There are common power tools you see everywhere on professional jobsites, like cordless drills, impact drivers, circular saws, and table saws to name a few. There are also more specialized products but that remain very common for Pros. One that you’ll see in nearly every home improvement and hardware store is the oscillating multi-tool. So what is an oscillating multi-tool exactly? Better yet, what do you use it for and what should you look for when buying one?
Ready to buy? Check out our best oscillating multi-tool recommendations for the year!
What is an Oscillating Multi-Tool?
What gives the oscillating tool its name is the fact that the motor oscillates left and right thousands of times per minute. It’s not unusual for Pro models to have an oscillation rate of 18,000 – 20,000 OPM (oscillations per minute) at the top end.
The official name of this power tool is the oscillating multi-tool. It often goes by oscillating tool or just multi-tool. You can even call it an OMT if you want to show off (and likely confuse your friends).
Some brands used to have proprietary names for their models, like the Ridgid Job Max and the Festool Vecturo. Most brands have shifted away from that thinking, likely to help avoid confusion, but there are still some holdouts.
Most oscillating tools are built around a body similar to that of an angle grinder. However, there are a few that stray from the norm. Ridgid, Ryobi, and DeWalt all go for a thinner design but still maintain that general grinder look.
One of the major differences is at the head. In some form, a mechanism needs to secure or clamp the attachment to the head. There are several different ways to make this happen from a bolt that requires a hex wrench to Bosch’s and Fein’s hands-free Starlock system and plenty of other designs in between.
What are Oscillating Multi-tools Used For?
Oscillating multi-tools have “multi-tool” in the name for a reason. The majority of Pros will use some type of blade for cutting wood, metal, PVC, or other materials. You can also get scraper blades specifically for grout, silicon, or a variety of other adhesives.
It’s not all about the blade, though. Most oscillating tools include a triangular sanding head and several sanding pads. While you don’t want to sand an entire door with one, OMTs do a nice job of detail sanding.
Even though the oscillating multi-tool can cut, scrape, and sand, it’s not really the best tool for any of those applications. Reciprocating saws cut much faster, angle grinders remove grout more effectively, and random orbit sanders are more efficient with better results.
Where the oscillating tool makes its living is in spaces where those primary tools can’t fit or are tough to use. They’re phenomenal for undercutting baseboards that are flush to the floor or cutting a pipe where there’s not much room under a sink. They’ll give you better control around finished tile and fixtures when you’re removing adhesives.
What’s questionable is whether or not you really need the sanding pad if you already have a delta pad sander. Realistically, if you’re already a Pro using round, rectangular, and delta pad finish sanders, an oscillating tool is probably the last sanding option you’ll turn to.
For those of you who aren’t carpenters and may only have a round random orbit sander, the oscillating multi-tool can sand into corners and small areas well.
What to Look for on an Oscillating Tool
Oscillating multi-tools are pretty basic when it comes to feature sets, but there are some things to look for when you’re shopping.
Corded vs Cordless Oscillating Tools
Cordless oscillating multi-tools have caught up to their corded counterparts. The decision between the two really boils down to your preference between unlimited runtime, cordless convenience, and budget.
Oscillation Rate and Angle
The higher the top speed, the faster the tool will cut. Look for at least 18,000 OPM.
The higher the oscillation angle, the more aggressively it will cut. This means more speed but also more vibration and noise. 3.6° (1.8° to either side) is a pretty good balance. Models with a 4.0° or 4.2° arc cut, scrape, and sand noticeably faster.
Vibration
The more vibration the tool has, the more uncomfortable it is to use. Fein is the top of the line in this category, nearly eliminating vibration in their MultiMaster oscillating multi-tool. More recently, Makita took over as the low-vibration leader.
Accessory System and Speed of Changing Blades
Changing the accessory can be very simple or overly complex. Our Pro team won’t even bother with a model that requires a tool to change the blade. We prefer Starlock for its ease of use.
Accessory Type
Check what style of accessory the multi-tool needs. Starlock tools won’t work with regular blades, though Starlock blades do tend to work on most tools using the older OIS interface. Festool used to have a separate propriety system before they switched to Starlock around 2021.
Variable Speed Dial/Trigger
Our team prefers oscillating tools with an on/off switch and variable speed dial to match the speed to the task. However, a handful of paddle trigger styles also exist. If you’re going that route, look for one with a lock-on switch. This comes in handy when sanding or scraping.
Noise Level
In a head-to-head comparison, we measured cutting noise levels from 92 dB(A) to 104 dB(A). We’re all for using the top performers, so this is a matter of what you’re comfortable with on the hearing protection side of things.
In all honestly, the only thing we really don’t like is a screaming high-pitched motor sound. Some of the really cheap no-name brands have this distinctly unpleasant sound, so it’s best to stick to known brands to avoid this issue.
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