Customer Reviews

Bosch PS50-2B 12-Volt Max Multi-X Carpenter Kit

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This bosch multi-x use tool is exactly that. I do remodeling/ finishing/framing and light cabinet building on site and install. This tool has been used much more than I had originally thought. I've used it for drywall cutting(it makes very nice straight cuts with relatively little dust flying everywhere). I've used it for flush cutting, it will cut through a 2x4 if needed. It works great where it's to hard or awkward to use a sawzall. The detail sanding pad works great and is very nice for tight spaces or small areas. I wish there was a vaccum attachment for this though...?

Also the blades are very nice and are quite durable. I'm anxious to see bosch release their own blades/attachments soon. (A rep just said that they should be released next week. Dec 8th? ) Also he said they would be priced from 10-40% LESS then the compareable Fein attachments!! Thats about time.

Another thing. I tried to use the new Dremel's sandpaper on the bosch, but the Dremel's sandpaper are too small. They don't work well at all. I think the Dremel's other attachments will work fine though.

I think i would actually give this a 4.5 star if i could because there are a few shortcomings.

1. The battery life is short. maybe 5-10 minutes depending on how hard you're pushing this tool and how high the variable speed is. Also when maxed out, this tool does make a good amount of noise and has some vibration. I've used it often dialed about halfway up. Its quieter and less agressive but usually plenty of power. Also, a bosch Rep told me that the 12 volt max batteries are exactly the same as their 10.8 volt. I just picked up the 10.8 volt impact driver because i needed more batteries to keep this tool running. They are interchangeable and seem to work perfectly the same. I think that the battery option and freedom of cords far outweigh the downside of short battery life. (As long as you have more than 2 batteries!!!)

2. My multi-x has a hard to turn off switch. It may just be mine, because in the store the floor model was just fine.. But its bothersome.
( I bought mine in a store. )

To summerize this, I am very happy with my purchase and can't believe how i did certain things before having this handy tool. If you're serious about being efficient on the job, and are looking for a new favorite tool, you can't go wrong here.

***EDIT*** I would definately not go more than 4 Stars due to the battery life issues and no charge in cold weather. I may be looking to the Fein Multi master Top kit down the road....

I took a long time in the store to decide between the Fein and the Bosch. Ultimately, the cheapskate in me won. The significantly lower price of the Bosch and its blades and the feel of the tool in my hand were the deciding factors. The tool feels nimble and can easily be held in one hand.

Bosch has far less choice in blades and attachments than Fein, however, it comes with an adapter so you can use any other manufacturer's attachments. Out of the box it works with the Dremel blades.

For my project I had to cut the bottom of a partially encased 4 x 4 post that had been eaten by ants. The wood is redwood. It took multiple cuts to do this, but the Bosch made it through. Before completion, I exhausted the first battery (5 minutes) and put it in the charger. The battery had become so hot from the cutting that it wouldn't charge. It needed to cool down first. That means that you cannot reuse it within the advertised 30 minutes. I plugged in the second battery and resumed cutting. After 10 seconds the battery popped out and kept popping out. The vibration of the tool had broken the tabs on the battery that hold it in place. By holding the battery with one hand I could finish the cutting of one post. It did the trick, but not as as smooth as I had hoped.

I packed it all up and returned it. I've ordered the Fein and am waiting for it now. Too bad, because on paper the Bosch has a lot going for it. Probably great for small jobs or sites with no electricity. I think the battery is far too small and too low in power for this tool. Even discounting the broken battery - that may be incidental - I can only give it two stars because of the short battery life and long wait for the recharge.

Update:
I received the Fein corded version FMM 250Q today and used it on the second post. Well, what a difference. The Fein is much more powerful, quiet and vibrates far less. Cutting out 12 inches off the sill and through the 4 x4 post was very easy. With the Bosch it felt like a struggle, with the Fein it was fun. Moral of the story: You get what you pay for.

