[Brian Peters]

I have a Bosch corded oscillating tool, the 2.5 amp one not the newer 3 amp. It quit working; is extremely loud and won't hardly cut, so I took it to the repair shop. Needs a new gearbox, will cost 70 dollars to fix, so I'm thinking of upgrading. Thinking of the new 3 amp, but am not sure about another Bosch since this one gave out so soon...so thought I'd ask y'all here on CT.

 

[Gary H]

Fein. Never have to buy another one for many years.

 

[Brian Peters]

Fein. Never have to buy another one for many years.

Guess I really didn't need to ask...I was pretty sure that would be the first response. Are there different models?

 

[skillman]

Rockwell for me . Had keyless and keyed one . Never had problem with them .

 

[TNTRenovate]

Bosch... Even Fein makes a clunker every once in awhile.

 

[mmk]

Have been using the same Rockwell for years on everything from control joints to to undercutting casing. Reasonably priced and takes a beating. The only issue I have is that rockwell's newer blade design requires an adapter to fit the original oscillating tool.

 

[pinwheel]

Cheap's from harbor freight. For $20, they're disposable. I've worked the dog crap out of the first one I bought from them 3 years ago & it's still going strong. Bought it to see if I'd actually use one enough to justify dropping the coin on a Fein. Never bought a Fein, even though I probably should.

 

[jlsconstruction]

I have a Rockwell and a makita 18v

The Rockwell has to be about 7 years old

 

[tyb525]

Rockwell corded that's probably 4 years old. Louder than crap, but it works.

 

[Brian Peters]

I've used a Rockwell before... doesn't even compare with the Bosch IMO.

 

[charimon]

Pinwheel has a Valid point. We have both the Bosch and the Fein, the Bosch gets pulled out only when the Fein is already being used. The long cord on the fein is often the tipping point.

 

[painterman]

I have both the Fein and the new Bosch. Hands down the 3 amp Bosch is better. The Made in Germany Fein uses parts in it that are made in China ...go figure. The only real problem with the Bosch is getting aftermarket blades,very limited selection at this point in time.

 

[TNTRenovate]

I have both the Fein and the new Bosch. Hands down the 3 amp Bosch is better. The Made in Germany Fein uses parts in it that are made in China ...go figure. The only real problem with the Bosch is getting aftermarket blades,very limited selection at this point in time.

A lot of blades fit Bosch.

 

[EricBrancard]

I have both the Fein and the new Bosch. Hands down the 3 amp Bosch is better. The Made in Germany Fein uses parts in it that are made in China ...go figure. The only real problem with the Bosch is getting aftermarket blades,very limited selection at this point in time.

I wouldn't want to use aftermarket blades anyways. The Bosch blades are the best ones.

 

[EricBrancard]

Fein. Never have to buy another one for many years.

The repair centers see plenty of Fein multimasters.

 

[Brian Peters]

Well I decided to go with the Bosch...I really liked the one I had, but ever since they came out with the more powerful one with tool free blade change I've been wishing I had it instead. Hopefully thus one will last longer...

 

[TNTRenovate]

Cheap's from harbor freight. For $20, they're disposable. I've worked the dog crap out of the first one I bought from them 3 years ago & it's still going strong. Bought it to see if I'd actually use one enough to justify dropping the coin on a Fein. Never bought a Fein, even though I probably should.

I have used HF, Rockwell, Rigid, Bosch and Fein. The Fein is by far the best, but Bosch does a pretty darn good job. The biggest difference between the cheaper models is noise and vibration. While they may last a long time, the small increase in price is well worth the fatigue and wear/tear on my body.

 

[TNTRenovate]

I wouldn't want to use aftermarket blades anyways. The Bosch blades are the best ones.

Agreed, but I do by some of the cheaper blades for the guys to use. After someone grabbed a $30 blade meant for hardwood and used it as a scraper blade. I know have a box that others are allowed to use and my box that has all of my awesome Bosch blades. They last forever.

 

[pinwheel]

I have used HF, Rockwell, Rigid, Bosch and Fein. The Fein is by far the best, but Bosch does a pretty darn good job. The biggest difference between the cheaper models is noise and vibration. While they may last a long time, the small increase in price is well worth the fatigue and wear/tear on my body.

I mainly use one in short bursts undercutting casings, cleaning up corners, ect. If I was running one for hours on end, I wouldn't hesitate to drop the coin on a fein.

 

[EricBrancard]

Agreed, but I do by some of the cheaper blades for the guys to use. After someone grabbed a $30 blade meant for hardwood and used it as a scraper blade. I know have a box that others are allowed to use and my box that has all of my awesome Bosch blades. They last forever.

Yeah, I hear you. Nothing beats when someone decides it's a good idea to use an expensive oscillating blade to do a task that can be done with a $8 skill saw blade or $3 sawzall blades that lasts 100x as long.

Oscillating tool rule #1: Just because it can doesn't mean it should :laughing: