Bosch has commissioned ToolGuyd to conduct independent testing of their oscillating multi-tool cutting blades. More specifically, we will be doing comparison testing with focus on Bosch’s OSC114C carbide-tipped blades.
OSC114C: 1-Pack via Amazon, 2-Pack via Amazon, Info via Bosch
The purpose of the study will be to compare the Bosch oscillating multi-tool blade against competitors’ similarly-styled blades. Performance will be evaluated in regard to 1) speed of use, 2) ease of use, and 3) signs of wear.
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As it stands now, we have several posts planned that discuss different aspects of this project.
Outline
0: Transparency Disclosure
1: Project Summary
2: Elimination of Potential Bias
3: Methods
4: Data Collection
5: Analysis
0: Transparency Disclosure
Bosch requested this study and will be compensating ToolGuyd for independent testing services. This is not going to be a product review, this is not going to be an advertorial, this is not going to be product testing for editorial purposes.
We will be conducting product testing at a greater level of sophistication and complexity than would or could be done as part of ordinary no-fee editorial coverage.
This is not a project we would be able or willing to undertake without funding.
Since the testing process, data, and results will be of interest to ToolGuyd readers, each step along the way will be discussed openly in follow-up posts.
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Our media guidelines have been updated to reflect that we will provide paid testing services by request on a case-by-case basis.
If you have ANY questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Our intent is be completely unbiased, objective, and transparent.
1: Project Summary
Objective
As mentioned above, we will be testing Bosch’s OSC114C oscillating multi-tool blades against several competitors’ blades.
The goal is to fairly and without bias compare the oscillating tool blades in regard to:
- Speed of Use
- Ease of Use
- Signs of Wear
Guidelines
Bosch has insisted that they are interested in fair and unbiased testing. They have provided several testing scenario suggestions, but have made it clear that they do not want to color, interfere with, or guide how testing is conducted. They are also insistent about not influencing the results or conclusions in any way.
Products to Undergo Testing
Bosch has provided the following tool and power tool accessories for testing:
- (1) Bosch MX30 oscillating multi-tool (AC-powered)
- (10) Bosch OSC114C blades (5x OSC114C-2 multi-packs)
- (10) Dewalt DWA4209 blades
- (10) Imperial Storm MMT340 blades
The Bosch tool and Bosch blades were shipped directly from Bosch. The Dewalt and Imperial blades were purchased by Bosch and shipped by Amazon.
Prior to agreeing to an independent testing arrangement, we compared each specified blade and determined them to be similar enough in function and price so as to justify comparison.
Additional brands’ blades might be tested following the conclusion of this study.
Product Details
Bosch OSC114C: 1-1/4″ wide carbide-toothed blade designed for cutting metal. Made in Switzerland. Street price: $16/each, $26/two, $100/ten.
Dewalt DWA4209: 1-3/16″ wide bi-metal blade, with titanium coating, designed for cutting metal. Made in USA of US and foreign materials. Street price: $15/each.
Imperial MMT340: 1-3/4″ wide bi-metal blade, with titanium coating, designed for cutting metal, and also wood and PVC. Made in USA. Street price: $14.50/each, $37/three, $96/ten.
All three blades fit a wide range of oscillating multi-tools.
2: Elimination of Potential Bias
Bosch has provided a Bosch corded oscillating multi-tool to promote an apples-to-apples comparison.
However, different brands’ oscillating tools operate at different speeds and with different oscillation angles. There is the potential that competing blades were designed to perform better with other brands’ oscillating tools. To eliminate this possible source of bias, multiple tools will be used in this study.
Bosch MX30
Dewalt DWE315K
Fein MultiMaster
The Bosch multi-tool was supplied by Bosch in retail packaging, the Dewalt multi-tool was previously supplied by Dewalt for editorial purposes, and the Fein multi-tool was purchased previously for ToolGuyd-related use and activities.
Each tool will undergo testing with 3 of each type of blade. Thus there will be 9 different tool-blade testing configurations, with each configuration being tested no less than 3 times for a total of 27 sets of data.
3: Methods
Materials
- 16D common steel nails
- 1/2″ nominal copper pipe
Setup
We are currently still working to determine the optimal setup.
Procedure
Factors, such as blade heating due to accelerated testing, will be taken into consideration to ensure fair and even testing. That is, testing conditions will be conducted such as to simulate natural and typical use, with resting times incorporated into testing cycles as needed.
4: Data Collection
Data will be collected from objective and subjective means. For instance, objective measurements will consist of time of cut, and subjective assessments will be made when necessary, such as in gauging ease of use.
More information will be provided once testing commences.
Currently, we anticipate that raw data will be publicized on an all-or-nothing basis.
5: Analysis
Analysis will be presented at the conclusion of the study.
Questions?
Right now we are still gauging effectiveness of controlled vs. handheld testing equipment, and expect to begin testing soon.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please chime in as we are always open to input!
