What is a Multi Tool?

A multi tool can be used for a multitude of tasks at work or in the garage and is a must-have and helpful tool to have. Several types of multitools are available, ranging from the Dremel to versatile and more powerful multi-cutting tools. These bigger more powerful tools tend to use an oscillating rather than a rotational action.

This guide will outline what is a multitool, the various multi tools that are available, how to use them, and what jobs you can use them for.

So, what can a multi tool be used for?

• Delicate work including engraving, drilling, and polishing using the Dremel tool
• Sawing and cutting various materials (wood, plastic, metal, pipes, screws, nails)
• Sanding, levelling
• Scraping (adhesive removal)
• Grout routing from a tiled surface
• Plunge cutting
• Mortise cutting

You can use a multi-cutter in difficult-to-reach places where your regular saw, cutter or grinder cannot easily be used. The multi-cutters have extremely high-speed oscillating blades and many available attachments. They are extremely versatile and are an easy-to-handle tool, especially during inconvenient jobs such as:

• Cutting through screws or nails
• Plunge cutting
• Sanding
• Rasping and routing
• Cutting close to edges and difficult-to-reach places
• Scraping

A smaller multi tool such as the Dremel has a rotary action like a drill. These are useful for engraving, fine drilling, grinding, and sawing.

There are many types of multi tool blades and accessories available. You can use a BIM (Bi metal) plunge cut saw blade for handling various materials. These blades are extremely rugged and designed to cut wood, plastic, and many non-hardened metals. Let’s look at how to use a multi tool:

Screws and nails pose a bigger challenge for most saws but the multi tool fitted with a TC (Tungsten Carbide) or DeWalt Titanium saw blade will enable you to cut hard materials such as stainless steel, hardened screws, and nails. The extremely high-speed, powerful oscillating blade will enable you to apply light pressure whilst offering the edge of the blade up to the nail or screw to cut.

Blades and attachments can be used for all sorts of jobs - from sanding to cutting. Here are the most common functions:

• BIM segment saw blade - (separating and plunge cuts)
• Sanding plate - (sanding surfaces)
• BIM plunge cut saw blade - (sawing openings for locks, filigree adjustment work)
• TC plunge cut saw blade - (cutting nails, screws, and hard materials)
• Riff segment saw blade - (precise cutting and routing of tiles, plastics, and resins)
• Multi-blade - (cutting carpets, flooring and roofing felt)
• Riff plate - (rasping and sanding)

How long a blade will last will depend on many factors such as how they are stored, what materials you are cutting with them and what material the blades are made of. The TC (tungsten carbide) tipped blades and titanium blades tend to offer longer life than the regular hardened steel. The BIM (bi-metal) blades are longer lasting than the regular steel blades.

If you have a multi tool blade that is blunt it can be sharpened using something like a slim taper saw file or another suitable hardened file. A diamond file set would be best suited when sharpening the harder blade materials.

The aim is to file between the teeth of the multi tool blade until you re-establish sharp teeth tips. You must always ensure that the blade is detached and removed from the power tool when sharpening a blade. Clamp the blade firmly in a vice so you can easily work on it. 

Multi-tools are incredibly versatile and extremely useful tools to have in your tool bag. They offer vast versatility, largely due to the way that they are designed and due to the many different accessories available for them. You can view and read more about multi tools in our multi tool section.