WORX PowerShare WX696.9 Sonicrafter Oscillating Multi Tool Review
One device that really is of use to any DIYer is the multi tool, and having become ever more prevalent over the last few years, it is good to see that WORX include this at around £70 (battery charger £38) in their vast range of PowerShare cordless tools. Here we put the WORX PowerShare WX696.9 18V (20V MAX) Sonicrafter Oscillating Multi Tool through its paces.
Build Quality & Included Attachments
Being mainly a handheld encased motor running an oscillating tool attachment at the end it is important that the material used is solid and secure, and the WORX Sonicrafter is wrapped in extremely robust hard materials that will put up with the day to day knocks and drops that can occur in any DIY working environment. The outer handle material is soft grip and is naturally pleasing to hold. It comes with a brushless motor and the battery fits on the base of the handle and helps to balance the tool when in use.
Included in the box are attachments for cutting through metal, wood, fibreglass, grout and masonry; a scraper for hardened adhesives or old paint, and a triangular sanding pad along with some 30 sanding sheets.
Controls
On commencing use, the first thing we noticed is how easily the different attachments are to change using the built-in wrench. This is thoughtfully included and is part of the design. The attachments used are the universal starlock accessory system, which means finding further accessories is easy, whether WORX or not. The Sonicrafter has a variable speed control from 1 to 9 and a thumb push switch for on and off. Also included, and actually very important in our opinion, is an led forward facing light. So often you can be working in shadowed areas, where lighting is poor and this lighting function becomes a must under these circumstances.
In Use
Basically, this is a tool that can be used for sawing, sanding, rasping, removing grout and scraping, so becomes a something that should always be by your side in readiness. Being cordless means the strong 20v WORX PowerShare is easy to include within your basic toolkit.
We found that loaded with the correct tool, the WORX Sonicrafter went through materials without any bother at all. The first job we needed it for was to cut away some old wooden cladding, a section of which needed replacing. It basically went directly through the wood at exactly the point necessary, and we were able to then cut a straight line with it within quite a tight space where use of a saw would have been impossible. The next use came unexpectedly, when we discovered we needed to cut a notch out of some composite decking we were laying. Immediately turning to the cordless WORX multi tool again, it was just the tool for the job. Being able to cut straight into materials at any point makes jobs quicker and simpler, often saving the need for a chisel. A regular use we find for the Sonicrafter is its sanding ability. The triangular oscillating sander is quick and makes getting into difficult to sand places easy. We have also utilised the Sonicrafter to cut through both wood and nails which could not have been reached in any other way, and even when used for some time, the motor keeps running smoothly and without overheating or any other bother.
The Battery
The Lithium-ion 20v/2.0A battery has a very good running time, which varies depending on the speed set. When the battery is getting low the led light on the Sonicrafter flashes in warning. Some form of indicator on the battery itself would be nice, but WORX have included this function on the tool itself. The battery charger can be bought separately so that it can be used across the PowerShare range, and from flat the battery charges in around an hour and a half.
Verdict
The WORX PowerShare Sonicrafter Multi Tool Is efficient at doing all those jobs that previously seemed difficult. it is compact but powerful and quickly becomes the tool you wouldn’t be without due to its ability to saw, scrape, sand and rasp - and most importantly for a tool of this type: No wire - no hassle. We can’t wait to try other tools in the PowerShare range.