Is Dewalt working on an oscillating multi-tool?
I haven’t asked, nor would anyone at Dewalt tell me if I did ask. Even so, I believe that YES, Dewalt is working on developing an oscillating multi-tool of their own.
All of Stanley Black & Decker’s other power tool brands – Black & Decker, Stanley FatMax, and Porter Cable – already feature multi-tools in their product lineups. Many competitors, most notably Bosch, Milwaukee, and Makita, have also brought oscillating multi-tools to market.
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I have no supporting evidence to share with you aside from reason. It just seems highly unlikely that Dewalt would want to miss out on the sales a yellow and black oscillating tool might bring.
So What is Dewalt Waiting For?
The way I see it, there are two main reasons why Dewalt has not yet come out with oscillating tools.
Complete Line of Cutting, Sanding, Grinding Blades & Accessories
Dewalt doesn’t want to just sell you one oscillating multi-tool; they want to sell you attachments for that multi-tool for months and even years to come.
There are a number of Porter Cable cutting, sanding, and grinding attachments and accessories, but if Dewalt is going to compete head-to-head with Bosch, Fein, and other accessory makers, they’re going to have to offer premium accessories of their own. Designing and testing a complete line of accessories takes time.
Consider Milwaukee’s M12 oscillating tool. Milwaukee released it almost as a me-too product with no Milwaukee-branded accessory lineup to support it. Instead, the Milwaukee tool is fully compatible with Bosch’s OIS accessory system. From what I know about Dewalt, it is extremely unlikely that they would release any oscillating multi-tools without a full line of compatible high-quality blades and accessories.
There’s also the small issue of cross-platform compatibility. Dewalt wouldn’t want to just sell Dewalt-branded accessories to Dewalt oscillating tool users, they would want other multi-tool users to buy into the Dewalt accessory system as well. Designing and testing a universal or semi-universal interface is also a time-consuming effort.
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This is all speculation of course, but I can think of no better reason why we haven’t seen any Dewalt oscillating multi-tools hit the market yet.
Distinction
A Dewalt multi-tool would have to be an upgrade over Porter Cable’s new 3.0A corded and 18V cordless models. Porter Cable’s oscillating tools are quite good, meaning that any improvements will require plenty of time for testing and feedback.
It seems that, if Dewalt is developing oscillating multi-tools, they will come out with a corded multi-tool first, with 18V and possibly 12V models possibly following. Corded oscillating tools are usually better choices for contractors since cordless runtimes can be quite short.
Not only would the tools have to be an upgrade over Porter Cable’s models, they would have to have a competitive edge over other brands’ models. There is little reward for companies that produce tools with no advantages over tools already on the market.
Predictions
Stanley Black & Decker has the experience and tech to produce a competitive oscillating multi-tool worthy of Dewalt branding. Of this I am sure. What I am not sure of is whether they have the ambition to bring a complete line of accessories to market.
Although it is highly probably that a Dewalt O-tool and accessory lineup will hit the market, there is unfortunately no basis by which to to predict when this might happen. Right now all we can do is wait.
There are four possibilities:
- Dewalt will not enter the oscillating tool market
- Dewalt is developing oscillating multi-tools that work with other brands’ accessories
- Dewalt is developing oscillating multi-tool AND a line of accessories
- Dewalt is developing multi-tools AND a line of accessories AND accessories that are compatible with other brands’ tools
My money’s on #4. Which do you think is most probable?
John Sullivan
Although I wouldn’t be surprised by any of the possible outcomes, my no-funds-risked bet is on #1 for the time being. It’s already a saturated market at all levels (pro/prosumer/DIY-er) and the risk of a poor/weak reception damaging the Dewalt brand seems likely.
While oscillating multi-tools are incredibly versatile for pros and DIYers alike, the Fein and Rockwell marketing has made them seem a little less than “professional” tools. Compare that to the rest of Dewalt’s lineup, with pro-only tools like drywall screwguns and stud & joist drills… those are contractor tools that a DIYer has no need for, and the distinction helps drive brand image.
