Bosch Multi-Tool PMF 220 CE (220 W, in Carton Packaging)

I'm in the middle of a serious DIY project at the moment. I needed to replace a short section of skirting which had been damaged by a water leak. That wall was old lath and plaster and I knew from past experience that I could seriously damage the plaster trying to get the skirting off. Then I saw people on YouTube using a multitool similar to this one for the job, so after comparing specs and considering the reputation of the manufacturer I eventually bought this one. I specifically wanted to avoid cordless versions of the tool since I don't expect to use it often, and didn't want the battery to die of neglect between uses. But, once I had the tool I was surprised by how often I found a use for it, where it was clearly the best tool for the job. For example I had to cut an access hole in a plasterboard wall in order to fish some network cable. Plunge cutting with one of the supplied blades made short and accurate work of that! Another was cutting away the tongue on some floorboards I needed to lift (that network cable again). Again this tool did it easily. I've used a circular saw for this job in the past, but the circular saw takes a lot of setup to avoid plunging too deep and is frankly a bit scary to use that way (have to pull the guard open, don't fancy hitting a nail with one of them). With the multitool you just put the right blade in and start cutting: progress isn't as fast but in many ways that's a good thing for an amateur. You can feel in your hands when you're through, so there's little danger of slicing right through and hitting a cable or water pipe, especially if you choose a short blade. As to that rotted skirting, it was a doddle: I made a scarf cut over a stud just past the nails and simply lifted the skirting away. Absolutely no chance of damaging the plaster, I literally can't think of any other tool I could have used. Only one downer, nothing to do with the tool itself: Amazon suggested that "customers also buy" a pack of 10 "wood+metal" blades, not Bosch made. Those were absolutely useless. I had a floorboard screw that was spinning in its hole so I thought I'd cut it out, having removed the neighbouring board. The cheap blade only made it halfway through the 4mm screw before it was completely blunt. Yes I know the genuine Bosch blades are expensive, and frankly you can say what you like, but I won't be wasting my time on any more cheapo blade sets for this thing. Recommended. A multitool is simply the best tool for some jobs, and this Bosch corded tool seems to be good quality and has a nice quick tool change mechanism. Obviously I can't say anything about longevity.

I enjoy doing a bit of DIY and often the small jobs turn out the most awkward. 8 years ago I bought one of the first of these multitools available and have used it a lot over the years. A small job came up, perfect for the multitool, but sadly after 5 minutes it died - not that I complain as it has done me well. So I sent for this one, to replace my old trusty one. What a difference! It is quite a bit more powerful and does the 'small' jobs even quicker and, I have to say it, neater too. The reason is twofold. Firstly being more powerful - bigger and better motor - it is also faster so goes through wood far far easier. Secondly, the new 'Starlock' system is a vast improvement too. The blades that came with this new one are sharper, better made and of course, are the Starlock ones. On the negative front, it means I have to buy new blades as my old ones would not fit without an adaptor - I will get an adaptor but actually prefer the new system as I feel safer with it too. For anyone who has never had one of these multitool machines before and are thinking they might take the plunge, don't delay as it will change your work attitude forever as now the small jobs really can be 'small' jobs.

I have not had a multi tool before and wasn't sure how much I would use one so I bought this relatively low-priced product. I now wonder how I ever lived without one! however I do now wish that I had invested in a more professional version (blue body) with 18v battery (rather than this wired version) as it does sometimes seem a little underpowered. Having said that, I have got loads of use out of it, and it handles jobs which no other machine will do. I have just replaced an old deck with a new one, and it was great for getting at old nails between joists, and it feels quite safe tackling some jobs where I would be apprehensive using an angle grinder, circular saw or jigsaw, as the vibrating attachments are not particularly dangerous, and the tool can be positioned exactly where you want to cut without being flung off. I have found buying blades quite an annoying experience as Bosch have stupidly used the name Starlock for several different styles of blade which are not compatible with each other. (there is Starlock, Starlock Plus and Starlock Max), so thank goodness for Amazon's easy return process when I have bought what look like the correct part, but found that it will not fit. The buying process might be easier for the Plus and Max as the filter would possibly only show you the right item, but the basic Starlock search brings up everything (and there is a lot more choice of deep plunge and speciality blades in the Plus and Max ranges) Overall, I could recommend this product as it does a decent job, but if you can stretch to something more powerful, cordless - and with a quick release system - it would really be worth the extra money.

Surprisingly cheap for a Bosch product. Looked at other brands and cheapo Chinese stuff and this was not much more expensive. It is as good as you would expect. Speed adjustable, comfy to use and very effective at cutting wood. Used it to drum a door threshold which it cut cleanly and accurately. Comes with case and sander attachment and sandpaper which also works well. The only downside is the Bosch starlock blades which are expensive and cheap alternatives not abundant. The original blades are good though.

Bought this item to cut the end of some screws and did the job so easily. Good product for what I needed it for.

I bought this Bosch Multi-Tool to cut through and remove a piece of skirting board behind central heating pipes. It did the job easily and quickly, letting me move on to my next job. It comes with Starlock multi-tool bits, although I also bought some spares. These all fit nicely into the carrying case, including the spares. The multi-tool has a long lead for the plug, which is very handy, although you will most likely need to make sure you have an extension cable for jobs further from plug sockets. I have also used this tool for sanding in tight areas such as door architrave and was very pleased with the results. I am very pleased with the product and will, no doubt, be using it regularly.

Good quality

I first saw one of these tools being used some years ago by a professional and was very impressed with its versatility, but less so with the cost of the tools at that time. Faced with some jobs of my own I finally decided to buy one and have since been very impressed by just how versatile they can be. From simple cutting jobs in the garden where using another tool would have taken hours, right through to using it to fit flooring this one has proven to be a great choice. I’ve achieved excellent results with only a little practice and have been delighted with my choice. The built-in light on this tool is a handy feature and the Starlock system allows the tools to be changed rapidly and without a fuss. If I was being picky then I’d only say that the replacement blades can be pricey as there’s very little aftermarket choice which actually fits, but to be fair even the official blades can be bought at a reasonable price if you buy them in packs.