I found this gadget to be excellent for what I wanted it for. Battery life is fine, but using the supplied batteries out of the box the first gave out after les than 5 minutes of cutting foam in place insulation. The second completed the job. Cutting green board the battery that initially had the low charge gave out in a bit less than 15 minutes, the other battery lasted a bit over ½ hour. Trying the short battery again it lasted 35 minutes. So the batteries ability to be fully charged increases with the number of charges--weird

Fein versus Bosh: I feel that there are valid reasons to buy the Fein over the Bosch. They are:
1) Accessories--the Fein has a lot more and some are impossible to fake. (BTW the new star accessories are NOT COMPATABLE with the Bosch!)
2) Corded; more powerful and faster cuts particularly in heavy materials.
3) Very good dust control system.

Bosch over Fein:
1) Fein is 2x the Bosch cost and if you get the dust remover 3x.
2) Cordless and in some cases the dust removal system can't be used due to space.
3) Fein Star connect is unique and there are no alternate sources for accessories.
4) Fein much more of a production to setup, not really suitable for small jobs.

The charger works on the older 10.8 batteries and the new 12 V so in a pinch you can use the 10.8 batteries from your old tools--short life though.

Conclusion/last thoughts: If you do renovation/remodeling for a living get the Fein and the Bosch. If you do heavy remodeling get the Fein. Otherwise unless you must have a unique accessory (or the dust collection) get the Bosh. (I can buy a lot of dust masks and throwaway paper overalls for $400.)

Projects.
I did several projects so far;
First tearing out code drywall (2 sheets of ½ back to back) and green board (concrete board used for steam baths, saunas etc.) and miscellaneous stuff.
I was unsure of using the multi tool as I felt that I could do as well with a sawzall but I was wrong. The Bosch did much better faster in walling where the Green Board had been installed and then the screws sealed over. A friend with a Fein (he does this for a living) came over and gave me a hand and we were able to strip a bathroom with a 6 ½' wall and two 12' walls and a closet in ½ a day. The Fein did about 2x the work that the Bosch did but that's given a more skilled younger operator and a wired tool and allowing for the dust collection system; which is excellent. The Bosch did very well and I had no real problems with battery life. I was surprised at how easily we could cut the screws without damaging the underlying structure and get rid or the various drywall and green board chunks. (Some of the walls were load bearing with 2x6 on 14" centers.)

I used the wide wood blade to remove a bunch of foam in place insulation that got out of hand during an emergency repair last year without having to remove siding. Did a great job.

A friend installed a bunch of shelves with auger point stainless steel screws that were just a bit too long and wound up with the ends of the screws protruding between 1/8 and ¼" above the top of the shelves. I used the metal/wood blade and was surprised to find that it made nice flush cuts that were smooth and only needed a little touch up paint.

Update:
Used the sander and it works better than expected. I don't see a need for a small linear sander or specialty sander if you have this or the Fein. A large rotary or belt may be an eventual purchase.
The grout blade works very well and will reduce the time to retile a small shower from around a week to a couple of days.

Other considerations:
The case is nice and roomy with space for 2 batteries (so you can carry 3 one in the tool), and a box resembling a standard card file 4x4 ¾ x 6 ¾ (HxWxL) with dividers for accessories. And it has room for another as well. You can leave an accessory tool attached to the multitool if you desire.
SAFTY Issue. You need to remove the battery when changing accessories. The other Bosch tools I have have trigger locks but this doesn't and could cause serious injury if switched on while changing accessories.
The tool doesn't sound that loud in many materials but if used for a long time it will produce hearing problems. I hit a section of dry wall over metal studs and the resonance was loud even with hearing protection.

Summary: battery life is OK and this is a great tool for the price. If you need better buy the Fein at 2x to 3x the price.

Weird things to do with the tool: The metal blade does a bang up job slicing the very crusty French stile bread that is hard to slice without messing up the crust.
Does a great job on those user hostile bubble packs that are hard to open even with a razor knife.

