After starting out as a tool for sawing off plaster casts without cutting skin, the oscillating multitool has become the Swiss Army knife of power tools. The key is its cutting action. Unlike a typical saw blade, the cutter on an oscillating multitool wiggles from side to side—by just a few degrees—at speeds up to 20,000 oscillations per minute. Many pros use these tools exclusively for plunge and flush cuts: when trimming door jambs to fit new flooring or cutting receptacle recesses in drywall, for example. But DIYers have also discovered that oscillating multitools can be just as indispensable as detail sanders, metal cutters, caulk removers, grout grinders, and more.
Here’s how to choose and use this toolbox essential to maximize its versatility.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Common features
1. Mounting plate The spot where accessories attach
A lever that locks