Please be aware that at this time we cannot open up testing to additional blade and tool combinations, and that certain aspects of the study cannot be changed.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Comparison Overview (Current Page)
Part 2: Testing & Measurement Tools
Part 3: Test Setup Optimization
Part 4: Final Test Setup
Part 5: Best Cutting Speed
Part 6: Cutting Performance
Part 7: Durability
Disclosure
Bosch funded this comparison testing project. They made it clear that it was not their intent to influence the results in any way, and we were given full control over how the OMT blades were to be tested.
Josh
Looking forward to this! I wish more tools were tested this way.
Stuart
The reason more tools are not tested this way is because it takes a lot more time, effort, and monetary resources to do so. A simple quick comparison is easy, but a highly controlled one is not.
Josh
I’d settle for less controls and more comparisons with numbers. “We made 10 cuts in hardwood with these 5 saws , and here are the numbers for cutting speed and battery life” tells me something that “we tested the saw and found that it used a battery and made cuts in hardwood” doesn’t.
It says a lot about Bosch’s faith in their product that they’re sponsoring this kind of testing.
John S
I would agree – I am impressed with Bosch going this route for non-traditional ‘marketing’… I am guessing they don’t mind the results one bit 🙂
Nick
I’d like to see blades tested on soft and hard woods.
I personally use my oscillating unit to cut wood and wood embedded with nails much more often than pipe — I understand these are metal blades that you’re testing, but I’d love to see their wood line tested too.
+1 for testing oshlun blades should you have the opportunity
John
Same here. I don’t know that I’ve ever purposely used my MultiMaster to cut nails or metal of any kind for that matter but it has seen plenty of use in hard and soft woods, mdf, various types and thickness of plywood, and drywall.
Stuart
In my experience, cutting things like screws or nails, which are often embedded in wood, shows differences between products a lot more clearly.
I opted not to cut through screws, because nails should be more uniform to cut through.
I have been considering the idea of driving 16D nails into a 2×4 and then cutting a series of layers, but this might complicate the analysis.
If one blade cuts through nails quicker and easier than another blade can, then it *should* cut through nail-embedded wood quicker and easier as well.
Cutting just through nails allows for better control of where the cut is made.
Once the apparatus is built, it should be possible to test the blades only on wood as well. Maybe I will find some 1-inch hardwood dowels, or something similar of fixed thickness, so that tests are repeatable.
Nick
That’d be great. I’ve killed most of my blades (I started buying oshlun ten packs) in hardwoods because I use them frequently in cabinet installs to cut out the backs of boxes for electrical outlets and other penetrations. Also use them on hardwood floor inlays/lace ins, all the time on drywall, and on nail embedded wood.
Chad
I would have to disagree. Blade tooth geometry would interact with nails embedded in wood differently then with nails in air. Chip removal issues between the types of blades and two seperate materials in the same cut would indicate that you should do the testing as in the real world… nails embedded in wood.
Stuart
That’s something I will definitely consider.
A lot of users do cut nails, small pipes, screwheads and other metal objects “in-air.”
Right now there is an agreed-upon test sequence, but I will add additional test steps into the mix if I can spare the time, extra resources, and extra blades.
Matt
Interested to hear your opinion. I picked up a carbide Bosch blade a few weeks ago and have put it through hell, I can’t believe how well it is standing up. I’ve been using it mostly on 18 gauge staples in subfloor and it has replaced at least 10 of my previous dremel metal cutting blades and still cuts like new. I’m looking forward to hearing how it stacks up in a controlled test.
fred
I think you have a well planned-out test – that should provide some decent buying information.
When I was actively working, we sometimes had 8 or even 10 remodeling jobs going at a time. Many involved fitting in new work around old casework and hardwood flooring. Using our oscillating tools (we had Fein Multimasters and Supercuts) were put to good use on these jobs. What really tore up blades was an encounter with old steel cut nails and hardened spiral flooring nails. These were a hazard that we dealt with by switching to a different approach (grit edged sawzall blades or a grinder.) My point is that testing new blades on wood embedded with iron nails is probably realistic – as it could be within the expectation of a user that the blade would work. It would be nice if a multi-purpose blade could cut hardened nails or screws (e.g. Drywall screws) – but I’m not sure that this is a realistic expectation.
Adam
Would be great if you could also test the fein blade as well. I use a bosch multi-tool daily and am a big fan of their blades. However where I live the fein is the most common brand at the lumber yards and I end up using their blades a lot. The bosch blades seem comparable to me but up here in Maine where I live the fein blades are the standard on any serious crew and that is what people are going to compare it to. If I am going to the trouble to order blades instead of pick up what is available locally I want to know how it compares.
Thanks
Adam
Stuart
I still might add them in for later discussion, but for the time being there are time constraints and the new multi-mount blades aren’t widely available yet.
Adam
Thanks for considering them, I usually use them with the bosch ios adapter that was included with my multi-tool, however I can appreciate the time constraints. I am looking forward to your test results.
