Not Bauer, Not Craftsman: The Oscillating Multi-Tool Brand Consumer Reports Recommends

The oscillating multi-tool could be described as the Swiss Army knife of power tools. You can saw, grind, chisel, scrape, and sand with them. They can be used for drywall, plastic, metal, tile, and wood. They are great for working in tight corners, and their versatility and ease of use make them among the must-buy power tools for first time homeowners. Just about every leading tool brand offers one, but when Consumer Reports users tested them, they didn't recommend Bauer, Craftsman, or any of the other big-name makers — they chose the model from Flex. Let's take a closer look at their conclusions.

You may not have heard of Flex, but the brand is well-known among professionals. They are based in Germany with more than 100 years experience producing high-quality equipment. Their tools do tend to sit at the premium end of the market, along with the likes of DeWalt and Milwaukee, and only one model in the survey was more expensive.

To ensure a comprehensive view of the market, Consumer Reports looked at 14 different products in its roundup of oscillating multi-tools. While some from budget-friendly manufacturers like Bauer and Craftsman scored well, the Flex model topped the charts with an impressive 95 out of 100.

Unusually, the Flex oscillating multi-tool runs off a 24V battery — most other competitors utilize an 18V or 20V power source. Flex claims this increases power by 20% and run time by 25%. The brand also claims that charging can be 50% faster. The maximum speed is 20,000 oscillations per minute with vibration suppression, so it's more comfortable to use. Flex customers give it an average rating of 4.8 stars, and our own experience was positive. We ranked it among 10 highly rated Flex power tools that make DIY projects a breeze. While complaints are rare, a few owners were disappointed that the tool only accepts the brand's own Starlock blades, which can be difficult to find, rather than the universal type used by most rivals.

As we suggested earlier, the Flex oscillating multi-tool is really aimed at pro users rather than DIYers and comes with a price tag of over $200. For comparison, the Bauer model tested was $50, and the Craftsman was $69.52. If you only need one occasionally, there's a low-cost model from Harbor Freight for home improvement projects you might want to investigate.

Consumer Reports recommends the Flex oscillating multi-tool as the best on the market. It is undeniably an excellent product, but whether it's the right one for you will depend on your budget and how often you imagine yourself using it.