Bosch PMF 180E OR FEIN MULTIMASTER 250Q

[p3tris]

First of all hi. Hope somebody will help me make up my mind.
I want to do an investment in buying a multitool to do some renovations and other stuff. I found the two mentioned above. The FEIN one is really more expensive than the BOSCH so anyone proposing it please give me some reason.
Thanks in advanced!

*I was going to post some links to the pages of both to see some videos in them but it seems it's prohibited. You can search thes with the stated names though.

 

[mailee]

I have had the Bosch for over a year now and am very happy with it. Also the blades for the early mulitmaster fit it too. I am of the opinion that the Fein is a more industrial tool.

 

[neilyweely]

fein. No contest, if you are going to work with it.


HTH

Neil

 

[p111dom]

I've only evry used the Fein but it wasn't mine it was a rental tool. I got it to trim around some door frames when I was fitting laminate some years ago but no matter how tight did the special nut on the bottom after extended use it kept vibrating loose. It got pretty annoying in the end. They're probably a few generations on from that tool but after being impressed by the demo at a woodworking show I found it a little annoying because of this so never bought one. Anyone else had that problem? I think it was a heat thing. I did 8 door frames back to back and the nut was pretty hot. It may have being loosening due to heat induced expension and contraction of the metal as opposed to the vibration.

 

[p3tris]

fein. No contest, if you are going to work with it.


HTH

Neil

The BOSCH though seems to have a stronger motor (180W vs 165W i think) and they seem to do the same stuff. The FEIN has an easier "TIP changing" system. To say the truth i've worked with BOSCH tools (other than the multitool) many times and never failed me, but the FEIN tools i've never came across. Oh and the FEIN tool is rated industrial.

 

[ndbrown]

I've got the earlier version of the Fein and have had it for a long time (before it became as popular and well known). I would not worry about the motor rating, it's a really good german designed and manufactured item. I have had an occasional problem with accessories slackening off as stated elsewhere but not enough to cause a real problem or change my overall opinion of it. However the new version star fixing design should eliminate this. Accessories from Fein are not cheap for the new or old version. Bosch accessories fit the older system and are good quality and value form money.
In my opinion (and as it happens some of the magazines), the new blue cordless Bosch GOP 10.8v is a really good deal. Excellent build quality and cordless operation transform this idea. I have had a play about with it and I am going to buy one. I suspect that my mains Fein version will not get used very often. Bosch also comes in a systainer case. Whatever version you choose it's an invaluable tool for certain situations where nothing else could be used.
Regards
Nigel

 

[Jake]

I have had an occasional problem with accessories slackening off as stated elsewhere but not enough to cause a real problem or change my overall opinion of it. However the new version star fixing design should eliminate this.

The star drive convertor for the old style MMs is excellent and I haven't had that problem once since getting it.

 

[chippy1970]

I have the fein kit so cannot comment on the Bosch.

The fein is very well made and works well the only thing that annoys me with it is the price of the blades this would have put me off if I had known when I bought it. I have been using the standard wood blades pack of 3 around £35 to cut lots of door linings while laying wood flooring, not bad but if they touch cement or brick they are knackered straight away .

I got this kit http://www.fein.de/fein-multimaster/uk/ ... r_top.html

I payed too much around £185 but I think there were some on ebay for around £145.

 

[RogerS]

I've got the Fein and it's got me out of more scrapes then I can remember including this classic. It's had a heck of a lot of use and still going strong. I can also recommend the star thingummy but buy two as they get lost.

Can't comment on the Bosch but if you were planning to use it a lot then I'd stump up for the Fein. I've had a lot of Bosch stuff in the past and a lot of it (OK..the DIY stuff) wore out. No idea how they classify their equivalent.

 

[Harbo]

I have used a friend's Fein but could not justify the cost for the amount of use and bought the Bosh when on special offer.
Works as good as the Fein but whether it will last as long if given heavy use ???

Rod

 

[BradNaylor]

I've had a Fein for around 5 years and it is the most useful tool I have for site work. Mine is the old type and blades coming loose is a problem; however they have now sorted that on the new models. In fact I am seriously thinking of upgrading.

As to cost - I think £140ish for the full kit is very cheap. I just had to spend £70 on a pack of 10 new blades!

The Bosch is a DIY toy in comparison. If it was of decent calibre they'd have given it a blue casing and put it in their trade range.

Cheers
Brad

 

[RogerS]

....
The Bosch is a DIY toy in comparison. If it was of decent calibre they'd have given it a blue casing and put it in their trade range.

Cheers
Brad

Aha...say no more. Occasional light work then (on a fine day).

 

[misterfish]

I wondered this some months ago when I started laying new flooring - with the main use being to trim existing door casings and architraves (and odd bits of skirting board).

I had virtually decided on the Fein when I saw the electrician doing some work for my father-in law actually using the Fein and asked him what he thought. Surprisingly he said that he and his business partner had a Bosch and the Fein and he found nothing to choose between them - both got a lot of use and he could see no practical advantage to the Fein especially considering its much higher cost.

As a result I bought the Bosch and have no regrets. Although the Bosch green tools are considered DIY/light trade rated they do seem to be much better made and engineered than other cheap brands.

If i was buying again I'd go for the Bosch agin.

Misterfish

 

[j]

There's also a worx version sold by argos.
Probably about the same price as the bosch, but maybe worth keeping an eye out for a special offer somewere.

£70 at argos
and a 3 year guarantee too

 

[Vormulac]

I have the Worx version and have used it extensively for everything from fine sanding, to cutting metal pipework to removing tiles, to cutting precision holes in half inch thick tiles, to chopping out masonry...
Best £60 I've ever spent on a tool, and I have used both Fein and Bosch accessories with it.

 

[Jake]

Aha...say no more. Occasional light work then (on a fine day).

Groan.

 

[RogerS]

Aha...say no more. Occasional light work then (on a fine day).

Groan.

Ah...the legal alliteration....I was forgetting that No wonder you guys charge more than bankers when you read so much into what us mere mortals write

 

[mack9110000]

Where do you get the blades for the Worx version? They look like they may fit the Supercut.

 

[Wildcard]

The Bosch is a DIY toy in comparison. If it was of decent calibre they'd have given it a blue casing and put it in their trade range.

As Nigel commented on, the new Li cordless version is a blue case trade version. I don't know if the internals are any better then the green one, but they must have some confidence in it. It's also on offer at Axminster right now and coming with 2 batteries looks pretty good value.

What is the situation with compatibility of blades between the different makes? The price of the fein ones is certainly an eye-opener and being able to use cheaper ones with it would be useful for situations where having the best quality blades or sanding pads isn't vital.

 

[Vormulac]

Where do you get the blades for the Worx version? They look like they may fit the Supercut.

I couldn't find anywhere selling the accessories for the Worx (I think it's actually made by american company Rockwell) but I have used both Bosch and Fein accessories on it, whichever one I could find cheapest for whichever accessory I needed. I daresay if you could find a source of Rockwell accessories they would be cheaper than either Bosch or Fein, but to be honest getting them from ebay shops it hasn't exactly worked out expensive. Incidentally, I bought the Fein 'star' washer to allow myself to use the new mulitmaster type blades and it works perfectly, the standard fit is not keyed like the multimaster, you just cinch the blade up tight between two plates.