Dremel has launched another new Blueprint series tool, the Project Multi-Tool.
The Dremel Project Multi-Tool is, in my words, a cordless oscillating multi-tool with training wheels. That’s not a bad thing, I just felt it necessary to frame the new tool with clear context.
This is a cordless oscillating multi-tool for DIYers, and it was designed to be approachable, affordable, and feature-packed.
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As with other OMTs, the Dremel Project Multi-Tool can be for a wide range of cutting, sanding, scraping, and grinding applications.
This model, which is powered by a Dremel 12V Max Li-ion battery, features an ergonomic hand grip, LED light, tool-less blade change system, and “project selector.”
The project selector essentially lets you adjust the tool’s speed based on what you’ll be using the tool for.
It looks like the new Dremel Blueprint multi-tool can be used in all of the same ways as other cordless oscillating tools.
This is part of the Blueprint family. Dremel says:
DIY Differently with Dremel Blueprint
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Your tools should match your lifestyle. Meet the new family of easy-to-use, versatile 12V tools, designed for people who are redefining DIY.
- 12V Max platform
- Brushless motor
- 7,000 – 20,000 OPM
- Lock-off button
- Weighs 1.75 lbs without battery
The MM12V-S1 kit comes with the tool, 2Ah battery, “65 minute charger,” and a sampling of starter blades and accessories.
Price: $139 for the kit
Discussion
For a tool marketed as your “DIY BESTIE,” I think it’s okay to have some training wheels.
Dremel sought to make this and their other Blueprint tools “approachable,” and I think they succeeding in doing that.
Following my post about the Blueprint series’ introduction, Dremel’s President shared some fantastic insights.
One of the points they made is that DIY spans a much broader range than most people realize, encompassing all kinds of home improvement, crafting, and hobby projects.
There are plenty of products aimed at more advanced DIYers and pros. Dremel’s goal for Blueprint is to:
bring more people into DIY with approachable, intuitive products.
Blueprint can be a “gateway” for DIY, “helping users build confidence and skills for more advanced projects.”
There will be more to come; Dremel is committed to Blueprint, with more tools and innovations on the way. Rotary tools and accessories will remain their core business, with more on the way there as well.
Blueprint isn’t replacing their other tools, and certainly isn’t shifting their focus, it’s expanding it.
At the start of the post, I wrote that the tool seems to have training wheels. You can change the speed according to accessory or application type, and that’s it.
Looking at the user manual online, there’s a section on “learning to use the tool.” Here are some excerpts:
The first step in learning to use the tool is to get the “feel” of it. Hold it in your hand and feel its weight and balance. Depending on the application, you will need to adjust your hand position to achieve optimum comfort and control.
Concentrate on guiding the tool over the work using very little pressure from your hand. Allow the Accessory to do the work.
Usually, it is better to make a series of passes with the tool rather than to do the entire job with one pass.f
There is also a section on different accessory types and sections on sanding, cutting, and scraping techniques.
Here’s a closer look at the speed selection interface:
It took digging into the user manual, but the Dremel Blueprint oscillating tool does have a variable speed trigger switch.
The application-specific speed settings lets users select the optimal speed for different tasks, but you can also control the speed manually.
Dremel took a very different approach with their Blueprint series tools. I’ve seen “training wheel” versions of different tools where brands sought to sell stripped-down tech as being more beginner-friendly.
From what I can tell, Dremel has been very deliberate in their approach. This tool isn’t for me, and probably isn’t for you either, but it does have a brushless motor and other modern features.
Companies have been shoehorning hand-holding tech into all kinds of things. No, I don’t want AI Copilot when opening a Microsoft Word document! No, I don’t want factually inaccurate AI Overviews when I’m searching for something! Just today Google’s automatic AI Overview told me that a cap of 200 can’t fit 15 of something.
I think that Dremel’s approach is interesting, or at least the care they put into it. They are being very deliberate.
I find myself being a little critical about the lack of clarity regarding blade compatibility. Does it have a universal interface? What other brands’ blades or accessories can it fit, if any?
And, it took more digging than I’d like to find the actual speed range.
Still, the entire design seems carefully engineered. I see this as a tool for beginners who need a little encouragement and hand-holding to get started, rather than a construction tool that’s sold at a value price. I think Dremel created exactly what they sought out to do.
Dremel’s 7V cordless Stylus and Driver tools were among my favorite of all time, and I hope they revisit that form factor one day.
Here, it seems they’ve created a tool for users who might find construction-grade tools to be a little intimidating. Thus, although not for me and probably not you, I think this is a tool that helps beginners get their feet wet and projects done now rather than putting it off for “someday.”
Josephus
Is the plan for Bosch to cede 12v market to Dremel as the DIY friendly option? They look to use the same battery, though I have not been able to verify this. Most of the tools I’ve seen from Dremel recently I already have Bosch versions of the same.
