Fein Multimaster or Bosch 180E

[misterfish]

Hi

I have some (=80sq m) of solid oak flooring to lay upstairs throughout our landing and four bedrooms. This will involve trimming of door reveals and skirtings in various places which looks like being both awkward and fiddly.

Looking around I have seen various questions and comments about the Fein and Bosch machines but usually people own the Fein and actually have no practical hands on experience of the Bosch. So I was wondering that as this has now been available for a time has anybody used one 'in earnest' and if so how did you find it?

The Fein machine and blades seem a lot more expensive and I (or should I say SWMBO) need convincing that going for the expensive option would be worthwhile just for our own domestic use.

So any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

Misterfish

 

[Vormulac]

Hi MisterFish,

I can't comment on the Bosch, but there is a third alternative:

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... hp?t=26241

HTH

V.

 

[Anonymous]

Had the Fein for a couple of years and absolutely can't fault it (neither can Bean who keeps borrowing it :evil: :lol: ). No idea about the bosch.

 

[Niki]

I have the Fein Multimaster (got it as a prize from Wood Magazine for "TopShop Tip") and everyday I find new uses to it.

Vormulac
On the Argos page there is something very interesting...

"Manufacturer's 3 year guarantee".
"Exclusions: warranty does not cover professional use". :shock:

Well, maybe the guarantee cover "3 years in the box" otherwise how one can prove that he didn't used it "professionally"...

niki

 

[Vormulac]

Quite, I'd like to see them prove it! :lol:

 

[Waka]

I have the Fein and recommend it highly, as well as the application you want it for it also acts as a profile sander, I have also used mine for trimming out channels in walls for cables.

You are correct that it is more expensive than other makes and I can't speak for them. If you can't afford to buy one have you looked into the possiblity of hiring, not sure if this is possible, but its got ot be worthn a try.

 

[misterfish]

Looks like it will be a Fein - just need to convince SWMBO that the extra cost is necessary.

We will be using it for trimming door casings for the floor - skirting board is being partly replaced as much was removed and discarded during our recent refurb. The existing skirtings are only nailed on and can be removed for trimming in the workshop (after removal of any mortar, grit metalwork.

The other job that has just reared its ugly head is to help remove the tiles from the shower (due to leaks we can't track down) without damaging the underlying wall surface any more than necessary. With the wisdom of hindsight we should have sealed the wall and shower tray with one of those waterproof systems and then tiled ove that - but we live and learn.

So thanks for the advice

Misterfish

 

[Harbo]

Having kept borrowing a friend's Fein and ruining a metal cutting blade (it would not cope with a wood screw) I bought the Bosch a while back at B&Q when they had a sale (and with the silver discount it cost about £50?).
To be honest I have not used it much or found the need, so the little it cost compared to the £179 seemed more justifiable to me?
It does perform like the Fein but will it last as long only time will tell?

Rod

 

[gidon]

Having kept borrowing a friend's Fein and ruining a metal cutting blade (it would not cope with a wood screw) I bought the Bosch a while back at B&Q when they had a sale (and with the silver discount it cost about £50?).

Ditto with the Bosch - very surprised the metal blade wouldn't cut through a screw! Sort of glad to hear it's the same with the Fein.

I think for the price the Bosch is pretty good. I've always been impressed with Bosch green stuff value-wise - well made and not too many obvious corners cut. It's a lot cheaper than the Fein too (I paid £50 for mine too).

Cheers

Gidon

 

[chippy1970]

I just splashed out and bought the FMM 250Q kit I have wanted one for years just for cutting all those annoying bits of skirting off etc when you end up struggling with a handsaw and chisels normally.

I bought the 110v kit around the £180 mark and so far I am pretty impressed, the build quality is really good. So far I have only used it to trim off the ends of a stair case string in-situ and it did this quiet neatly.

 

[busy builder]

Hi

I have some (=80sq m) of solid oak flooring to lay upstairs throughout our landing and four bedrooms. This will involve trimming of door reveals and skirtings in various places which looks like being both awkward and fiddly.

Looking around I have seen various questions and comments about the Fein and Bosch machines but usually people own the Fein and actually have no practical hands on experience of the Bosch. So I was wondering that as this has now been available for a time has anybody used one 'in earnest' and if so how did you find it?

The Fein machine and blades seem a lot more expensive and I (or should I say SWMBO) need convincing that going for the expensive option would be worthwhile just for our own domestic use.

So any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

Misterfish

Surely you should be removing skirting and re fitting after laying the flooring. the only cuts should be the door linings and stops.

 

[DaveL]

Surely you should be removing skirting and re fitting after laying the flooring.

Well that would be the ideal way of doing the job, but in older houses where the skirting is cut nailed to the brickwork and everything is a bit loose, :evil: no way. [-X
I remember in the first place I bought, I had to have a wall re plastered when most of the under layer fell out from behind the finish skim when I disturbed the skirting. ](*,)

 

[busy builder]

Surely you should be removing skirting and re fitting after laying the flooring.

Well that would be the ideal way of doing the job, but in older houses where the skirting is cut nailed to the brickwork and everything is a bit loose, :evil: no way. [-X
I remember in the first place I bought, I had to have a wall re plastered when most of the under layer fell out from behind the finish skim when I disturbed the skirting. ](*,)

Ah, in that case I agree.

 

[misterfish]

Surely you should be removing skirting and re fitting after laying the flooring. the only cuts should be the door linings and stops.

Well that would be the ideal way of doing the job, but in older houses where the skirting is cut nailed to the brickwork and everything is a bit loose, :evil: no way. [-X
I remember in the first place I bought, I had to have a wall re plastered when most of the under layer fell out from behind the finish skim when I disturbed the skirting. ](*,)

Yes - that's what we hope to do. The house was built in the early 50s and all internal walls are plastered brick - very hard brick and tough plaster that is well stuck on. The remaining skirting boards (the ones not damaged or lost during the renovation work) are nailed into chunks of wood that are built into the brickwork.

So yes, it will be mainly the door linings (and a few worn chunky door thresholds that need to be trimmed/removed.

of course there is also the redoing of the shower, cutting and removing tiles causing as little damage as possible to the wall behind.

It's interesting that everybody likes their Fein and also that the Bosch ownwers happy with their purchases.

So what we might do is see if we can easily and comfortably trim one of the door linings with our existing tools and learn from that experience and then get a Fein/Bosch when the specific need actually arises..

Misterfish

 

[Vormulac]

It's interesting that everybody likes their Fein and also that the Bosch

(and Worx)

ownwers happy with their purchases.

:wink:

 

[misterfish]

It's interesting that everybody likes their Fein and also that the Bosch

(and Worx)

ownwers happy with their purchases.

:wink:

Sorry I should have included this as well - so it makes the choice more difficult. I've come across a couple of tradesmen recently that have been using Worx drill drivers and they have been very pleased with their purchases.

Misterfish

 

[misterfish]

Funny how things seem to happen and you get more information when you least expect it.

I was with my parents-in-law yesterday and they had an electrician in sorting a problem with a storage radiator. Anyway, to cut a long story short, one of the tools he brought in was a Fein Supercut (over £300) that he said was absolutely brilliant. He then added his partner in the company had recently got the Bosch machine and they were both impressed with that - so much so that neither of them had any preference for either machine despite the cost difference.

Misterfish