Oscillating multi-tool: how to hold it safely

Learn to hold and control an oscillating multi-tool safely before you cut anything.

OM-01Understand what the tool doesAn oscillating multi-tool has a blade that wiggles rapidly side to side, not round in circles like a saw. This makes it good for controlled cuts in tight spots but it can still bite fingers or fabric. Hold the handle firmly with your dominant hand, fingers wrapped round the grip, and keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to cut.

OM-02Get your stance rightStand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your body slightly to the side of the cutting line, not directly behind the blade. Clamp the workpiece down if you can, so your free hand never needs to be near the blade. The mistake beginners make is holding the material steady with their other hand close to where they're cutting.

OM-03Switch on before touching the materialPull the trigger and let the blade reach full speed in the air first, then bring it to the material. Starting the cut with the blade already touching the surface causes it to judder and skate, which is how slips happen. It should feel like a steady buzz in your hand, not a jerky start-stop motion.

OM-04Let the tool do the workGuide the blade forward with light, steady pressure and a shallow angle, roughly 5 to 10 degrees into the surface. Pushing hard doesn't cut faster, it just overheats the blade and tires your arm. If you're fighting the tool, ease off and let the oscillation do the cutting.

OM-05Check what's behind the surface before you cut into a wallIf you're using this tool to cut into plasterboard, a wall, floor or ceiling, always assume there's a cable or pipe there until you've proven otherwise. Use a cable and pipe detector to sweep the area first, but understand it can miss cables that run deep, sit in metal conduit, hide behind metal-backed plasterboard, or lie outside the usual safe zones - especially in older or amateur wiring. If there's any doubt at all, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before you cut, and turn off the water at the stopcock if there's any chance of hitting a pipe.

OM-06Check the cut is cleanA good cut leaves a smooth, straight edge with no scorch marks and no ragged tear-out. If the edge looks burnt or melted, you pushed too hard or moved too slowly. If the blade felt like it was bouncing rather than biting, your angle was too steep.

OM-07Switch off and wait before putting it downRelease the trigger and wait for the blade to come to a complete stop before you set the tool down or change the attachment. The blade can still nick you or scratch a surface while it's slowing, even though it looks nearly still. Unplug it, or remove the battery, if you're leaving it for more than a minute.

Save this as a project

Back to all guides