Use a Straightedge for Straight Cuts
Round Blades or Straight?
Faster Flooring Prep
Cut Rusty Faucet Nuts
Remove Trim Without Damage
Grout Removal Blades
A carbide blade (about $25) is fine for small jobs. For larger jobs, a diamond blade ($40 and up) saves you money because it lasts two to three times as long. Both types come in 1/16-in. and 1/8-in. thicknesses to match grout widths. When you see sparks, you know that the outer edge of the blade is worn out, even though there may be plenty of grit left on the sides of the blade.
Trim Shims in a Jiffy
When you install a door, the usual way to trim the shims is to score them with a utility knife and then snap them off. It's a slow way to go, and half the time, you push the shims out of place. Other times, they don't break off cleanly. But an oscillating tool does the job perfectly. Quick, clean, no hassles.
Extra-Wide Blades
Extra-wide blades like this 2-1/2-in. version are perfect for cutting round stuff like pipe because they don't slip off a curved surface the way narrow blades do. For other jobs, narrower blades are usually best: They plunge-cut better and put less strain on the motor.
Remove a Toilet
Adapters and Accessories
Remove a Towel Bar or Soap Dish
It's easy to remove a broken or outdated surface-mounted towel bar or soap dish with an oscillating tool. Jam the blade into a corner about 1 in. deep. Then work it all around the fixture. Shove it in deeper and do a second pass around the fixture, cutting through all the adhesive and caulk.