(BTW it appears that some unscrupulous dealers on the `net are selling these with the 10.8V batteries--you are safe with Amazon and affiliates--which have a short charge life in a 12 V tool).

I purchased this tool to make the most difficult cuts while laying out a hardwood floor. It does the job nicely and the price $199.00 is fair comparing it to the Fein. However, the battery is consumed in less than 5 minutes. I'm determined not to pay $400.00 + for the Fein tool, but I'll have to return this tool due to the battery issue. It is a great tool that does what it says, but Bosch needs to resolve this major flaw with the battery. Less than 5 minutes of use per battery makes this tool unusable.

I would not buy this (In fact I returned it the next day). The big issue is not how it cuts, as it did just fine in this aspect. It is about the battery life. In addition, the batteries in my unit were very hard to remove, I even had to disassemble the tool to remove the battery once.

I bought the tool, because I extended my stairs and needed to make some modifications to the hardwood (basically cut two boards at 45 degree angles so I could put another mitered board against them). To accomplish this I went through 3 batteries before I completed the job. Each battery was lasting about 3-5 minutes before it lost enough charge that it wouldn't cut anymore.

With the battery life, it just doesn't seem like a valuable tool addition in my opinion. If they had a corded version then I would take another look as the one thing I really liked is that it is compatible with most other attachments (Such as the Fein) for this I gave them 2 stars, otherwise it would have been 1. If they could just come out with better battery life this would be worthwhile.

I choose the Max Multi-X for it's price point not because I really wanted a cordless multi tool. I knew before I purchased it that it would not have the power of the corded competitors, but I was somewhat disappointed in just how short the battery life was, which dramatically reduces the performance of the tool as the battery fades. Otherwise, if you plan ahead with charged cool batteries ready to go, it has done what I needed it to do. Be advised that at this point, you cannot readily get Bosch replacement blades on line or in stores. I was forced to buy the more expensive Fein blades. Bosch could really compete if their blades were easy to get and even a little cheaper than Fein's. Hopefully Bosch will remedy this and consider a more powerful, if not larger battery to fit the same unit. If you know that you are going to pull this tool out of the box a lot, bite the bullet and get the corded tool.

The Bosch Multi-X is a very good tool. I purchased one a month ago. The carrying case is well designed: it allows for the tool to be stored with the cutting blade attached. There is no need to remove the blade before storing the Multi-X. The carrying case also comes with a handy storage box to hold blades and sand paper. I also use it to store my ear plugs.

The main drawback of this tool is the batteries: At full power they last about 10 minutes. Each Multi-X comes equipped with two batteries which is another drawback. You'll need 4 batteries to keep a steady work pace without power interruption [30 minute charge time for each battery]. Bosch needs to design a new battery with longer life. The batteries are difficult to remove from the tool as well. The solution: file the hooked tabs on each side of the battery. Only 1mm of plastic needs to be removed. This allows for easier removal of the battery from the Multi-X. The Bosch Multi-X is about a pound lighter than the other tools. This allows you to operate it with one hand. Hope this helps.

I purchased the Bosch Multi x about a month ago. I used it to cut out a couple of feet of Oak oak flooring. The batteries died very quickly (within a few minutes). I recall also having a significant amount of vibration (although it didn't bother me). And last, the blade dulled very fast. I then went out and bought the Fein Multimaster. My local lumber yard had the best price at $360 for the Top model. I thought that I was going to keep both tools - the Bosch for quick applications such as making quick cuts where it would be a pain to run an extension cord, and the Fein for longer cuts. The Fein was so much better that I ended up returning the Bosch. With the blades for the Fein being 3x the cost - I believe they will last at least 3x as long as the Bosch. I think that eventually someone will come out with a better battery powered multi tool - at which time I'd love to have it.

