I need a tool, but I don't know what it's called

[Sibley]

I need to trim about 1/4 inch off the baseboard in the bedroom so the new register cover will fit. Old house, the ducting was squished in, and nothing is standard sized. In some rooms it's along the floor between sections of the woodwork. I am not going to remove the woodwork, as doing so would probably destroy the wall and the wood and I don't want to deal with that.

My friend has a tool that he used to trim another such section, but he's out of town so I can't ask him. The tool was about arm length, skinny/round, and had what looked like a chisel at the end which moved up and down. It's not a jigsaw, it's not a dremmel. What is it?

[GuitarStv]

I don't know the tool you're referring to.  Sounds like a cross between a hammer drill with a chisel bit and a reciprocating saw.  :P

That said, it sounds like you could pretty easily use a sharp chisel and hammer to do what you want (slightly trim back baseboard).

[Wrenchturner]

oscillating tool?

[Morning Glory]

Multi tool with wood blade

[bacchi]

Sonic screwdriver.

[ericbonabike]

oscillating saw

or the hand tool is called an undercut saw

https://www.amazon.com/Crain-336-Undercut-Saw/dp/B00102HST8/ref=sr_1_26?keywords=undercut+saw&qid=1577801428&sr=8-26

[BudgetSlasher]

I use a oscillating saw for such purposes.

But it sounds like a jamb saw might also be applicable (they make both manual and powered)

[Sibley]

Thanks to google (cause I have no idea what any of these are), the oscillating saw appears to be it. Thanks all. And yes, I will be very careful not to cut myself or anything I don't want to cut.

A sonic screwdriver would be awesome too, but earlier models don't work on wood. :)

[jpdx]

An "oscillating multi-tool" is really handy and can often get you out of a bind. If you do lots of DIY, you'll wind up using it all the time.

[Wrenchturner]

An "oscillating multi-tool" is really handy and can often get you out of a bind. If you do lots of DIY, you'll wind up using it all the time.

Yes I would also recommend one for DIYers.

[Sibley]

Update: I bought an oscillating multi-tool and used it successfully to trim the baseboard. I was able to get the version with just the tool, not the batteries or charger, since the batteries my drill uses are compatible. I can certainly see its utility, just depends on the project.

Am ready to start putting paint on - everything's scraped, sanded, primed, and caulked. Trying to wrap up this week while I'm off.

thanks for the help :)