DeWalt Oscillating blade set (5-piece)

What you actually get in this kit

DeWalt’s 5‑piece oscillating blade set is a practical mix for day‑to‑day remodeling and carpentry work. In the box, I found two wood‑with‑nails blades for general demolition, a faster‑cutting wood blade for clean, straight cuts, a titanium‑nitride coated flush‑cut blade with a pronounced plunge tip, and a rigid scraper. The set ships in a ToughCase with movable dividers; it’s not fancy, but it keeps the pieces from tangling at the bottom of a tool bag.

All of the cutting blades are bi‑metal with a high‑speed steel edge. That matters: bi‑metal stands up better than basic carbon steel if you graze a nail, though it won’t run with carbide in abusive scenarios. The flush‑cut blade’s TiN coating does help wear resistance, but it doesn’t turn the blade into a carbide substitute—it just slows down the wearing you’d otherwise see along the tooth line.

A quick note on compatibility: the blades use a universal open‑back fitment. They locked in securely and tool‑free on my DeWalt oscillating tool and fit my older Dremel and Bosch OIS interface without drama. As with many universal blades, they will not mount on Starlock‑only tools without an adapter.

Fit, indexing, and tool compatibility

On the tools I used, the open‑back mount allowed multiple index positions, but not infinite angles. On one quick‑change head, the blade would reliably lock straight and at 90°, but on another it favored “left” or “right” and wouldn’t land perfectly straight ahead. That’s a quirk of the interface geometry, not a defect in the blades per se, but it’s worth knowing. If your tool offers a star or multi‑position clamp plate, use it—you’ll get finer indexing.

The steel thickness is appropriate for this class: stiff enough to track without chattering, but not so heavy that plunge cuts feel sluggish. Welds on my sample looked clean and consistent. I didn’t experience delamination or separation even under moderate abuse in trim‑out and light demo tasks.

Cutting performance: wood, drywall, and wood with nails

• Fast‑cut wood blade: This is the one I reached for when I needed to trim door jambs, notch plywood shelving, or open a clean hole in MDF. On 1/2‑inch and 3/4‑inch sheet goods, it tracked straight with minimal fuzzing. It likes a mid‑range oscillation speed, light pressure, and a short “sweep” motion to clear chips. Overheating will dull any oscillating blade quickly; back off pressure at the first sign of browning dust.

• Wood‑with‑nails blades (2x): For electrical box cut‑ins and exploratory cuts in baseboard where a stray brad is likely, these do the job. In pine and poplar casing, they cut at a steady pace and tolerated the occasional finish nail without shedding teeth. In 1/2‑inch plywood, they’re competent but not fast. Plywood’s glue layers are tough on tooth tips; slow your feed, keep the stroke shallow, and let the blade cool between plunges. If you spend most of your day in plywood and hardwoods, consider stepping up to carbide‑tooth offerings.

• Flush‑cut plunge blade (TiN): The PlungePoint tip is useful. Starting a cut mid‑panel felt controlled and predictable—less skating than some generics. The blade’s broader arc stabilizes the cut, though it does require a bit more clearance. I used it to undercut casing for tile and to make pocketed cutouts in oak. It stayed sharp longer than the standard wood blade, but in dense hardwood you’ll still notice it losing its edge sooner than a carbide blade.

• Drywall: As expected, all three toothed blades rip through gypsum without complaint. The fast‑cut blade, in particular, leaves a clean edge on paper facing if you don’t overdrive it.

None of these blades are intended for cutting steel. Light contact with nails is fine; continuous cutting in ferrous metal is not what they’re built for.

Plunge control, tracking, and heat

Oscillating tools reward a patient hand. Across the set, plunge control was good. The pointed tip geometry helps the blade “bite” without skating, especially on painted surfaces. Tracking along a layout line was as accurate as the tool allows. To extend blade life:

• Use mid‑range speed with steady, modest pressure.
• Feather the cut and occasionally lift to clear dust and cool the teeth.
• If you smell scorching or see dark chips, you’re pushing too hard.

Following those habits, I got respectable life from each blade. Abusing them—max speed, heavy pressure, continuous plunge in gluey plywood—shortened their life quickly.

The rigid scraper: where it shines

The rigid scraper is underrated. I used it to lift vinyl adhesive ridges on a concrete slab, scrape paint drips off trim prior to sanding, and remove old silicone from a tub surround. It’s not sharp in the knife sense—think chisel‑like scraping, not slicing. Keep the blade flat, let the oscillation do the work, and it will peel up stubborn residue cleanly. It will not replace a thin, flexible scraper for delicate veneer work, but for flooring prep and glue cleanup it’s excellent.

Case and organization

The included ToughCase is genuinely useful if you toss blades in a bag. The dividers in mine were repositionable, and I could stow a few extra blades beyond the five supplied. One nitpick: the large flush‑cut blade fits, but only diagonally, and it crowds the neighboring compartment. It’s a minor annoyance rather than a deal‑breaker. If you store blades in a drawer system, the case can be left behind with no real loss.

Durability and value

Within its class, the set holds up well. You can buy cheaper no‑name blades that cut fast for a few minutes and die abruptly, and you can buy premium carbide blades that shrug off nails all day at several times the price. This set sits in the middle: durable enough for remodelers and serious DIYers who need reliable, predictable performance without babying each cut, but not a heavy‑demo solution.

The real value here is the mix. The two general‑purpose blades cover most cuts; the fast‑cut is your clean‑up and trim blade; the flush‑cut is ideal for undercuts and pocketable work; the scraper handles adhesive and caulk. Buying these individually costs more than the kit, and the case is a practical bonus.

What I’d change

• Finer indexing: A multi‑position or star‑style interface would help more tools lock the blade dead straight in more increments. If your head clamps in only a couple of positions, you may find the “left/right” bias annoying.

• Clearer fit guidance: Owners of Starlock‑only tools need to know up front that universal open‑back blades won’t mount without an adapter.

• Case layout: A slightly longer compartment to accommodate the flush‑cut blade without diagonal stowage would tidy things up.

• Warranty: There’s no meaningful warranty here. A short blade warranty or satisfaction guarantee would add confidence.

Who it’s for

• Remodeling carpenters and DIYers who cut wood, drywall, MDF, and the occasional nail and want a ready‑to‑go assortment that actually fits most tools.
• People who appreciate a dedicated flush‑cut option with a controllable plunge tip and a scraper that actually earns its keep.
• Not for users doing aggressive demo in hardwoods or frequent metal cuts—you’ll want carbide teeth or dedicated metal blades for that.

Tips for best results

• Let the blade do the work—oscillation speed 3–5, light pressure.
• Start plunge cuts with the tip, then roll the body in to full depth.
• Clear dust often in plywood to control heat.
• Mark your line and use the blade’s side as a fence to maintain a straight path.
• Keep a spare wood‑with‑nails blade on hand; swapping early often saves time and frustration.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt 5‑piece oscillating blade set for general carpentry, light demo, and remodeling tasks. The assortment makes sense, the blades fit the common tools most of us own, and the performance is consistent with what a bi‑metal kit should deliver. The fast‑cut and flush‑cut blades are the standouts—controllable, predictable, and durable enough when used with reasonable technique. The scraper earns its slot by saving time on glue and caulk removal.

If you primarily cut dense hardwood or routinely encounter fasteners, a carbide‑tooth upgrade will last longer. And if your oscillating tool offers limited indexing, be prepared for the occasional angle compromise. But as a balanced, cost‑effective kit that covers the majority of real‑world cuts without fuss, this set is easy to keep in the bag and easy to recommend.