|
If you've read our previous blog on the wonders of the multi-tool, you’ll know what a versatile tool it really is. This small but powerful invention is ideal for achieving precise results in smaller areas, and for a wide range of applications: sanding, polishing, sawing, cutting, rasping … and much, much more. Its adaptability is largely down to the fact that multi-tools can accept a huge range of blades and attachments, which allows this wonder tool to work a huge range of materials, everything from ceramic, masonry and wood to metal and brick. And it’s genius when it comes to removing substances like adhesive, paint, caulk and grout.
Like many power tools on the market, most multi-tools will come with a couple of general-purpose blades, and you might be tempted to use them, regardless of the material that you’re working: wood, metal or anything else.
But general-purpose means just that, so why would you use a generic attachment … when you can get a specialised accessory or blade, perfect for your needs? |
 |
There are so many to choose from, too – an absolute multi-verse of multi-tool blades, if you will – and to help you navigate it, we've put together a handy guide defining the various types, their applications and design materials. So if you've thought about getting yourself a multi-tool and/or some blades to go with it, this blog is for you!
Blade basics
With so much to know about multi-tool attachments, it's hard to know where to start. So let's begin with some basics. When deciding which accessories / blades to choose, consider the following: teeth per inch (TPI), blade composition and blade shape.
|
|
Get a helping hand with all of your home renovation tasks: this 34-piece set of multi-tool accessories, the WC-MT34 from WellCut®. It has a range of blades and attachments, like sanding sheets and pads, plunge-cutting blades for wood & non-ferrous metals, scrapers, carbide-coated rasps & more. They all come in their own sturdy carry case for easy storage & transport.
|
Tooth characteristics
This aspect largely determines a blade’s cutting action and suitability. For more control and smoother cuts when cutting wood, get a blade with smaller, finer teeth; when cutting metal or even wood with nails, fine teeth are a must to provide a smooth cut without snagging on the hard material and thereby creating a hazard.
Blades with longer teeth and lower TPI will cut more quickly, but also more aggressively; their fast action means that they’re ideally reserved for rough cuts in wooden work pieces. When it comes to tooth characteristics, Japanese teeth blades are in a special class of their own. Designed to be used only with wood, their angled, precision-ground teeth remove more material more efficiently, while still delivering an enviably smooth cut.
Blade & accessory composition
HCS: HCS (which stands for high carbon steel) has a bit of flexibility to allow bending without breakage. This makes them best suited to cutting softer materials such as wood or plastic. Keep in mind that their flexibility also means that they're the least durable of blades.
Bi-metal blades: These blades are the next step up from HCS, and can be used with both wood and non-ferrous metal. Their teeth are made of high-speed steel, offering heat-resistance, hardness and durability; the high-carbon steel shank offers both flexibility and break-resistance.
Carbide tipped & coated: Though these blades and attachments are more expensive, they’re worth the extra cost. Their high durability makes them well-suited to cutting screws, bolts and hardened nails, and, in the case of rasping attachments, grinding away tile adhesive and concrete.
Diamond grit: This premium-grade coating for a variety of blades and rasps means that you can chase into ceramic, brick and stone and remove hard tile adhesive, concrete and stone without breaking into a sweat.
|
|
Rough sanding and removing mortar is a cinch with Bosch's MAVZ 116 RT2 carbide sanding rasp. Designed to be used with Starlock Max multi-tools, this delta rasp offers extreme durability and aggressive removal without clogging or build-up. It's ideal for removing thick layers of paint and lacquer, as well as tile adhesive, mortar and glue residues from wooden materials and wood-plastic composites.
|
Main accessory types
There’s a huge assortment of attachments for multi-tools; in fact, there are so many that we can’t list every one here (as much as we’d like to), so we’ve stuck to the main ones for all of the most common tasks.
Plunge cutting blades: As the name suggests, these blades are designed for making quick, precise openings, mainly in wood and drywall, where you haven’t got an edge to start from. This is super-useful when you need to fit electrics, such as a recessed light switch or wall outlet. For cutting nails, pipes and bolts, get a blade with smaller teeth and more teeth per inch, like a bi-metal blade or a blade that has a cutting edge coated with carbide or diamond grit.
Segmented blades: Also called semi-circle or half-moon blades, these are good for making long, linear cuts in any direction, and are especially useful where a circular saw isn’t a safe or practical option. They can even be used with a straight edge.
Scraper blades: These rigid untoothed attachments are great for removing a wide range of materials, such as adhesives, sealants, old carpet and lino. There are also flexible scraper blades that are ideal for removing caulking or paint, as well as special hook-shaped options for cleaning out crevices, cracks and corners.
