Sawing
This is by far the biggest use of the oscillating tool. If you buy an oscillating tool, chances are you have something specific in mind you want to saw. You can use a wood blade for sawing multiple materials, such as wood, paneling, and drywall. But you’ll always get the most of your tool if you use the right oscillating blade for a specific material.
Sanding
While an oscillating tool is great for cutting and sawing material, it also doubles as a sander. I still use my corded DeWalt sander for big sanding jobs. But I love using my 20v battery operated DeWalt Oscillating tool for quick sanding purposes. No need to dig up the extension cord, just pop on the sanding attachment and get it done.
Depending on the sanding attachment, sanding pads are available in circular and triangle shapes. I personally prefer the triangle shapes as the corners allow me to get in tough to reach spots.
Grout Removal
If you’re doing some tile work, like a bathroom renovation, you may have to remove the old grout. The oscillating tool can make quick work of that. The grout removal blades come in both carbide and diamond edges. For most applications, the Carbide edged blades will do the trick, such as tile joints, grout, or even concrete.
The diamond edge blades are more expensive, but they get the job done faster, and they will last much longer.
Cutting
A less popular use of the oscillating tool is to cut material. Most oscillating cutting blades are designed for soft materials. Such materials include leather, felt, rubber, carpet, and so on. Even if you never plan on cutting such materials, having a cutting blade can come in useful for removing old caulk. It’s a nasty job that can otherwise take a long time with a utility knife.
Rasping
Carbide oscillating tool rasps are great for coarse sanding. Think tile adhesive, wood, fillers, concrete, or even stone. These rasping attachments are available in round, triangular, and finger shapes.
Scraping
Have you ever pulled up old vinyl flooring, only to end up with large patches and glue stuck to your floor? This is just an example of when a scraper blade really comes in handy. It will remove this stuff with ease, and you don’t have to worry about cutting your floor by accident. These scaper blades come in both rigid and flexible. Other uses include removing adhesive, tile, carpet, silicone, glue, and paint.
Polishing
If you’re a crafty individual that likes working with metals, you’ll be glad to know that your oscillating tool can make your polish work much easier. Pads are available in different densities, just like sanding pads. They can provide a beautiful polished finish on chrome, stainless steel, aluminum, and other materials.
Learn more about the type of oscillating tool blades for each of these projects! Using the right blade can make the difference between frustration and delight. It’s a great feeling to complete a DIY job, having the right tools at hand.
