An oscillating tool, or multi-tool as it’s often called, is one of those handy bits of kit you tend to have kicking around the house. Just like the name suggests, it does loads of different jobs. The clever bit is, just by swapping the blade, you can go from sawing something to polishing it in the blink of an eye. You might hear it called a ‘Master Tool’ in North America – kind of a nod to how good it is at tackling all sorts of tasks. There’s a whole range of different blades you can get, which means this single power unit can saw, sand, rasp (that’s a rough kind of filing), grind, scrape, cut, and even polish. Pretty neat, eh?
How Oscillating Tools Work
The secret sauce of an oscillating tool is its motor, which makes the blade jiggle rapidly from side to side. Yep, you guessed it, the blades oscillate! This quick back-and-forth movement is what lets the blade do its thing. Now, the wiggle itself isn’t massive – only about three degrees – but it happens lightning fast, around 350 times a second, so it feels like a vibration. It’s this speedy movement that lets the tool slice, grind, or buff things up without too much bother.
Think of it like this: have you ever been to the barber’s and seen those electric clippers? Or maybe you’ve seen an electric razor in action? The blades zip back and forth to snip your hair. Well, an oscillating tool does something similar, but instead of hair, it can get through wood or metal. And just like on those clippers, you can pop different blades on the tool to tackle all sorts of different jobs.
How to Use a Straightedge for Straight Cuts
Doesn’t it drive you mad when a bit of wood sticks out on a piece of furniture and keeps snagging you every time you walk past? With the straightedge blade on your multi-tool, you can easily trim off that sticking-out bit and make life a bit less annoying. The oscillating action means you can get a clean and accurate cut, but you do need to keep your eye on the ball so the blade doesn’t wander off where it shouldn’t. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Measuring twice and still ending up with a bit that’s not quite right. Thankfully, the straightedge blade makes those little finishing touches a doddle.
When to Use Round Blades and Straight Blades
Straight blades are your go-to for short, fiddly cuts where space is tight, whereas round blades are better for longer, straight runs. Here’s a little tip: for an even cleaner cut, try using a straight blade first to just score the line you want to cut, then use a round blade to finish the job. Swapping blades is a piece of cake, so it’s not a faff at all.
Just a heads-up: don’t be tempted to lean on the tool too hard. This won’t get the job done quicker, and you’re more likely to end up with a messy cut and a damaged blade. Be patient and give the blade a quick wipe every now and then to get rid of the dust.
Using Oscillating Tool for Faster Flooring Prep
Getting new flooring fitted around doorways can be a real slog, but with a flush-cutting blade on your multi-tool, it’s surprisingly straightforward. By using a bit of your new flooring as a guide, you can quickly get under those door frames. Once the old flooring is out, the new stuff should slide right into place, and Bob’s your uncle!
Cutting Rusty Faucet Nuts
Trying to get rusty nuts off a faucet can feel like a lost cause without resorting to cutting them off. Since the arrival of bi-metal cutting blades for oscillating tools, those old reciprocating saws are becoming less and less popular for this kind of thing. The bi-metal blades are super slim, so they can get into those tight spots under the sink where a reciprocating saw could only dream of reaching.
There’s a slightly cleverer way to tackle these nuts than just hacking straight through them, and we all know by now they’re probably not coming off by hand. Start by making a cut at an angle, using a slow speed, until you’ve got a groove. Then, slowly speed things up until you’re about three-quarters of the way through the nut. The bit that’s still holding on can usually be twisted off with a pair of pliers. Sorted!
How to Remove Trim Without Damage
If you just try to yank trim off the wall, you’re almost guaranteed to leave a mess. But thanks to the straight blade on your oscillating tool, you can now easily cut through the nails holding it in place. Here’s how: gently prise the trim away from the wall just enough so you can slide in a thin bit of metal (like a paint scraper or something similar) and the oscillating blade. The metal bit stops the blade from gouging your wall. Once you’ve slipped in a metal-cutting blade, have a little wiggle around until you feel a nail, then gently apply pressure to cut it. Taking trim off walls has never been easier – and your walls will thank you for it!
Always Use a Bimetal Blade to Cut Metal
It’s really important to remember that not all blades are created equal, especially when it comes to cutting different materials. Most standard blades are designed for softer stuff like wood and plastic. Trying to cut metal with one of these will probably just wreck the blade and not get the job done. When you’re buying blades, ask specifically for bi-metal ones – they’re made for cutting metal. Bi-metal blades are much tougher and won’t get damaged easily when you’re tackling metalwork.
Great for Removing Tiles
Hate that dust cloud you get when you’re chipping away at old tiles? An oscillating tool offers a much cleaner way to do it. You can use it to cut through the adhesive holding the tiles in place, which means you can remove them without smashing them to bits and without coating your entire house in dust. Win-win!
Just remember, it’s usually better to play around with the speed of the tool rather than pushing down really hard. Too much pressure can damage the blade. For really stuck-down grout, you might need a higher speed, while looser stuff will come away easily at a lower setting. Just be a bit careful with higher speeds around the tiles themselves, as you don’t want to accidentally damage them.
