Craftsman 12 Volt NEXTEC Multi-Tool
January 14, 2010 · Posted in Cordless, Power Tools
- LED work light
- includes 6 accessories
- Integrated dust bypass with vacuum adapter
- Secure accessory mount
- Compact ergonomic design: ultra compact for use in tight spaces
Product Description
The compact 12 Volt battery provides the power of a full-sized battery in a smaller, lighter weight, longer lasting Lithium-Ion battery. One tool performs multiple tasks by using high-speed oscillations (15000 OPM), a 2.8 oscillation angle and six various attachments. The body of the tool features a soft grip handle, LED work light and an integrated dust bypass for comfort during use and enhanced visibility throughout any application. This versatile tool is ideal fo… More >>
Craftsman 12 Volt NEXTEC Multi-Tool
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2 Responses to “Craftsman 12 Volt NEXTEC Multi-Tool”
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I really like this tool!
Pros:
- cheaper than the others
- cordless and really easy to handle
- easy to learn and use
Cons:
- battery life is about 10 mins with good use
- it does get a bit hot after 5 mins of continual use – enough to warrant gloves
- not nearly as powerful as what I’ve seen Fein do.
Now, comparing to the reviews I’ve read or the commercials I’ve seen for the Fein MultiMaster, it doesn’t even come close. If you’re anything more than a weekend do-it-yourself-er, this may not be for you. But if you’re like me, this tool is sufficient and for the price, not bad at all (I actually picked this up for around $60, refurbished, from a common store’s liquidation site).
What I used it for that worked out really well:
- cutting out the square electrical outlet holes in our kitchen cabinets
- dry wall cut-outs
- precise cuts for molding, baseboards, special projects
- small cuts (< 6 inches) on plywood
- precise cuts on medium quality bamboo floors (like around door moldings, corners, etc.)
- sanding an old teak chair I was restoring, getting into those small crevices, in between the slats.
What I used it for that didn’t work out:
- Cutting notches in 2×4’s – not enough power
- Precise cuts on dense teak floors – not enough power
- medium or longer cuts (> 6 inches) on plywood – not enough power; takes too long
- metal gutters – it did the job eventually, but it took a while. Again, not enough power.
People also recommend another battery, which I kind of agree with – however I have not yet, as I’ve managed to charge in between uses to keep the battery charged all day. I’ve also placed the whole tool + battery in the refrig to cool it down while not used it (just for 15 mins or so). It does get hot and once it did not charge because the unit was too hot.
Overall, I really like the tool and it’s one of my favorites – but you really do need to adjust your expectations. If you’re a contractor or a person who will use this every day – this won’t do.
Rating: 4 / 5
I just got one of these units. Seems to be better built than the Dremmel unit. The cutting bits seem to be more solid. However, is not variable speed and unlike the Bosch, tops off at 15000 opm. However, it is almost $100 cheaper. Also comes with a fair mix of bits (I think more than the Dremmel including a vac port and definitely more than the Bosch). At this point don’t know about battery life, but the unit comes with only one battery – suggest you buy a second. I don’t know about the other units, but this got pretty hot as I was doing test cuts through hard wood – perhaps they all do? Hell, for $99, what more do we want
.
Rating: 3 / 5