Even Dewalt’s drywall cut-out tool is just a Roto-Zip (DIYer multi-tool!) in yellow plastic, but they managed to keep its appeal (and perceived functionality) limited by NOT over-accessorizing it.
fred
We’ve gone though several generations of Fein Oscillating tools from an early version that gid not secure the blades all that well- to more modern Super Cuts. Their TV advertising infomercials did nothing to influence our purchases – and if one of them had been my first introduction to Fein – I might never have purchased a Fein tool (not only have we bought multimasters and supercuts but we also have several of their vacuums, a pipe polisher/sander and a drum sander) The multimaster/supercut has over the years relegated our Crain jamb saws and probably several other tools to the far recesses of the tool room.
Joe
I absolutely think that Dewalt is going to jump into the oscillating multi-tool game and #4 I think is how it’s going to happen. It would be unlike Dewalt to not release a large line of accessories with the product. O-tools are like impact drivers how they are becoming more and more popular on job sites and homes alike and Dewalt pretty much does lead the impact accessory game so why not for oscillating tools?
Fred
I think they’ve used Porter-Cable to feel out the market. Rather than releasing only a B&D version that may be overlooked by pros, the PC niche you talked about in the other article may have been perfect for them to test the waters.
If they do come out with a DeWalt branded version, and accessories, normally you would expect them to make it cross-compatible with most popular existing blades without need of any adapter. Look at the fact that there isn’t a DeWalt branded tool exactly like a Dremel; they have a cutout tool that’s closer to the less popular RotoZip style. It’s still a hell of a tool and better for drywall than a Dremel with the attachment, but it’s not the same tool and I think they took a measured approach after Dremel’s mid-90’s relaunch. I expect they would do something here where if they can’t innovate, maybe they’ll be satisfied with the PC version.
I agree with you, it’s a situation that warrants some speculation.
Stuart
Dremel is more of a DIY tool and SBD does have something similar – the Black & Decker RTX.
Fred
By that logic, if the RTX is good enough as a rotary tool from SBD then the other brands having an oscillator would also be good enough for SBD.
The DeWalt branded rotary tool is modeled after arguably more of a DIY tool in the RotoZip. Like I said, the DeWalt is a hell of a tool but they took the best that the RZ could do and discarded the rest.
I don’t think the RTX is a current tool, it’s just that one model is still available widely. The 3 speed RTX that you can still get is compatible with all the attachments sure but it’s priced about right at $30 from Amazon. I own the 2 amp RTX-2 and it is still my favorite among ~5 rotary tools.
The oscillating tool that Milwaukee offers is one of the trumps they currently have in their 12v lineup over the DeWalt 12v. And as far as Dremel being more of a DIY tool, sure it is. But I don’t know a single contractor that doesn’t have one or an oscillating tool at this point, carry them along and be occasionally very glad they brought it.
Javier
A couple of months ago I was looking for a cordless o-tool. Having a couple of 20v max dewalt tools I wanted a dewalt cordless multitiool but they dont make any, cordless or corded. I shopped around and bought a milwaukee m12 multitool and am very happy with it. I was dissapointed with dewalt. I also want to buy a jobsite radio that accepts lithium ion batteries in various volts 12-18 /20 volts, once again dewalt does not have one for me, they have one but for the older pod style 18 v batteries but not the 20v max batteries. I also want a good portable work light that uses those long flourescent bulbs and a small air compressor inflator, craftsmans nextec has one but not dewalt. I know this article focuses on dewalts lack of a multitool but I think dewalts problems go far beyond that as they lack many tools from their newer 12 v and 20 v max platforms. They are also behind on the brushless tech as they only have one brushless tool.
Frank
Just remember how long it took for DeWalt to get into the 12v screwdriver business.
JASTECH
I agree with Javier, DeWalt has dropped the ball for sure. But this happened many years ago when B&D bought DW and changed the motors in their tools to China. Then B&D bought a lock company (Schlage) then Schlage quality went south. DW needs to disembark from the octypus that has them on paper and be owned by themselfs, make everything in the USA and think for themselfs too. All my DeWalt tools were sold, then I bought Milky’s, now moving to brushless for safety reasons.
Tyler
Why doesn’t Dewalt paint the Porter Cable version yellow and put 2 leds on it and call it their own like they did with the compact routers.
R.J.Anderson
I have been a DeWalt fan for many years, leaving Makita years ago for lack of inovation ,I think it might be time to change again due to the same reason, If I buy a cordless renovater tool of another brand I may as well stick to that brand as I have not changed over to slide batteries for my DeWalt tools as yet for my contracting business so it could be time for a change of tool brand.