Pro Tool Reviews: Ridgid’s oscillating multi-tool lineup contains quite a few models, but if you’re looking for a brushless one, your options are fairly limited. Luckily, the brand has recently released a successor to its first brushless OMT. I’m comparing the Ridgid 18V Brushless Oscillating Multi-Tool (R86242B) with the rest of the lineup to help you choose the right model for the job.
5 comments:
The only time I’ve used an oscillating saw in relation to theatre was to break things apart during strike. I think it is cool that there are multiple bits you can use on the end of this Rigid tool so you can do different tasks with the same tool body. On strikes the various ends of destruction this tool has to offer may improve safety as sometimes with the sawzall people can sometimes go ham and make it do things that are not good for it/safe for the user. The trigger is an interesting change from the on/off switch. I think that is nice so if you want more control over how fast the blade goes over certain parts of one continuous cut. However I think it is important they retained a cruise control option to reduce fatigue on long, repeating cuts which increase safety for the user.
I think a lot of people get excited when a new tool drops, and I am no different. Personally I don’t use ridgid products but I do appreciate their lifetime service guarantee. When a tool breaks, especially right after you started to use it it is frustrating and a waste of money. One of my favorite little tidbits about the oscillating saw is that the speed at which they operate (as long as it's fast enough) won’t cut skin. Now this is not true if it's not oscillating fast enough but I have found it to be generally safer than other tools I have worked with. The cordless application of the multi tool is really nice as it expands the portability of the tool and not needing to drag a long power cord onstage. The reduction of weight to a quarter the weight of most circular saws without the battery is also a great quality of life aspect to the tool. Cutting down the weight and increasing portability gives great advantage to this tool.
This looks like a pretty nifty saw. What stood out to me most was that this tool has a trigger rather than a switch. I’ve never used an oscillating saw that has a trigger before, but I have to say I think it would be nice. I’m not sure it would be useful all the time. Think about using it in an awkward situation, if you have to hold it funny or you only have one free hand, for example. A switched unit might be more convenient, but this does include a trigger lock – it sounds a lot more flexible than a typical switched tool. The article mentioned that the tool has reduced vibration, so I’d be interested to see how it compares to similar tools. Vibration is, in my opinion, a huge drawback to oscillating saws. It makes working with one for a long period of time annoying to impossible, depending on how much it vibrates.
This article caught my eye as I only first encountered an oscillating tool earlier this summer and have been intrigued by their use and application since. The improvements and additional quality of life and ergonomic changes to Ridgid’s model seem to be key improvements to further expanding the oscillating tool’s use in several shops, especially now that trigger-based oscillating tools are being used. While it seems that this is an incredibly useful tool for a variety of small alterations and otherwise hard to achieve tasks (cutting bolts in hard to reach places or just very careful carpentry), I remain unsure of the drawbacks or true limitations of an oscillating tool and need to investigate more into this aspect of their use. Overall, it seems like a trick to have up your sleeve instead of a tool to rely upon, but seeing these improvements in their models is beginning to convince me more.
I have always felt conflicted about oscillators, but mostly dislike them. I think that they are a good choice in a few circumstances, but that people can tend to go out of their way to use this tool instead of the right one. This was especially true in my undergrad, where everyone owned their own and loved to pull it out for any task might work with it. I do think Rigid has always made pretty good tools, and I assume this one will be no different. I agree with the article that the trigger the put on these is much more useful than the typical on/off switch, being able to have more control over what you are cutting and being able to respond easier to any changes. I have never owned Rigid tools myself, but it seems like every shop I've worked at owns at least one of theirs. It is always hard to buy a new tool just because of the battery universes, but Rigid are a good choice for almost any tool and this oscillator would be a good pick for anyone trying to buy a new one.
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