If you do any tiling or flooring you should know the value of our cordless multi-tool reviews. Oscillating multi-tools represent the modern replacement to the undercutting saw. They provide quicker, more efficient cuts and can greatly reduce your time on the job. As these handy tools have gone cordless, it has only made them more helpful. We do an annual best oscillating multi-tool review where we take most of the major players and pit them against each other. Testing run-time, vibration, and power, we noted that manufacturers have not created all of these tools equally. With advances like the Fein Starlock oscillating multi-tool system and new tools that offer tool-free blade changes, multi-tools are only getting better. The next phase is understand which multi-tool accessories will hold up and stay sharp when you cut into harder material. Many a blade has been dulled by heart pine and oak. Accessories like the Bosch OIS system make compatibility issues virtually a thing of the past. Hopefully our multi-tool reviews will help you decide which platform or product best meets your particular needs.
Makita just released two new multi-tools, including the new 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Multi-Tool Kit (model LXMT025), and the corded Multi-Tool Kit (model TM3000CX5). Compared to other models on the market, these tools look to be hitting the market as “second-gen” level tools, with sufficient build quality to impress us out of the gate and enough run-time (18V cordless) and power (corded model) to be very practical.
The new TM3000CX5 Oscillating Multi-Tool is powered by a 3.0 amp motor with soft start for smooth start-ups. The variable speed control dial allows a flexible operating range (6,000 – 20,000 OPM) and enables the user to match the speed to the application, and the electronic speed control maintains constant speed under load for smoother, higher-quality work. Similar to the 18V Lithium-Ion Multi-Tool, the new TM3000CX5 has a 3.2 degree oscillation angle engineered for faster, more aggressive cutting and sanding.
There are now over a dozen oscillating multi-tools on the market, which begs the question: which one do I buy? What we’re finding, especially thanks to universal accessory adapters now coming to market, is that they all cut basically the same – provided you are comparing them using the same blade. What that leaves is features, price, and of course, rugged build quality and ergonomics. CEL’s Multi2PRO has some nice features that make it stand out, and it’s an easy tool to use, so it fits nicely into the mix of oscillating multi-tools and provides the company with a competitive product with which to round out their product line. We tested the CEL Power8 Workshop all-in-one compact benchtop tool earlier last year and we’d rank the Multi2PRO in the same category. If you’re looking for an inexpensive multi-tool with decent features, CEL has something that’s at least worth a second look.
Last year we did an oscillating multi-tool shootout, where we compared all of the various brands and measured them to see which performed in a way that set them apart from the pack. We were able to really determine the good values on the market and make recommendations based on intended use and user goals. That part of my life was done, or so I thought, until a couple companies, including Milwaukee Electric Tool, released new multi-tool products. But, like the famous line from the Godfather, “just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in.” And just like that, I’m back in the world of multi-tools. This time around, it’s the Milwaukee M12 Cordless Multi-tool Kit (2426-22). The kit comes with 2 RedLithium batteries, a charger, a few accessories, and – most importantly – an adapter that lets almost anyone’s accessories fit onto the tool.
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