Tool-free blade clamp: Yes
Motor: 3.0 amps
Speed (in oscillations per minute): 8,000–20,000
Angle of oscillation: 2.8 degrees
Weight (by ToTT): 3.7 pounds
Cord length (by ToTT): 13.25 feet
Country of origin: Switzerland
Web price: $240
Case: Varies by kit (blow-molded plastic case, stackable plastic L-Boxx, or fabric duffel)
MX30EK-33 kit includes: Tool, blow-molded case, storage box for accessories, 5 blades, scraper, rasp, sanding pad, 25 sandpaper sheets
Pro: A top-tier tool with great performance; well-designed blade clamp is easy to operate, clamps firmly, and has no loose parts to juggle or lose; heavily rubberized housing is very comfortable to grip; features include soft-start and ball-joint cord swivel. This tool is a step up from the MX25E, which has a bolt-type blade clamp.
Con: Cannot be adapted to other blade mounting systems (a minor issue given the number of blades available from Bosch and compatible vendors) | |
Tool-free blade clamp: Yes
Motor: 2.3 amps
Speed (in oscillations per minute): 11,000–20,000
Angle of oscillation: 3.2 degrees
Weight (by ToTT): 3.2 pounds
Cord length (by ToTT): 16 feet
Country of origin: Germany
Web price: $200
Case: Varies by kit (fabric duffel or oversize hard plastic case)
Start Q kit includes: Tool, duffel, blade, scraper, sanding pad, 20 sandpaper sheets
Pro: Direct descendant of the original multi-tool; top-quality tool; excellent performance; soft-start circuitry
Con: Includes fabric duffel and a minimal number of accessories; you’ll have to buy additional blades or upgrade to a kit with a hard plastic case and more blades; spring on blade clamp is very stiff
so lever can mousetrap your hand; removable blade-holding pin could get lost | |
Tool-free blade clamp: Yes
Motor: 3.3 amps
Speed (in oscillations per minute): 11,000–18,500
Angle of oscillation: 4.0 degrees
Weight (by ToTT): 3.2 pounds
Cord length (by ToTT): 16.7 feet
Country of origin: Germany
Web price: $890
Case: Hard plastic (oversize)
FSC 2.0 Q-IS kit includes: Tool, case, storage box for accessories, blade adapter, 11 blades, sanding pad, 15 sandpaper sheets, depth stop
Pro: High-quality industrial-strength tool designed for all-day use; strongest motor and largest stroke; soft-start circuitry
Con: Expensive for a tool that sees occasional use; spring on blade clamp is especially stiff, making the lever hard to open; lever can mousetrap your hand; removable blade-holding pin could get lost | |
Tool-free blade clamp: No
Motor: 3.0 amps
Speed (in oscillations per minute): 6,000–20,000
Angle of oscillation: 3.2 degrees
Weight (by ToTT): 3.3 pounds
Cord length (by ToTT): 8 feet
Country of origin: China
Web price: $160
Case: Fabric duffel bag
TM3000CX5 kit includes: Tool, duffel, storage box for accessories, 2 blade adapters, blade, sanding pad, 10 sandpaper sheets
Pro: Solid performer; Makita adopted the Bosch blade system instead of creating its own; only corded tool that fits or can be adapted to all other brands of accessories tested; soft-start circuitry.
Con: Sparse accessory set (you’ll have to buy additional blades); short cord; would be better with the addition of a tool-free blade-attachment system | |
Tool-free blade clamp: Yes
Motor: 2.5 amps
Speed (in oscillations per minute): 10,000–20,000
Angle of oscillation: 2.8 degrees
Weight (by ToTT): 2.8 pounds
Cord length (by ToTT): 10 feet
Country of origin: China
Web price: $100
Case: Hard plastic with storage slots for accessories (very compact)
PC250MTK kit includes: Tool, case, 5 blades, 2 scrapers, sanding pad, 27 sandpaper sheets
Pro: Spring-loaded blade clamp makes for fast and easy blade changes; low price
Con: Drive mechanism stalls under moderate load; blade-change lever can impede front-of-tool grip | |
