Chicago Electric Power Tools are onlyย available from Harbor Freight. Harbor Freight has a reputation for supplyingย value-oriented tools at bargain basement prices. While primarily a mail-order/catalogue company, Harbor Freight also has physical locations. One ofย them happens to be within 15 minutes of my home, which is why I decided to stopย off and purchase their new Chicago Electric Power Tools Multi-Function Tool.ย Now that the Fein MultiMaster patent has expired, there are lots of new oscillating tools. The Chicago Electric Multi-Tool is possibly the cheapest model.
This oscillating multi-tool was on sale for just $39.99, making itโat the timeโthe absoluteย cheapest multi-tool in existence. We wanted to give it a go and see if its lowย retail price translated into extreme value, or extreme bust.
Editorโs Note: Check out what we thought of the current cordless models in our best oscillating multi-toolsย article.
Chicago Electric Multi-Tool Build Quality
Itโs no secret that the Harbor Freightย version of the oscillating tool was destined to be genericโฆ but this may haveย taken the term to a new level. The reddish-orange body of the tool is very squared offย and feels awkward in the hand. Itโs almost too big in terms of its girth, butย stops just short of me calling it cumbersome. ย The power cord that comes with the tool is about 6 feet in length,ย making it one of the shortest weโve seen in these tools and all but certain toย make you utilize an extension cord on every job. An oversized orange slide switch controls the power for the tool, and it felt good under our thumb.
As we surveyed the silver flake painted die-cast aluminum housingย surrounding the motor structure, we spied something inside we hadnโt seen inย the other tools โ white plastic or nylon. Ugh. Putting plastic motor parts with a 90-day warranty is pretty sure to be a recipe for trouble. Theย tool itself runs at 11,000 opm (oscillations per minute), and there is noย adjustment for speed. Having no adjustment isnโt such a big deal, except that the tool operates at only half the speed at which most other oscillating tools can go. Ordinarily, that would mean slower cutting. Those looking for maximum speed may consider this to position this tool as a sanding device and make it less โusefulโ for serious cutting.
Chicago Electric Multi-Tool Accessories
The accessories that come with the tool are a 3โณ triangular sanding pad, a slitting โhalf-moonโ blade, a plunge cut blade, and a flat scraper blade. They are fully compatible with the Bosch OIS oscillatingย tool interface system. The included blades with this kit all looked generic but certainly usable. Harbor Freight makesย no advertisement that any of the blades can cut metal, and indeed, we found themย to be better suited for wood (especially given the limited oscillation speed).ย
You can purchase a replacement blade that also comes with two additionalย scrapers (offset and flat) for just $5.99. A circular diamond blade is just $5.99 as well and will allow for the cutting of smaller ceramic tiles. Additionalย half-moon slitting blades are also just $5.99. An assortment pack of 6 sandingย pads costs just $2.99. Suffice it to say, the accessories for this tool are asย inexpensive as the tool itself. There is no option for a dust collectionย attachment.
Attaching accessories to the Chicagoย Electric Multi-Function Tool is, to put it bluntly, kind of a pain. The baseย plate for receiving the accessory has only the slightest of central lips toย center the accessory, making every new attachment become more of an adventureย in holding everything perfectly still than simply getting the darn tool set up.ย I kept reminding myself how inexpensive this tool was compared to theย competition, but Iโm not sure thatโs a good excuse for poor design (as it mostย certainly wasnโt much of a cost issue to do the accessories right).
In anyย case, a Ford Fiesta is a cheap car, but Iโm not going to buy and drive one.ย About the only positive note is that since the accessory system uses compressionย instead of proprietary fittings, it can actually support most otherย manufacturersโ blades, scrapers, and sanding attachments.
Theย worse news is that the accessories tend to slip. In fact, on our first use,ย after cranking down the nut and washer with the included hex wrench, the woodย blade still bent around during use. After we tightened it a second time, it actually came completely loose. It turns out you have to really, really crank downย on it in order to secure the accessory.
Weย used the Multi-Function Tool on a number of projects, each with varying degreesย of success. The end result is that the tool will get the job done quickly. The accessory included with the tool, while cheap, seemed to cutย quickly (though we were scared it would fold over at any minute). The blade isย cheap and will need more frequent replacement, but at the prices they areย available for online ($5.99 ea), this isnโt a terribly bad thing. The tool, itย turns out, is actually quite good for sanding and cutting into hardwood.ย Overall, the tool simply feels a bit unrefined and is more cumbersome to use thanย many other multi-tools. The constant fear of losing the accessory during useย remained at the top of our list.
Conclusion
Harborย Freight has presented a truly entry-level option with the Chicago Electric Toolsย Multi-Function Tool. As inexpensive as it is (we picked up ours for less thanย $40), anyone intending to use the tool on multiple projects might want to consider spending a little more on alternatives from Dremel Multi-Max ($99) or Craftsman Nextec Multi-Toolย ($99).
While weโll stop short of telling you to run for your life before usingย this tool, it certainly doesnโt present itself as something weโd really enjoyย using on a daily basis. We also donโt feel that it will hold up well over time,ย given the quality of the visible components we observed. The accessory slippageย is extremely frustrating and will leave you questioning the stability of theย tool every time you use it, though when it cuts, it cuts fast. If you need something quick, want to spend as little as possible, and donโt intend on using it often, this might be your tool. For everyone else, check out the excellentย options now available on the market.