Once you’ve got the tiles off, you can even use a bit of sandpaper on the oscillating tool to get rid of any leftover grout. Then your floor’s ready for whatever you’ve got planned next.
Get Grout Removal Blades
They actually make specific blades just for getting rid of grout, and they’re usually called carbide blades. These are great for smaller bits of grout removal. If you’ve got a bigger area to tackle, you might want to invest in diamond blades. They’re a bit pricier, but they’ll last ages longer than a load of carbide ones. Both carbide and diamond blades come in different thicknesses, so make sure you pick one that’s the same width as your grout lines. Keep an eye out for sparks while you’re working – that usually means the edge of the blade is wearing out and it’s time for a new one.
Easily Trim Shims in a Jiffy
Trying to trim those little wooden wedges called shims with a saw always seems to leave a bit of a ragged edge, doesn’t it? Plus, because of the thickness of the saw blade, you can never quite get a perfectly flush cut. Even if you try to snap them off with a knife, you’ll usually end up with a little bit sticking out. But, you guessed it, the ever-so-versatile oscillating tool can trim shims perfectly, leaving a nice clean finish.
Reaches Where Other Tools Don’t
Apart from being able to do a million different jobs, another brilliant thing about oscillating tools is that they can get into those awkward nooks and crannies where other tools just can’t reach. And it’s not just for cutting; you can use the sanding attachments in tight spots too. For example, after you’ve trimmed a shim in a tricky corner, you can still use the sander to smooth it off. And, of course, it’s the only tool that can really get in between trim and the wall to snip those nails.
Extra-Wide Blades Available
You can actually get blades for your multi-tool that are up to six inches wide! This means you could potentially cut a six-inch diameter pipe in one go. Also, when you’re cutting something like a pipe with a wide blade, you don’t have to worry so much about it slipping like you might with a narrower blade. That being said, thin blades have their uses too – they can squeeze into even tighter spots and they don’t put as much strain on the motor. So, horses for courses, really.
Can be Used to Scrape Away Adhesive
Scraping off those sticky bits of adhesive after you’ve finished a job is the absolute worst, isn’t it? They never seem to want to budge, and it’s such a messy task. You could spend hours with a knife and still have little bits left clinging on. However, pop a scraper blade onto your oscillating tool, and you can usually get the job done in a matter of minutes. It’s a lifesaver!
Lots of Scraper Blades Available
No matter what kind of sticky stuff you’re trying to get rid of, you can bet your bottom dollar there’s a specialized scraper blade for it. You can get thin ones for getting into really tight corners and wide ones for tackling big patches of gunk. So, whatever adhesive horrors you’re facing, there’s likely a blade to help.
Can be Used to Remove a Toilet
Now, your first thought might be, “Why on earth would I want to remove a toilet myself?” But believe it or not, it’s often less hassle than fiddling with a leaky faucet, even without a fancy tool. Usually, it’s just a couple of bolts and a water pipe to deal with. Now, you’ve got a couple of options: you can try and wrestle with those potentially rusty bolt nuts the old-fashioned way (good luck!), or there’s a much easier method. Grab your oscillating tool, stick a bi-metal blade on it, and you can usually zip through those bolts in no time, meaning you can lift the toilet straight off. And if the toilet’s also stuck to the floor with some kind of sealant, you can just swap to a scraper blade and that’ll come away easily too.
Just a reminder to go easy on the pressure – pushing hard won’t help and might damage the blade. A higher speed with lighter pressure is usually the way to go. Also, be careful with the metal blade and the bolts after you’ve cut them, as they’ll probably be a bit hot from all that friction.
Lots of Adapters and Accessories Available
Because there are so many different brands of oscillating tools and blades out there, sometimes a blade from one brand might not fit perfectly on a tool from another. But don’t panic! There are loads of adapters available that will make sure pretty much any blade can be attached to your tool.
While your local DIY shop might not have a massive selection of these adapters and bits and bobs just yet, you’ll find a huge range if you have a look online. It’s always a good idea to see what’s out there before you rush down to the hardware store.
How to Remove a Towel Bar or Soap Dish
You’ve probably cottoned on by now that cutting or scraping things off is where an oscillating tool really shines. And let’s be honest, who needs those old, rusty fixings anyway? Sometimes it’s just easier to get rid of the bits you don’t want, literally.
Whether your towel bar or soap dish is stuck to the wall with sticky pads or nailed on, the oscillating tool has you covered. If it’s nails, a bi-metal blade will cut through them no problem. If it’s adhesive, a scraper blade will get it off. Just like when you’re removing trim, it’s a good idea to use a bit of thin metal behind the fitting to protect your wall from the blade.
Conclusion
So, as you’ve probably gathered, life can be a fair bit easier with an oscillating tool in your toolbox. If you’re the kind of person who’d rather have a go yourself than wait for someone else to come and poke around, then this tool is definitely going to be your new best friend. And the good news is, even if you’re watching the pennies, you can pick one up for as little as thirty quid, and the cheaper deals often come with a bunch of useful bits and pieces. At this point, there’s really no reason not to get yourself one and make those home improvement jobs a whole lot less of a headache.
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