Joerg asked that I review the tool if I got it, so here's the review.
Harbor Freight Multifunction Tool
This is not a comparative review, as I have not used a Fein or any other brand multifunction tool. It is based on my brief testing and inspection of the thing.
Overall impression: Thumbs up. If the tool is for occasional light use, it is $40.00 well spent, in my opinion. Performance was better than I expected from a forty dollar tool and quality seems adequate at that price.
If you have a need to use the tool on a regular basis, spend more for higher quality. While this seems to be the "standard disclaimer" for any cheap tool and is often said by the poster to protect himself from the scorn of others, I am posting it based primarily on the findings under inspection, below. My impression is that it is well enough made for occasional light use, but is not a high quality tool.
Performance Sawing: My testing was similar to "Flush cutting to install flooring" at
o Perfect for small plunge cuts. o Time to cut through 3/4" thickness of 1 1/2" fir: 25 seconds o Nice smooth cut. o Also tested on a 2x4. I cut through the thickness of a stub of 2x4 about 3" long and made 3 2x4's about 1 inch long each. Cuts easily, and the cut surface is smooth.
Sanding: o Perfect and fast. For the very small job I tested, faster with 180 grit on the multifunction than my Bosch ROS with 120 grit would have been. If you ever have to sand an inside corner of a cabinet, this is probably the perfect tool.
Vibration: o No noticable vibration while sanding or sawing
Not tested: Grout removal, caulk removal, scraping, cutting sheet rock.
Ease of use: High marks for sanding. High marks for accomplishing a cut High marks for smoothness of cut Low marks for keeping the blade perpendicular to the work. Some discussion of the above: Some people have the "woodworkers eye" and can make a perfect 90 degree cut in a board at 20 paces with a blunt rock. Not me. I have to use a square or a jig or some kind of guide to keep the blade perpendicular with any hand held saw. All my cuts with the tool were perfectly straight, but angled. The tool did nothing to help me keep it perpendicular.
Engineering: Current - 1.05 amps no load at 122.7 VAC 1.2 amps sawing 3/4" fir 1.67 amps peak sawing through 2x4 and pressing hard 1.35 amps average sawing through 2x4 normal pressure
Heat - the gearbox metal housing got hot (estimate 130 F) after cutting the 2x4 stubs. Not alarmingly or uncomfortably hot, but evidence of friction, which we obviously do not want.
Noise - it's loud - loud enough that the instruction manual should make a bold point of the warning to wear hearing protection. Sort of sounds like a vacuum cleaner on steroids.
Inspection - I took the thing apart. The groves on the armature are not cut as sharply as they could be. Ball bearings support the armature. I was unable to pull the armature out of the gear housing and I could not inspect the gears. I was unwilling to use more force to try to get the armature out. The armature has a nylon (?) gear looking thing press fit on it that functions as a fan. Doesn't create a lot of wind - but seems enough in use to prevent overheating. When spinning the armature by hand, which of course moves the gears in the gearbox, a slight roughness can be felt. That roughness might be caused by the reversing, don't know. The instruction manual includes a parts list and exploded view, but it is not clear enough to see how the thing reverses. The air vent cuts in the gear housing do not have the look and feel of high quality.
Ed