KL
Wow Stu this looks like a ton of work for you. Thanks for taking it on and regardless of who’s funding it I hope you are getting fairly compensated (no sarcasm or passive-aggressive undertones intended).
MT_Noob
I am also really looking forward to the results. As a recent oscillating tool owner, I have been very disappointed with the perfomance of the blades I have tried so far. Perhaps I am expecting too much from this type of tool or perhaps I have not found th right kind of blades to use.
Javier
I would like to see fein multi tool blades in the testing. Bosch seems very confident of themselves. I would take the results more seriously if the blades were bought off the store shelves this way there would be no doubt of superior test samples vs the everyday quality of the store bought blades.
Great idea on using other brands multi tools in the mix
Stuart
The Bosch blades were sent from a Bosch distribution warehouse, and the other brands’ blades were purchased by Bosch and dropshipped by Amazon. They’re retail blades in retail packaging, and no signs of tampering.
Javier
I am confident that on your end testing will be done professionally without bias. Looking forward to the results
Tim K
carbide toothed vs bi-metal blade, with titanium coating is not apples to apples. carbide will win every time. that is why bosch is so confident. is there any othere carbide tooth blade in the same price range? probably not, which seems to be the point bosch is making.
jesse
I agree. Unless there are carbide blades comparable to the Bosch ones, the test isn’t going to be worth much. Carbide is going to win by a large margin in comparison with non-carbide, and regardless of the type of tool under test- recip saw blades, hole saws, circ saw blades, etc.
The only information of value will be by what margin Bosch comes out ahead. In that respect the winners will be those blades that come closest to the carbide.
Stuart
I am making an effort to avoid walking into the project with predictions or expectations.
All of the to-be-tested blades are designed for similar applications and are similarly priced. It might not be Macintosh-to-Macintosh, but I think the comparison is fair.
jesse
You can think whatever you want, but I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. Apples and oranges.
Stuart
You’re entitled to your opinion.
Prior to my agreeing to undertake the independent testing project I looked at all three product lines. These models represent the brands’ ~$15 metal-cutting options.
With tools and power tool accessories, there will always be differences in competing products’ designs and engineering.
fred
Good for you Stuart!
Starting off a test with prejudice is a way to introduce systematic error.
In my experience carbide does not always mean better performance. As an example, I’ve observed that sharpened steel knives on a power plane produce finer shavings and a smoother surface than what can be had with a brand new carbide cutter.
No doubt that carbide saw blade teeth seem to last longer than steel teeth – but sometimes carbide teeth chip. I speculate that this may have something to do with the grade and hardness/brittleness of the carbide.
Garrick
99% of my multi-tool plunge cutting is through wood, but often there will be metal, plus other unknown stuff. I recently had to cut through 12 feet of overhang that contained screws, nails, aluminum, plywood, and asphalt shingles (with stones). I used up 4 blades. It would be nice to know that a carbide blade would have saved me money, and some time.
Allen
Hopefully the products will be in production long enough to make your work worthwhile. How often do the companies plan on changes in a product line such as this ?
Stuart
Not very often.
Ben
Fine Homebuilding did a review of blades 3-4 years ago. The author’s methodology was somewhat confusing and complicated. I would read that article and see if you can do a more real world test.
From that article, I summarized that Bosch blades were pretty darn good and Dremel blades were junk. One Bosch blade at $15 outlasted and out performed 15 Dremel blades at $6. I could calculate that kind of savings math in my head. There were other blades that did well, but Bosch was available easily, that is the only reason I went with them.
Also, test the truth of “Universal Fit”. My Dremel Muti-Max can use other blades as long as you have an adapter. The adapter is a pain to use and skews the blade so I can’t use it straight up or at a 90. Something that mounts directly would be much better. Different tool brands, same blade, how does it attach? Does it fit well?
Adam
Only because they are cheap and used by so many, maybe get a set of Harbor Freight blades to see how they fair. Even if they are just decent in comparison, the savings might influence some people purchasing
Kurt Greiner
I have been using the Harbor Freight blades for a while now around the house and when building my models. They don’t last a long time, but I have been able to resharpen them with a small triangle file which extends their life quite a bit.
Mark
I actually picked one of these up just to try on rebar after seeing the test Bosch showed on YouTube. It really will cut rebar along with plenty of other things. When I tried it on a piece of block to see what happens I finally killed it.
That said, I have not tried the other blades your testing so I have no input beyond that. It should be interesting to see how they all compare.
Muggleston
I’m not questioning your *intent*, but wouldn’t apples-to-apples testing of blades potentially optimized for their own brand oscillating tool require new tools for all brands. In this test, it appears as though it is new-in-box Bosch tools versus previously used competitors’ tools.
Respectfully, Muggleston
Stuart
I used the new-in-box Bosch tool for all tests. In pre-test testing, I tried different combinations of tools and blades, but found that this introduced more potential sources of error or confusion. I found that it was just simpler to use one tool with each blade. The Bosch tool was easiest to design a testing sled around, so that’s the one I used.