As if the hand tool reviews weren't enough, I've decided to post a review of my latest power toys, too!

So here's the Project:

The 'glass Recluse I recently bought needed some refurb work. Specifically, it had boxed-in fiberglass cheek plates on either side of the foam seat that had leaks and would collect water when rolling around, making them into pretty effective ballast tanks! I decided to cut off the front ends to permit drainage and provide storage for a paddle float and other gear. The boat also has a lot of rough seams and excess glass and epoxy along the inside of the deck/hull joint that I want to remove so it doesn't shred my dry bags.

*****
NOTE: This is a fiberglass Recluse that was built by a sub-contractor for Betsie Bay. These problems are one of the reasons that the 'glass boats never made it into volume production. Their wooden boats are superbe quality and don't suffer from these flaws.
*****

What was I going to use to do all this? The Dremel was too small, the ROS was too big and the drill attachments I had were too hard to control. Cutting 'glass with hand saws would trash them and removing excess material with rasps would take forever. I needed a sander/grinder/saw that would easily fit in confined spaces and which had good dust collection. Was there such a beast?

Searching the web, I found a few glowing reviews of the Fein MultiMaster/Turbo II vac combo. It seemed like the best tool for the job, so I ordered the package and a few accessories from Coastal Tool in CT (they had the best prices). I didn't own any Fein tools and was curious if they were all they're cracked up to be.

Using the carbide saw and grinding blades, the MultiMaster made short work of cutting off the bulk of the glass and grinding the excess flush with the hull. It doesn't cut extremely fast, but it's very easy to contol. I was glad for that, since a slip with a more agressive tool could have holed the hull! It's also reasonably quiet in operation and very comfortable in the hand. It's impressive how little vibration it produces in use, considering that it's a oscillating tool.

Fein offer attachments for sanding and cutting wood, metal, ceramic tile, concrete and many other materials. There are also knife, scraper and grout removal blades available. The MultiMaster is a VERY versatile tool, which certainly helps to justify the price.

Although the dust collection system is not specifically designed to work with the particular attachments I used (it's made for the detail sanding head), it did an admirable job. The rubber hose adapters seem a little kludgy, but are simple and work well.

I found the Turbo II to be ideal for use with hand tools like the MultiMaster and my ROS. The hose is long (16') and much more flexible than the typical shop-vac type. It was a simple matter to snake it into wherever I needed it. The auto on-off feature (the vac turns on and off when the tool plugged into it is switched on and off) is a big advantage, as you can operate the whole system with only the switch on the tool. Working in a cramped area in the basement, it was nice to be able to keep the vac a few feet away so it didn't get under foot all the time, without having to run back an forth to turn it on and off.

I don't think the Turbo II will replace the Shop Vac QSP for use with my larger power tools and for general shop cleanup, but it will see a lot of use with my sanders and anywhere I need to get into tight places. Also, unlike standard shop vacuums, it didn't blow fiberglass dust back into the air or stir up the dust on the floor. For those who need it, there's even a HEPA filter option. It's quiet enough to permit holding a conversation while it's running, too.

Hopefully, I'll get to use the MultiMaster on some real wood sometime soon. It should be great for cutting and sanding in all the tight spot in the hull. With a rounded head, it may be just the thing for fairing the inside of the hull and deck.

For anyone who's interested, Coastal tool offers the MutliMaster for $175, the Turbo II for $199 or both plus the adaptor kit as a package for $409. They also carry the full line of accessories and supplies. It ain't cheap stuff, but it's worth it.

OK, you can wipe the drool off your chins now...