Hi
Anyone used one of these? Is it reasonably quick or will it take ages per tile - application is a whole half tiled bathroom.
- posted
16 years ago
Dremmel Grout Removal Kit
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- posted
16 years ago
Reasonable but slow.
The Fein Multimaster does it far better and far quicker.
No handyman should be without one.
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16 years ago
Thought of that, but read a very bad review about the durability of the blades - like not lasting more than two or three tiles and being bloody expensive.
I could well do with a multimaster but I'll wait untill competition forces them into 'real world' pricing.
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- posted
16 years ago
By hand it takes me 10 seconds per 1 side of a 4" tile - I cant imagine how a delicate die grinder tool could equal that for speed.
NT
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- posted
16 years ago
Well........ I've done half a bathroom with mine, floor to ceiling, two blades....
For the versatility and effectiveness, they have real world pricing.
As far as competition goes, I am not sure. I think that you could wait a long time.
A search on any of the patent web sites shows that Fein is prolific with the filing of patent applications and having them granted. One only goes to that much trouble if one is willing to defend same.
Have a look at
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there are 37 patents relating to the technology used in the oscillating tools.
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16 years ago
Shortly to embark on a similar renovation. What blade dis you use, carbide segment saw?
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16 years ago
On Sat, 19 May 2007 23:02:44 +0100, "The Medway Handyman" mused:
The blade I use for raking grout out came with the machine and I've regrouted 3 bathrooms with it so far.
Price is ireelevant, you either need it or you don't, and as we're talking about the Fein Multimaster, everyone needs one. ;)
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16 years ago
are you suing toothpaste instead of proper grout?
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16 years ago
Just had a look at their web-site - "a damn good read"
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16 years ago
Yes, for the first one. That did wear out just over half way through and I replaced it with a diamond one. That still has quite a bit of life left in it.
On Fein's web site (start from the German one), there is a video showing revoval of grout between floor tiles for a replacement of a tile and wall tiles for cleanup as TMH is wanting to do. This gives an idea of how fast it cuts as well - a good deal faster than a Dremel and I have tried it with that.
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16 years ago
The manufacturer's one has some more content on it and some usage videos.
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16 years ago
On Sun, 20 May 2007 09:23:26 +0100, Andy Hall mused:
I've gone of mine now.
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16 years ago
Mmm... nice isn't it.
Having said that, I don't find myself having to switch back and forth between attachments so frequently that it becomes annoying.
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16 years ago
On Sun, 20 May 2007 18:21:06 +0100, Andy Hall mused:
No, I tend to only end up using 1 or maybe 2 attachments each time it comes out of the case. I did think that the allen key bolts would soon cam out but after having mine for around 3 years none of them have shown any signs of camming\slipping etc...
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- posted
16 years ago
Just a matter of technique. Why everyone goes for those grout saw things I dont know. All it takes is a bradawl: hold it at 90 degrees, not slanted, press hard enough to start doing damage, whip it fast back and forth across the grout line a few times and it just disintegrates under the point pressure. Done.
Note this has nothing to do with a 'picking' action, which is completely the wrong approach, but is what people always do if given a bradawl to remove grout.
Its just a question of using the right force: enough force and on a bradawl tip the pressure is high enough to break down the grout.
NT
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16 years ago
Yes, I thought the same, but no problems at all.
I'm very picky about tools but on this one I can honestly say that there is nothing that I would really criticise. It would be helpful if the dust extraction for sanding were better, but that is a limitation of any sander with holes in the paper for extraction. OTOH. it does seem that the oscillating action, with the tiny amount of movement doesn't result in as much dust being kicked out as in the case of conventional sanders, so I have never found dust to be a big problem.
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16 years ago
I have noticed that if you use it to finish of dry lining filler with a coarse paper, the dust just pours off the sanding point and falls to the floor without much getting airborne at all which is quite nice. The rate of removal is also surprisingly high.
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16 years ago
Mmm.. just what I've been doing today, and yes cleanup is not too bad at all.
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16 years ago
Yes, but not for grout removal. It makes a great little mini-router for inlay work in cabinetry. OTOH, Axminster sell their similar gadget more cheaply.
It's not much use for grout removal. A vertical rod cutter just doesn't cut quickly enough, can't shift the powdery grout out of the way fast enough and is also too likely to wander and nick a tile. A lengthways tool can work much faster, just because it has better access. Personally I use a couple of different widths of power hacksaw blade epoxied into wooden handles
A Multimaster shifts grout pretty well, but it's expensive overkill. OTOH, the first time you have to saw a broken tile out, or hut ahole for an extra pipe in situ, then a Multimaster can pay for itself. .