Bosch PMF 250 CES Multi-Tool Set

Great idea these reciprocating tools. Very handy for certain jobs that other tools just can't do. I got mine to be able to careful remove a few tiles from my shower without damaging the tile. I used the tool to cut away the grout with one cutter end and the changed the cutter type to then cut plaster board around the tile. It worked a treat. I was able to remove 5 tiles assess some pipework behind and then replace the the same tiles and re-grout. Since this job the PMF 250 has been put to good use on other jobs around the house like fitting a new kitchen and laminate flooring. Blades have a reasonable lifetime but you may find you need to by some spares. Bosch quality, quick change feature is great, variable speed, spacious carry case. Get one!

This is a good piece of kit and i wish i had purchased it before i recently did major jobs on my kitchen and Bathroom etc... it really does allow for the completion of some tasks in hard to reach places where other tools just cant reach and is very versatile. However the downside is the tools/bits that it comes with are really quite weak and yet very expensive to replace. I used the semi circular saw piece to cut along the length of just 2 pieces of laminate flooring and it was virtually blunted after with some of the teeth worn away after just one piece. I appreciate laminate flooring is tough stuff but i would expect better longevity. This was the case again when I used the plunge cutter on a small amount of laminate and it was rendered half blunt almost straight away. This wouldn't be a problem if the bits are cheap to replace but they aren't with a replacement for the saw piece at least twelve pounds. I will be looking for cheaper replacement bits than the genuine ones if I can find them. I think as long as you realise the tool could have high running costs its still a good bit of kit.

Very useful tool, would like to arrange for a drill press type arrangement. A power drill is arguably the first power tool to purchase, however after that this multi-tool is a good second candidate, along with circular saw etc. Woodmagazine includes the "multi-tool" (needs a more descriptive name?) in its "25 Best Innovations of the Past 25 Years". The "Grout and Mortar Removal (AVZ 70 RT)" is very versatile, can be used on timber like a rasp for quick material removal, and on concrete for finishing/sculpting. I have just sculpted a recessed ledge to remove concrete obstructions. This was very difficult to reach with a chisel. The tungsten carbide pieces are on both faces of tool so it can grind upwards as well as downwards. The wood/nail cutter is great. This is a low-moderate power/cut rate tool, pauses can be required to allow for waste material removal. Try too fast and the cutting rate drops.

Bought the PMF 250CES after by old Bosch PMF180 suddenly stopped working in the middle of a job. It was 3 years old and had loads of work so I couldn't complaint too much, but Bosch tools rarely go wrong so I was a bit miffed - enough to think about buying another make that was more up to the job. Eventually I decided to buy Bosch again because I still had loads of blades for the Bosch multi- tool range. The PMF 250 CES has a more powerful motor and a soft start function so feels much more capable of doing the job. I have been using it for about two months now and I am pleased with its performance. The SDS type blade changer is great compared with having to use an Allen key every time you want to change blades, and it is surprising how many times you change blades mid job. The SDS quick change unit is really good but takes some getting used to but I think I have got it cracked now - whether it is the approved way or not it works a treat. Put the blade in, tighten the SDS rotary handle so the blade is tight and then back the handle off to the point where it is secured in the lock position. This works every time, but it took me a few weeks to come up with my solution. At first I was trying to tighten to the lock position straight away which resulted in blades falling out because they were too loose. So overall I would definitely recommend this unit and would have given it 5 stars but for the confusion with how the SDS clamp worked.

I bought this some time ago, I would say I used it about 10 times so do some sanding and cutting. It idea of this type of tool is good and for the occasional DIYer to hand in his/her tool box. But yesterday when i needed it after about 5 minutes of cutting chip board it lost most of it power, Rotatiing the wheel to increase the speed does nothing. I would have expected a tool like this to last me a long long time as it is seldom used. It is out of warranty so i guess it is for the bin. I guess I will be moving any from Bosch power tools.

I purchased this tool based on the Bosch vidio showning the unit efficiently and quickly removing grout from between ceramic tiles, but in reality it is a far more difficult task and took much longer than expected. I would say that the vidio is very misleading. In addition the unit broke down after a couple of hours, but thanks to Amazon was replaced the next day enabling me to complete the task. The keyless method of changing tools works, but takes a lot of effort to unlock It also lacks an efficient dust extraction system. If I have to undertake this type of work again, I'd look for an alternative tool.