Buying tools in a kit almost always provides the lowest price per tool and the best value, provided you’ll use all of the tools in the kit and don’t already own any of them. Most kits are sold with three to seven tools and also often include a drill, a circular saw, two batteries, and a single charger. Oscillating tools are often included as part of a larger toolkit. You can use the battery and charger that came with your drill and save about 30 percent on the cost of the oscillating tool by buying it bare. (The same goes for electric lawn tools.) If you go cordless and you already own a cordless drill, consider buying an oscillating tool from the same brand. But you’ll typically pay a bit more for them, and of course you’ll need to periodically charge the battery. In contrast, cordless options can go anywhere, allowing you to work without access to an outlet. If you go with a corded model, look for one with a cord that’s at least 12 feet long to maximize reach. Most models are cordless, but corded models offer plenty of power and they’re often a good value. Oscillating tools look and work similarly, but a handful of key differences can make certain models easier to use and more versatile, too. Most tools take grout-grinding attachments, which consist of a blade shaped like a half or quarter moon, specially designed to tackle the task. If you need to regrout a bathroom, a multi-tool is a godsend. Because of the triangular shape of the sandpaper and the attachment, they’re ideal for sanding in tight corners on a floor, as you’d do to sand wood or tile adhesive. Most multi-tools have triangular sanding attachments designed to accept sandpaper of varying grits for different projects. Those blades don’t make cuts in specific materials as well, but you can save money by buying a single multi-purpose blade for multiple projects. You’ll also see multi-purpose blades, designed for use on any of those materials. In a store, you’ll typically find blades for each of those specific tasks. A multi-tool can cut wood, metal, plaster, or drywall. Here are some of the most common jobs, and the attachments used for each. The real magic of an oscillating tool comes from the broad array of attachments it can use.

Porter cable multi tool long blades