Fein Cordless Multimaster Cleaning

[Sideways]

I own a cordless version Fein Multimaster oscillating tool. Not something you need every day but for some jobs it's invaluable.
I leant this to a good friend who needed to cut some grout out of his bathroom tiles.
He took great care of the tool, returned it clean and tidy, all good.

I noticed that the slide switch felt gritty and decided to open it up rather than let it wear and get worse over time. I'm glad I did. Immaculate outside, there was lots of white powdered grout inside where he couldn't see it.

It was worse to start with, this has already had a quick sweep with the vacuum

Notice the round white disc. One on either side, these are the anti vibration mounts for the front of the motor. They help reduce the vibration transferred to your hand.

The anti vibration mounts for the back of the motor are in the shells, below.

Cue a thorough clean with a nylon bristle brush and vacuum.

Sharing here
1. To demonstrate the build quality which is very decent
2. For interest of anyone tempted by one
3. To point out the airflows and suggest that after an obnoxious job like this, it's a very good idea to blow it out with compressed air which is the only way to get the dust out of the motor innards.

 

[Sideways]

Opening the tool is easy. 7 off Tx15 screws hold the 2 sides of the shell together. Undo and set the screws aside.
I have a habit of placing screws in a pattern as I pull them out in case they are different sizes, but all the same here

After a good clean the shells are perfect

And here is the moulding that operates the sealed microswitch built into the one piece electronics module at the back

 

[Sideways]

Motor is brushed.

There's a spindle extension with a magnet and that aligns with an all in one, potted speed controller that has a sensor inside to keep the speed constant under load.

The tiny plunger with a green seal around it is the actual power switch.
Note the speed dial, heatsinks for the electronics and decently thick wires to the motor and battery.
At the motor end, the wires are soldered to the brushes.

 

[Sideways]

After a good clean I thought I was done but decided to wave a blow gun at it just in case. Many clouds of dust came out of the motor !

The airflow design here draws air into the front of the tool. Partly through tiny gaps around the very front of the motor, partly into the front of the shell and then into the motor via slots towards its front.

Cooling air flows around the armature and gets spun out of the rear slots in the body by the fan at the back of the motor.

Spindle magnet back in line with the sensor in the electronic module

Just a little air squeezes past the electronics and carries heat away from the heatsinks to vent out of the slots above the battery connection.

This design does pick up the dust created by the tool and the cooling air drags it through the motor.

This is not an issue. Many tools work exactly the same, especially angle grinders, and if the tool is made for it, it will last. However the powdered grout is tenacious stuff. Hard to shift with a brush and invulnerable to vacuuming alone. I'm glad I took an hour out to check this and as you can see it cleans up v nicely.

Note that the labels are attached across the join of the bodywork, so it is totally clear that a machine has been opened.

 

[Sideways]

Why a Fein cordless BTW ?
I put up with tinnitus 24/7 and now more than ever I'm willi g to pay a bit more for a quieter machine. As well as being well made, this model of the multimaster was, and maybe still is, the quietest one of what are annoyingly noisy tools.

 

[cowtown_eric]

I totally love the idea of keeping tools running!

 

[pe2dave]

That saying? "you get what you pay for".
Looks very well made - excellent clean-up.
(A new macro lens by any chance )

 

[Sideways]

Thanks - just my Samsung mobile. The camera's not the best but it likes simple bright colours

 

[pe2dave]

Thanks - just my Samsung mobile. The camera's not the best but it likes simple bright colours

Wow. They really have caught up with 'ordinary' cameras! Good clear images.

 

[smugdruggler]

I have the corded Fein multi tool and although I do not use it a lot when I do it is invaluable. The build quality is superb but like the OP's machine the on/off slide switch is now hard to operate so I will have to bite the bullet and dismantle the casing and give it a thorough clean.

If you haven't heard of the YouTube channel called AvE then I highly recommend it, the guy in my opinion is funny and very knowledgeable.

He has a language all his own

Here is the review he did on the Fein multi tool

 

[pe2dave]

He has lots of foul language too.
I gave up - I think it's his show off channel.

 

[scholar]

Sharing here
1. To demonstrate the build quality which is very decent
2. For interest of anyone tempted by one
3. To point out the airflows and suggest that after an obnoxious job like this, it's a very good idea to blow it out with compressed air which is the only way to get the dust out of the motor innards.

…and also to show the pitfalls of lending your tools out (even to good friends)!

I had a similar problem with my (DeWalt) cordless angle grinder having used it for cutting a load of red bricks. But Fein build quality is definitely a cut above.

Cheers

 

[Sideways]

AvE makes me smile more often than not, but I also find his ego gets in the way and I don't trust his pronouncements at all
Despite those reservations, being able to see inside a tool does help (me at least) have some confidence before I buy, so I appreciate his efforts too

 

[pe2dave]

Fair comment @Sideways - clear it's a well made tool.

 

[MikeJhn]

The Multimaster is a real cut (sic) above the rest, but the corded version has a very annoying habit of not going back into the box without lots of winding of the power cord, seems to take me longer to get it back in the box than using it to cut a few things, think I need to cut the lead off and put an inline connector on it, like the latest green very expensive tools.

Anyone know of a source for an inline plug and socket that is not as bulky as this: IP68 Plug & Socket Waterproof Connector 3 Pole (Screwless)

 

[Sideways]

Two options for that :
Either Neutrik powerconn true 1 top
https://www.neutrik.com/en/products/power/powercon-true1-topwhich are really nice to install and to use (best prices come up on ebay)

or
Hirschmann stak 200 from RS Components. These are much more compact than the neutrik, v well built, 3 pole, 10A rated but will only take a slim mains cable because of the gland at the end.

 

[flying haggis]

I have used mains rated XLRs on a couple of my tools. Ok they are not really intended for the domestic market but I am happy to use them as I know how to connect them correctly having used them in a professional enviroment some years ago. they are hard to find now and expensive but are the smallest i know of

 

[thebruiser]

I’ve made a few 3D printed parts for broken tools otherwise they have been thrown out.