Stuart
I was told: “Dremel operates as a separate business with its own product development, engineering, and marketing teams.” Thus, Dremel’s products are independent of Bosch’s, and we shouldn’t draw any conclusions about Bosch’s plans or intent.
Bonnie
Same battery, and people on the Dremel subreddit even report (Australian) Bosch reps have told them to use the Bosch batteries in their Dremels. Some models seem to have an extra plastic tab that mechanically prevents them fitting though so your mileage may vary.
Frank D
Same battery.
I have a Dremel Rotary tool & Dremel 4″ (or 5?) cordless saw now; to fit in the every day compact tool setup.
Luis
Yes, the single row 12V Bosch batteries fit Dremel 12V tools.
The 4Ah and 6Ah don’t fit, at least they didn’t fit on Dremel’s current 8240/8250/8260 rotary tools
MKY
Stuart –
“The application-specific speed settings ***can users you select*** the optimal…”
Stuart
Thanks! *fixed*
Jared
Hopefully it’s still a sufficiently powerful tool to be useful, but I otherwise see no issue with a tool marketed as a kinder, gentler entry into cordless tools. It’s not for me, but that doesn’t mean someone like my mom wouldn’t pick it as her first choice.
I’m a little confused by the “speed selector interface” because the symbol at the top makes me think the speed is the same no matter what project you’re selecting.
Bonnie
The top circle is a button rather than a screen element. In the pictures of the tool it’s blue which is a little more clear.
Jared
Thanks, that does clarify things. I assumed it was a backlit sort-of rough “RPM dial” and didn’t understand why it showed the same speed for each option.
Stuart
From the user manual, the top button is a lock-on button, and the bottom one is the application selector button.
Thus, I think you can use the variable trigger switch to settle on a speed, and then press the lock-on button to keep it there. Also:
That there’s a max range setting suggests to me that the application speeds are variable with lower max speed ceiling. That’s how a lot of cordless power tools usually work, where speed selection really just sets a lower max speed.
Saulac
Is it possible for the jig saw speed to ever reach the speed of oscillating tools? Such jig saw would not need a shoe to rest the material on. The blade probably cut in both directions. You hold it like a disc cutter.
Eric
The closest your going to get is an air powered saw, some of them can get around 10,000 strokes a minute. They have a much shorter stroke length compared to an electric one and aren’t really suited for cutting things like wood. They’re mainly used to cut thin sheet metal.
MT_Noob
I’m wondering if labeling a speed as “grout” is likely to confuse their target market. Is the “grout” speed meant for grout removal or grout cleaning. I’m surprised to see that they included a grout removal blade rather than some sort of grout cleaning tool which might be more appropriate in some cases.
Bonnie
I wouldn’t really put grout cleaning in the DIY category. Also I’ve been converted to using a small steam cleaner and would never go back to using brushes.
MT_Noob
Agreed, but I mentioned it because Dremel also sells the “versa” as a high speed power cleaner. I guess the odds of people getting confused are low, but no 0.
James
The 12v Bosch multi-tool (GOP12V-28N) doesn’t have tool free blade changes and only a 2.8 degree oscillation arc. It also uses StarLock, and I’d rather use cheaper “universal” blades.
The BluePrint multi-tool looks like an upgrade in several ways, including a 3.2-degree oscillation arc and LED light, but I’d really like to know the blade compatibility! I don’t want to be locked into using Dremel blades.
Josephus
If it does have universal blade compatibility I would pick one up. Cheaper than using Starlock for every day use.
Luis
it’s compatible with universal blades. It’s got the same tool-less blade change system as their 20V multi-tool which is compatible with Bosch 18V batteries:
https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-Multi-Max-MM20V-01-Oscillating-Multi-Tool/dp/B09MYGC6LN?th=1
Honestly both offerings seem like a good deal considering hoy much a kit from a Prosumer or Pro brand retails for.
will
Correct me if im wrong but it Almost looks like Dewalt blades might work. Its been years since I’ve used it since about 6 months ths after I bought it toolnut had great sales on the omt and drill. They sent the wrong batteries so we even got 2 free batteries for each item. Great company and the drill in particular is amazing. The build quality is top notch and that 4th speed is great for a starter hole in metal. It might not have 1600 in lbs of torque but id reach for the Fein over the milwaukee and dewalts I have. The only issue is they never expanded the removable chuck beyond a 1/4″ adapter. I suppose festool might have the offset and right angle adapter since they helped fein build the drill (fein helped festool with the omt). Maybe bosch or the newer dewalt or milwaukee adapters will work,anyone try this? Sorry for highjacking the thread, but Fein did create the OMT afterall,have they been surpassed? I haven’t paid much attention and fsin gets no love here in the states. Seriously though the drill is sublime in fit and finish,the softer finish and design is so comfortable I could use it all day with no issues.