Woodworker's Journal 2010-34-2, страница 48

Today's Shop continued

can even buy carbide- or diamond-coated blades for cutting and grinding grout, masonry, tile and stone.

To help you understand the particulars of each one, here's an overview of all six tools.

Bosch PS50 Multi-X

Unveiled about a year ago, Bosch's Multi-X is powered by a 12-volt lithium-ion battery and is one of two cordless multi-tools here. It uses the same Max Litheon™ battery platform as Bosch's other Ultra Compact tools. Two batteries and a 30-minute charger come with it.

Weighing only 2.2 lbs., this machine has a compact barrel grip, appointed with soft overmolds. Variable speed allows you to adjust it from 5,000 to 20,000 opm, to handle everything front slow

metal cutting to high-speed sanding or polishing.

Bosch packages the Multi-X in two hard-cased kits. The Cutting Kit ($160 to $170) comes with a liook-and-loop sanding plate, several grits of sandpaper and a plunge-cutting blade for wood. A more expanded Carpenter Kit (shown above) includes everything in the Cutting Kit plus three narrow plunge blades for wood and a semicircular segmented blade for wood, metal or drywall. This bigger kit sells for around $189 to $199.

Unique to both kits, Bosch provides a round adapter disk that covers its 12-pin attachment head. This enables the Multi-X to accept accessories from Fein and

Drernel with their different mounting configurations. That way, you've got a wide range of blade options, including those Bosch doesn't currently offer. Another nice little detail I like is an oil-board "fuel gauge." Just push a button lo see instantly how much charge is left in the battery.

Craftsman Nextec

Craftsman has entered the multi-tool category with its cordless Nextec"¹ ($99.99). Like Bosch, this tool powers up with a Li-ion DieHard® 12-volt battery, and it's one of several cordless tools in the

Nextec'" line. The charger replenishes it in only 30 minutes, which is good, since you only get one battery.

Craftsman uses a four-pin connection for attachments, and smartly, the design also

Today's Shop continues on page 52 .

Nextec has an LED worklight that's powered by the tool's battery. It could be a plus for low-light worksite applications.

The attachment mounting pattern of Craftsman's Nextec also accepts Fein MultiMaster blades (left in photo).

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April 2010 Woodworkers Jourruil