As for the idea of the Multi-tool itself, I think they're an awesome tool. If you can't afford the Fein, then I'd say definately try out one of the other tools. I haven't tried the dremel, but I think the corded tool will probably do better than the bosch. I've used the multimaster for cutting flooring, trim, cutting nails to remove an indoor railing, and sometimes for drywall. I Sometimes use the mutlimaster instead of the rotozip because the multimaster creates much less dust when cutting drywall. The thin kerf saw blade is also an important note for these tools, along with their great precision. The batteries just die too fast to make the Bosch useful. If you can afford the Fein, I'd recommend taking the plunge and going for the Top model because of the extra attachments and the quick release. If you're going to buy this tool, just check the return policy first - at least that way you'll have nothing to lose.

I did quite a bit of research on the Bosch, Rockwell, and Dremel oscillating tools. Ultimately I decided to go cordless for the incredible convenience and purchased the Bosch. I used it for five different projects, but returned it yesterday.

The first project was to cut off some nails penetrating deep inside a wall, into which I could not fit a hammer to pound them out to make room for a new stud (I was replacing a rotted stud). The tool worked well, but only made it through 3 16p nails before the battery gave out.

The second was to undercut a piece of waterlogged deck support that could not be reached any other way - a circular saw or even a recip saw could not fit in the area. The Bosch worked very well, but it took 2 battery packs to make it through the pressure-treated 2x4. The only alternative would have been to use a chisel, and that would have been awkward, given the geometry. This proved to me the utility of this type of tool.

The third project was to make some cutouts in some fiberglas "wavy panel" material on a deck covering. The tool worked extremely well; much better than a circular saw or jigsaw, making a cleaner cut and raising almost no burr. The cuts were two feet long and I was quite happy, except the battery only lasted for about five cuts (total runtime of about 5 minutes).

The fourth project was trimming some existing installed moulding around a door; I needed to cut it back a bit to fit a new storm door into the opening. The tool again worked well, but I gave up after two batteries died (a total of about 10 linear feet of cutting 3/4" board).

See the theme? Great idea, wonderful tool, but it is useful only on very small projects because of the short battery life. I wrote to Bosch and asked if they sold, or were planning to introduce, an AC adapter that could fit into the battery compartment and make it a corded tool - this would be EXTREMELY useful. They replied that there were no plans, and for a corded tool, consider the Dremel. The email they sent claimed battery life was Cutting - 17 minutes, Sanding - 6 to 8 minutes. I sharply disagree with the cutting estimate (I did not use it for sanding); I used two batteries and went through maybe 8-10 recharging cycles, and never got more than 5-6 minutes of cutting time.

Fortunately, they offer a 30 day return policy, so I returned the tool. I don't like the feel of the Dremel, but I haven't tested it; I'm going for the Rockwell tool as soon as I finish this review.
Bosch PS50-2B 12-Volt Max Multi-X Carpenter Kit
Bosch PS50-2A 12-Volt Max Multi-X Cutting Kit

I have nearly all of the Bosch 12-minus volt battery tools. Don't know why (?) as I've had the same issue with all of them: Batteries dont' work in the cold. Even if just charged! I guess I am a sucker for all things Bosch but this battery weakness is a problem. Also, longevity!_ I will not buy another Bosch lithion/ion battery of any size...as Lith/ion batts are supposed to work in below 40 degree temps. as my Dewalt will with elan. So where does Bosch get off on marketing these underpowered wonders.

I like the driver of this version but it's still a toy compared to the fullsized 18 volt NicCad impactor which really isn't that much bigger.

These are cute tools for little tiny jobs...but not 'professional' grade.

Fein is wonderful except for their expensiveness ...but get at least one Fein multitasker if you're a 'Pro'. Seems to last forever but the battery powered one seems too expensive so this bosch is my backup...but I'll take at least 4 charged batteries warmed up in my pockets to do a little job. Otherwise bring a cord.