Rasping blades: These attachments have no teeth but instead have an abrasive agent (usually carbide grit) brazed onto their working surface. Rasps come in a variety of shapes, such as the tapered finger rasps and delta (triangular) blades. They’re great for smoothing the edges of ceramic tile or wood or removing grout and harder materials like tile adhesive and hardened concrete.
Hook blades: These cutting attachments come in a variety of shapes and styles, and easily slice through carpet, roofing felt and cardboard to make your tasks so much faster and easier.
 |
OIS, StarLock, StarLock Plus & StarLock Max: Each one of these categories has its own specially shaped shank to fit particular multi-tool models. That's why it's important to check that you get the right blades and accessories – with the correct fitment – for your multi-tool.
To see our entire range, have a look at UK Planet Tools' multi-tool blades. |
Sanding accessories: Having sanding attachments for your multi-tool allows you to sand a variety of surfaces and hard-to-reach areas in a variety of shapes; with specialised attachments such as the profile sanding kit, you can even sand small details like grooves.
To get the best results for your task, you need to choose the right grit size, classified according to numbered grades. A lower grit number (40–60) means that the sheet has larger abrasive grains to work more aggressively. For sanding and stripping rough paintwork and varnish, aim for a coarser grade, e.g. 40- to 60-grit. Grit numbers 80 and 120 are good for removing surface imperfections and preparing surfaces for paint, while ordinary applications won’t require much above 120, in most cases. (For industrial applications, there are increasing grit grades offering increasing fineness, all the way up to 10000; these ultra-fine speciality products are reserved for polishing stone, glass and concrete.)
Sanding sheets fix to a metal sanding plate (or pad) with the help of a hook-and-loop system, similar to Velcro. The abrasive agents are bonded to the backing of each sanding sheet with synthetic resins. For wood and metal, the best general-purpose sandpaper is coated with aluminium oxide, while the best sandpaper for softer metals such as aluminium or brass is silicon carbide. Zirconium corundum grit is excellent for sanding extremely hard surfaces such as hardened varnish or hardened metal. For finest polishing requirements, like putting a gleaming shine on stone or glass or in automotive work, diamond and silicon carbide are the best materials.
Polishing attachments: Polishing with multi-tools is becoming more popular, thanks to a variety of polishing pad attachments, which are often made using felt-like materials.
Blade fitment systems
At present, there are two main systems of blade fitments: the OIS (Oscillating Interface System) and the Starlock system. The OIS fitting, introduced by Bosch in 2010, has a 12-pin configuration that was designed to provide a more secure connection between the tool and the accessory. This system also allows for the blade to be angled throughout a 360° arc on the tool head, a big improvement on previous formats. OIS blades also offer greater compatibility with existing brands of multi-tools.
Starlock system: Developed by Bosch & Fein, this system consists of the StarLock, StarLock Plus and StarLock Max designs. Despite their different names, each of the 3 subcategories features a quick, tool-free blade-change mechanism. What’s more, the contoured ‘cake-tin’ interface means more surface contact between the blade fitment and the tool head, ensuring a more secure connection; this equates to maximum power transfer for enhanced performance, stability and precision.
Starlock blades can be used with a wide range of multi-tool brands, including Bosch, Fein, Makita, Metabo, Hitachi, Milwaukee, AEG, Einhell, Ryobi and Skil. We do say most, as DeWalt multi-tools require an adapter. Starlock shanks share the same 12 holes as the OIS shanks, which means that a Starlock accessory will fit onto just about any mainstream brand of power tool, such as Metabo, Milwaukee, Makita and HiKOKI.
|
Add some extra versatility to your collection of multi-tool accessories with this handy 6-pack of bi-metal multi-tool blades from Fein. They're from Fein's Starlock range, and include 2 x 28mm blades, 2 x 35mm blades and 2 x 50mm blades, perfect for trimming wood & nails and metal or wood.
|
Starlock, StarlockPlus & StarlockMax: What are the differences?
Blades from each of the 3 categories are designed to suit the power output of specific classes of multi-tool, with StarlockMax being the strongest, highest-spec blade category. Therefore, match your tool with a compatible accessory – too much power could damage or break a blade that’s not robust enough to suit.
To help you in your quest to find the perfect multi-tool and multi-tool blades for your needs, we're here with a wide variety of products. Have a look at our wide selection of top-name multi-tools and multi-tool accessories today – all types and all brands, with something for everyone and all requirements.
