Rich,
That is indeed a great price for one of those tools.  For the cost of a Fein you could buy 7 or 8 of these.  I have an old Ryobi (just couldn't make myself part with $ for the Fein), but it isn't even worth $10 (I probably paid $50).  It really is just a detail sander – not cutting heads.  Every year I think about replacing it.  A couple of months ago I was ready to buy one of the Dremel tools Bob has, now I have another choice.  I'm beginning to hate decisions.

John

On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 10:32 AM, < ([email][/email])> wrote:

As I've already admitted, I'm a tool junkey.  My wife sometimes thinks our boat is just a big toolbox for me.  Every now and then I come across a tool that I never thought I'd really use but buy on a whim or to help with one specific task.  After playing with the tool for a while I wonder how I ever lived without it.  The multifunction tool is such a device.

I bought one from the Harbor Freight store last month when we went to Florida on vacation.  Most folks probably wouldn't put a stop to a tool outlet up there with a visit to a theme park, but I do.  I normally order stuff from these folks by mail-order.  Since were were staying close to one of their outlets I snuck away and did some power shopping.  I left with one of their multifunction tools.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=65700

I need to replace a piece of teak plywood around one of my portlights in the V-berth.  I figured that the saw attachment would help me make  a clean cut around the damaged area.  I'm not replacing the whole piece, just what's damaged.  The mutifunction tool comes with a detail sander attachment.  This was of little interest when I bought the tool since I already own three detail sanders.  Last week we sanded the exterior brightwork.  I tried the sander attachment.  Holy Smokes!  This makes my other detail sanders look lame.  It actually works.  My wife got her hands on it and wouldn't give it back.  I should have ordered two.  Unfortunately, I didn't order any sandpaper for the tool since I never figured we'd use it for sanding.  It takes hook-and-loop paper and the head size is different than my other sanders.  We tried paper from one of my other sanders, but it didn't really fit.  We damaged the hook and loop pad on the tool head as a result, but its still usable.  Harbor Freight doesn't sell just the sander head.

Last night I went up on the boat and cut out the damaged plywood section.  The advantage of the saw feature on this tool is that you can get into very tight places and make very fine cuts.  I figured that it would take a while with the new tool.  After all, the head doesn't rotate, it just vibrates back-and-forth.  To my surprise, it cuts pretty well however.  I first attached a couple of pieces of scrap wood to act as guides, then ran the multifunction  saw blade across the area to cut.  It cut through the wood, only scratching the inside face of the fiberglass coach.   I had the damaged section out in 5 minutes and the cut is perfectly clean.  Now I'm scratching my head over what else I can use this thing for.  Dozens of things come to mind from cutting hose to chipping paint.  How did I ever live without it?

Harbor Freight tools are a hit-and-miss proposition.  Some of their tools are superb while other are junk.  Their mutifunction tool is a surprising hit, but it has some issues.  The power head has four very small pins that engage the attachments.  A socket screw fastens the attachments.  While we were using the sander, the screw became loose and allowed the sander attachment to come loose.  It wore away the locking pins.  The accessories still work without the locking pins, but I wish I had been more careful.  The tool didn't come with a lockwasher for that screw  and I didn't bother to put one on.  If you purchase one, put a 1/4″ lock-washer on there.  You can't get a replacement sander attachment.  If you wear away the velcro you're stuck.  I'm pretty sure I can replace the velcro on the attachment however when it wears away as it surely will.  Even my expensive Bosch sander needs the velcro pad replaced every now and then.   Attachments like sandpaper are available only from Harbor Freight.  The tool comes with two sanding pads.  They appear to be of good quality and I assume that replacement paper will be of equal quality.  I'm not sure yet, but the Dremmil attachments might fit with minor modification.  It even comes with replacement motor brushes.  At only $40 for the tool, I can live with some minor flaws. 

Rich Carter
BlackSheep #47

—
Regards,
John Stevenson
http://www.svsarah.com

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