Over at Amazon, today’s deal of the day features this Porter Cable PCE605K 3A oscillating multi-tool kit with 31 accessories.
It’s bundled with a couple of cutting blades, a sanding pad, and a bunch of sandpaper sheets.
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While not my preferred choice in oscillating tools, this one has been well regarded over the years. There’s nothing bad about it, that I can tell, and it seems to be a great entry-level option.
Price: $60
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Deal ends at 3am ET 11/16/2017 unless supplies sell out sooner.
If you were to ask me about which oscillating multi-tool I’d buy, I’d point to the Fein Multi-Master Starlock kit, FMM350QSL.
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It’s a spartan kit with very few accessories, which means two things. First, you’ll need to buy some accessories. Wth Starlock compatibility, you have your pick of Fein or Bosch blades or accessories. You could use other brands’ universal or OIS-compatible attachments too, but if you’re going with a Starlock tool, Starlock accessories are a quicker (really, it’s rapid) accessory interface.
Second, it means that you’re not paying extra for accessories you might not need or want.
It’s a balance. Going with the smallest starter kit you can could mean saved money, or open you up to saving more, if a bigger starter set has accessories you would actually use.
That said, I bought a Fein Multi-Master a few years ago, when the starter kit dropped from $200 to $170 on Black Friday. I remember the purchase too, I made it when at a Home Depot parking lot. That was the first season there was a $200 Fein Multi-Master offering.
Buy Now(Fein Starter Kit via Amazon)
The Porter Cable kit is $60, the Fein $172 on sale. For the significant bump-up in money, you get a better tool-free interface, more power, less vibration (presumably), and a higher quality instrument.
But the Porter Cable can be a good starter kit, especially for users who have heard the hype about oscillating tools but don’t quite know what they’d use it for. $60 isn’t excessively high for a “okay, I’ll try it out” tool, with $172 more being a “I know I need this, and I have a lot of tasks planned for it” kind of one.
I would also be highly tempted to buy this Bosch Starlock starter set, currently priced at $199. Those cutting blades are worth what, $10-15 each?
But $199 is the regular price. If this was planned as an upgrade, I’d be inclined to wait for a coupon or discount.
Buy Now(Bosch Kit via Amazon)
Whiskey and wood
You can also get a cordless from multitalent for $199 from Acme and several other sources. it’s not as powerful as the multi master, but is still a very useful tool and cordless with starlock interface.
Stuart
That’s the one I discussed at the end of the post, priced at $172 currently.
Whiskey and wood
The one in the post for $172 is a corded multi master, not a cordless multi talent, unless I’m missing something.
Stuart
Sorry, I missed the cordless part.
The pre-Starlock is now the MultiTalent.
Umm… uh… okay, I’m not a morning person =). I guess I didn’t read carefully enough.
Thanks for the correction/clarification!
Whiskey and wood
The multi talent is still starlock and starlock plus, it’s just a lower amperage unit, in the case of cordless it’s the 12v vs the multimaster is the 18v. Check out item number 71292561090 on the acme site, it’s the 12v multitalent with starlock accessories for $199
Whiskey and wood
Just thought t would be a competitive option at that price for most people while offering the benefit of cordless, not trying to be nitpicky!
Stuart
You are right again!
I had thought that MultiTalent = previous generation oscillating multi-tools, and MultiMaster = Starlock.
And while this WAS the case, when the 350W tool superseded the 250W tool as the flagship model, I had mistakenly thought that the 350W model was given Starlock treatment, but not the 250W model.
Thanks for not giving up on me, and pressing the correction home. =)
Jonathan
That’s an awesome deal on a the 3A pC it even has the depth gauge. I picked up the same kit last year this time but it was $20 more. It has a lot to like about the whole kit. If I used it enough I might be able to justify ponying up for a cordless DeWalt model. But this has a nice heavy and long cord, that suffice for most jobs.
Cr8on
The PC OMT is actually a fantastic tool, I got one a couple years ago for $50, I’ve since picked up the cordless DeWalt and the PC doesn’t get used anymore.
Stuart
It is, but with Dewalt or Porter Cable oscillating tools, there is little brand selection if you want to take advantage of the tool-free blade change mechanism. I like Bosch blades, Fein too at times, and you have to use an adapter and hex key with those and other closed-loop universal blades.
Cr8on
Never. . Ever had a problem finding a blade when I needed one.
Stuart
I didn’t say poor availability, but poor selection. Only Dewalt and I think Rockwell blades can be used tool-free. Others require a hex key and socket cap screw with the included adapter.
I like Bosch blades, and so I prefer a tool that works tool-free with them.
Cr8on
Dremel blades fit tool free and more than mirror the Bosch selection, also countless 3rd party brands are available on Amazon, I personally like the Integra ones.
Grady
Do you know anything about the Rockwell OMT ? I’ve seen a few different models at Lowe’s. Are they quality or crap? Price seems OK for a starter.
Stuart
Depending on the tool, entry-level to mid-range.
Rockwell Sonicrafters are generally decent.
brandon cassaday
havent used this particular PC model but I have the 20v battery PC oscillating tool and I love it. The few other brands I have used (not many) might be a little less vibration in the handle but it isn’t bad at all really. For a home gamer that does little projects, it is IMO the go to brand. They are very good if not great quality, maybe not the most powerful but for the price you cant beat it. Mine came with a variety of attachments the sander head with different grit papers, a scraper and some cutting blades one metal one wood. I was redoing the backspash in my kitchen and had to get a grout removal head, only a few bucks. Still with 2 2.5 amp/hr battery packs on on the charger one being used I was able to keep going all day.
Jerry
Have this model, sans depth gauge, and love it. the sanding head isn’t the greatest, but it’s held up for 3 years and a new one is only a few bucks. The tool free blade changes by far the biggest selling point. I can’t tell you how many times when I was remodeling my bathrooms I found myself quickly switching between a cutting blade and the sanding head doing detail work. The best option for the DIYer, IMO.