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Ego and skil aren’t the only major tool brands owned by Chervon. The Chinese company also owns Flex Tools, which has a solid reputation wiht manny professionals and DIYers alike. One particularly popular product offered by Flex is its 24V Cordless Brushless 5-speed Oscillating Multi-Tool (model FX4111), boasting an impressive 4.8 out of five overall customer score on lowe’s website, based on hundreds of user reviews.
the FX4111 delivers a no-load speed ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 oscillations per minute with an oscillating angle of four degrees (± 2 degrees). Equipped with an integrated LED worklight and utilizing Flex’s Starlock Max accessory system, this tool excels at a variety of tasks – cutting, trimming, sanding, grinding, scraping, and plunge cutting. While these specifications are promising, the crucial question remains: how does the Flex multi-tool stack up against established brands? According to Pro Tool Reviews, the Flex 24V Oscillating Multi-Tool is considered the “best overall” oscillating multi-tool currently available, a meaningful accomplishment in a competitive market.
However, a single review doesn’t paint the full picture. A comprehensive evaluation requires examining insights from tool experts, YouTube assessments, online forum discussions among users, and aggregated customer ratings. This article dives deep into the performance of the Flex 24V 5-speed Oscillating Multi-Tool, comparing it to alternatives offered by leading brands. Given that 24V tools are less common, comparisons will primarily focus on cordless multi-tools operating on 18V or 20V batteries.
How does Flex’s multi-tool compare to brands like skil, Bosch, and DeWalt?
YouTube tool reviewer Kaleb Ross praises Flex’s Starlock system as “one of the easiest, if not the easiest way to change your blades,” while noting that its accessories tend to be more expensive. Ross also suggests the battery placement is somewhat awkward but still considers the flex tool superior to the Skil PWRCore 12V Oscillating Tool.Another YouTube personality, drdecks, put the Flex multi-tool to the test against industry giants like Makita and DeWalt. He found it to be surprisingly quiet during operation and offered an excellent value proposition for its price point.
In Bob Vila’s assessment of the best oscillating tools, the Flex FX4111 wasn’t directly tested. However, their reviews of competitors highlighted the Bosch StarlockPlus Oscillating Multi-Tool as “best overall” and the DeWalt 20V MAX XR Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool (DCS356B) as the “best cordless” option. Online discussions on platforms like Reddit, specifically r/FlexTools, frequently compare DeWalt and Flex. some users found the Flex tool to be somewhat bulky and its accessories costly.
However, many users vigorously defended the flex multi-tool.One commenter, a daily user of both Flex and DeWalt tools, stated that the Flex is “more stable and there is no difference in blade cost for quality blades.” They noted DeWalt’s variable-speed trigger as a key advantage, but ultimately concluded that “overall it’s leaps and bounds better than the DeWalt. The only one in the market that gives it a fight for its money is the Milwaukee M18 Fuel” model. Other users echoed these sentiments, praising the Flex’s reduced vibration, quieter operation, and smoother, faster cutting performance.
Several major brands have similar user ratings as Flex
User reviews provide a valuable supplement to professional assessments and forum discussions. While some models, like the Metabo 18V CV18DAQ4M and certain Bosch 18V multi-tools, lack sufficient user reviews for reliable scoring, numerous other brands offer products with hundreds, even thousands, of customer ratings. When comparing these scores, it becomes apparent that Flex’s oscillating multi-tools are consistently rated similarly to their leading competitors.
As a point of reference,the Flex 24-volt 5-speed Oscillating Multi-Tool currently holds an outstanding 4.8 out of 5 stars on Lowe’s website and a near-perfect 4.7 on Acme Tools. This mirrors the scores of the DeWalt XR 20V Max 3-speed Oscillating Multi-Tool (DCS356C1), which consistently receives 4.8 stars on Home Depot and 4.7 on Lowe’s. Milwaukee’s M18 Oscillating Multi-Tool (2626-20) also maintains a strong 4.8-star rating on Home Depot. The Makita 18V LXT Oscillating Multi-Tool (XMT03Z) scores slightly lower at 4.6 stars on Home Depot,even though the brand’s Sub-Compact StarlockMax XMT04ZB model achieves a higher 4.7.
Ryobi generally receives somewhat lower ratings. Its 18V PCL430B has a solid 4.4 out of five on Home Depot, while its 18V HP Oscillating Multi-Tool (PBLMT51B) earns a 4.6. Interestingly, the few 24V oscillating multi-tools available—those closest in voltage to the Flex model—tend to have lower ratings.Kobalt’s 24V Oscillating Multi-tool (KMT 124B-03) receives a 4.4 on Lowe’s,and the Greenworks 24V Oscillating Multi-Tool (model 3513202) scores a 4.0 at Target and a modest 3.7 at Lowe’s.
