Manufacturing in theU.S.is not what it used to be.  It’s not that the quality has gone down; it’s better than ever.  It’s that work is so often moved overseas.  Fabricators in this country are having a harder time than ever staying afloat, which is why it’s important to have as many options as possible when it comes to making money and saving money.  One of the best ways to cut down on expenses and streamline your processes is to switch over to multi tools for much of your work.

Multi Tool for Versatility

Some people are not familiar with the oscillating multi tool.  This work of engineering genius is a high powered tool with interchangeable blades, allowing it to do the work of dozens of standard tools.  Depending on the blade you pop into it, it can make a variety of cuts in a huge range of materials.  It can do precision cuts, long cuts, even plunge cuts in hardwood, soft woods, plywood, particle board, drywall, plastics, fiberglass, carpet, insulation board, cardboard, foam board, and other common materials.  A multi tool / oscillating tool replaces just about any kind of saw or cutting tool.  It can also be used to scrape, sand, grind, and polish, all depending on the blades you use.  You can find Fein, Bosch and, Dremel, and Rockwell have excellent versions of the oscillating tool, all with great performance and durability.  Sonicrafter blades are especially well known for their quality, but you can’t really go wrong with any of these tools.  These can save you money as you expand or need to replace tools because you simply get more “bang for your buck.”  You get one tool that does the job of many, and does those jobs very well.

The Oscillating Tool – Light and Portable

One of the big advantages of these tools, aside from their amazing versatility, is that they are so light and portable.  Depending on the layout of your shop or factory, you may have a lot of people and equipment crammed in.  It can be difficult to work your way around everything and everyone.  Each place is different, but it’s nice to have a tool that you can grab and take easily anywhere you need to go.  If you have repairs to do around the shop, this thing is the best.  You can easily take it on the roof, in crawlspaces, behind machines, under work benches… it can pretty much go anywhere you can.  They even make cordless versions, which opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

Saving Money on Tools and Blades

Like the blades of any power tool, even Sonicrafter blades eventually wear out.  You can buy name brand blades, which are very good, but they can add up in costs pretty quickly.  A busy factory or shop could go through hundreds of blades a year, so it’s a good idea to check out all of your options for replacements.  Fortunately, you can find off-brand replacement blades for all oscillating tool types.  These high-quality replacements are precise and durable, but they cost a fraction of the price of the name brand retail blades.  If you really want to streamline your processes and your budget, these replacement blades are the way to go.