oscillators with plunge bases?

[Steven Lee, NC]

Besides the Festool Vecturo are there any other oscilaltors that have a plunge base attachment? 600 bucks is a tad too much and I keep getting routers in my google searches. Thanks

[Jamie Buxton]

Do you already have a Fein? I see articles about connecting a Fein multitool to the Festool plunge base. The base costs $150, not $600. For instance

http://forum.toolsinaction.com/topic/5306-use-the-festool-plunge-base-on-your-multimaster-350q/ and

https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/fein-multimaster-qsl-festool-plug-it-and-new-plunge-base/

[Steven Lee, NC]

thanks, I'll look into it. Don't have any tools now but am shopping around

[Steve Rozmiarek]

How would a plunge base on an oscillator be beneficial?

[Jamie Buxton]

How would a plunge base on an oscillator be beneficial?

IMHO, those oscillating saws are pretty crude tools -- kinda like Sawzalls on a smaller scale. They're completely hand-guided, and particularly if you attempt to plunge it straight into a workpiece it dances around until it finally bites. Perhaps a plunge base for it would offer better control. I'm not saying I'd spend $150 find out if it does -- just trying to guess an answer to your question.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

IMHO, those oscillating saws are pretty crude tools -- kinda like Sawzalls on a smaller scale. They're completely hand-guided, and particularly if you attempt to plunge it straight into a workpiece it dances around until it finally bites. Perhaps a plunge base for it would offer better control. I'm not saying I'd spend $150 find out if it does -- just trying to guess an answer to your question.

I agree. They are useful but I can't see how a plunge base improves anything. The only thing that I could think of was if someone was trying to plunge for mortises but that wouldn't work very well. Would make lots of smoke though.

[Eric Schmid]

I recently used a wooden straight edge and oscillating tool to cut the ends off an open staircase; to convert it to a “captured” staircase. The stringer is varnished, not painted, so no caulking to cover up mistakes. Thankfully the treads and risers were fir. The straight edge makes these tools fairly precise, at least in one direction. A vertical guide, like a plunge base, would guide the saw in the other direction. With the stairs, there was some hand tool cleanup on the vertical plane, but the long lines came out perfectly.

There are much better and a wider variety of blades available than a few years ago. Blade selection goes a long way toward better results.

This is a tool that really excels in remodeling. I don’t have much use for it in woodworking, but I wonder how I ever worked without one in construction.

[Jim Becker]

Eric, I bought one last year (Ridgid) to help with a home repair where it was the right tool for the job. I'd previously not even considered one for my stable of tools. That said, I never considered a vertical stand like the OP is asking about. I'm sure there are operations where that might be useful.

[Jim Dwight]

I have three oscillating tools, a HF (forgot that one in the other thread), a cordless Ryobi (useful for drywall work), and a Fein. I bought the Festool plunge base and have used it attached to the Fein. One usage was to make a square hole for a newel post in an oak thread. With a good blade, the Fein cut the hole easily and accurately. It still is not something I would routinely use in woodworking although it could be used to flush cut plugs and things like that. That is one of the few things I use hand tools for, however.

[Eric Schmid]

Jim, I’m not even sure what I’d use a plunge base for, but Festool finds ways to solve problems we didn’t even know we had. Fein did the same when they built the Multimaster.

I really like the brushless motors and variable speed in the trigger. My Fein has been sitting in its box for months since I picked up a cordless Dewalt.