the other hand I just love having and using the right tool, it makes life so much easier usually.

And ya think the multimaster would be that much slower?

I mean what would the diff be, the 820 would take what? 10 secs, and how long for the MM? A couple minutes??? I'd be more concerned with the quality of the cut.

denverboz

A little side question.

This client had his downstairs done by a contractor who didn't undercut any jams and left the flooring 3/8"(and more) away from the jambs and casing.

Needless to say it looks like crap. Is there any good way to fill that in?

Do all flooring mfrs sell some type of color matched expansion caulk that might work?

Leo G

If you are cutting just jambs and casing the MM will be fine. Just remember you make need to cut doors and baseboard too. If you are going to be 50'+ of base board you will not want to be using the MM. The 820 won't cut a door thicker than 1 5/8", should work for almost all interior doors, but some doors are 1 3/4" thick.

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GoodHouse

Cutting doors with an undercut saw is terrible... I've only ever had to do that on a pocket door, thats it. If you need to cut a door, take it off and circular saw it. As far as cutting baseboard with an undercut saw? Again only when absolutely necessary. Take the base off and renail it once new floor is installed. Since you are not a flooring professional, buy the multimaster.. you can sand, cut, scrape etc. Works very well. Blades are very expensive but you will find many many uses for it since your trade says remodeling. If you are doing a job just hear and there the MM and hand saw will be fine. If you do a lot of flooring and do big jobs with many casings to cut get an undercut saw....

One more word of caution.... when using an undercut saw be careful not to cut any pipes of radiators or wires for alarm systems behind door casings.

Good luck

Jerry T

Save yourself a wad of dough and buy this for undercutting jambs and casing.

http://bosch.cpotools.com/saws/power...1640vs-46.html

floorinstall

I agree the bosh is the tool. It dose an awsome and quick job. Ive been using them for years,

PrecisionFloors

If you do floors on more than an occasional basis, plan on eventually getting both. I on 3 jamb saws (including the 820) and a Supercut. I rarely use the Fein for jambs though, blades are just too damned expensive to be wasting them on work like that imo. You will not go wrong with the 820, I promise you. Best jamb saw on the market by far.

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