I have the centrotec installer set with the long yellow coated bits, and i had the perfect situation for them. Driving 5x80 spax screws with a TX20 head through a 10mm hole where any regular bit holder cannot go through.
Those are relatively big screws, but the holes were predrilled and i was using the T15 with the driving mode engaged to stop at the right tension.
All went well untill i very slightly slipped, and noticed how badly it damaged the bit, with the bit damaged it happened more and more and after 100 screws and 20 minutes of work this is how the bit looks, completely useless.
On the left i added my regular festool TX20 bit which i have been using daily for over a year, and driven thousands and thousands of screws with it. it's worn, but still works perfectly.

Wow, that is one worn bit.  Glad to know about the long bits.

Cheers,
Steve

Hi Timtool and Guy

I get a sort of chill running down my spine when I discover any Festool failing or failure - it is almost like being reminded of one's own mortality.

If Festool rely on items like these bits and perhaps other non 'electric tool' items to be made for them by other manufacturers then they must ensure that the right quality control mechanisms are in place so that customers are not let down.

I hope that someone from Festool UK reads this and sends you a replacement, maybe with a couple of spares. I know that Shane would have fixed it for someone in NA by now! Is there anyone from Festool Belgium or Germany reading this?

Peter

Sorry, misread something here. I thought it concerned depth, not width

Having had a background in the screw business, just a reminder that the tolerances and quality of screws also play a factor in the fit of the bit. The photo shows that the bit cammed out, which can happen for a number of reasons. But regardless of the reason, camming will severely wear and even destroy the best of bits. I'm not trying to dispute your opinion of our bits, but there's more than just the bit that plays a factor in wear.

Shane

Hi guys,
the Festool bits are made by WIHA. WIHA is at least on the quality level with Wera, I would rate them a litle bit above Wera.

Ingo

Tim we've had similar experience with the golden short and long bits in direct comparison to the other version you have on your photo. It also doesn't matter if it's Torx, PZ or any other kind! If I remember right Festool now only offers the long version, the shorter one is available from Protool.

I don't think the golden Centrotec are intended to be used only by hand!

Anyway we've compared both bits (golden Centrotec to grey) on a deck (same number and conditions of screws, as well as the same T15) and came to the same conclusion! Although we got replacements from Festool the problem is still the same and in the end you just stop using them on many projects, they just wear out so fast!

It's quite sad since I really love the golden long and short Centrotec bits, they don't get stuck in the screw, they are easy to switch, and much easier to locate. I prefer the long ones for 95% of the work.

The question is why they can't be manufactured with the same steel than the small grey ones.

I hope there's a better version coming out soon, it seems silly with so many other inovative and durable products!

They are for use in drills or the hand driver, either. Those bits existed long before the hand driver was introduced. 

I do not accept payment from anyone for the video review work that I do - it is all free. I earn a small amount from my magazine for articles of mine that get published. I am an independent reviewer who just happens to be a great fan of Festool, Wera, Cyclone Central and Osmo. I try to make sure that all of my reviews are positive - there have been things that I have refused to review.

I did contact Wera UK and told them that I had already bought a number of their tools and that I was going to review them on a woodworking forum and in a woodworking magazine. I was trying to get some woodworking specific literature. The person that I spoke to said that Wera were not particularly interested in the woodworking market as they focus on electricians and plumbers. I made a tiny dig at them in the video for saying that. I expect to be visiting Wera HQ in Germany next year with an aim of making them aware of the woodworking community.

Any other questions?

Peter

Hi Peter
 Yes, another question - So you are not sponsored or supported by any company/business then, as some reviews are sliding towards other manufacturers products - oil, wera ? Do not get me wrong, free speech and all that.
I ask as i like the video sections and prefer not to be sold 'on the sly' so to speak.
G.L

For the cost of these things (I just paid $19 each for the P1, P2, and P3 two-packs), they should be top quality.

Interesting topic twist of how reviews are interpreted by viewers.  waiting for next volley.

Cheers,
Steve

Hi people the long gold bits are rubbish I've snapped / broke about 7 so I've stopped buying them .spoke to my dealer about exchanging them and he said they wouldn't because they are classed as a consumable. All the bits I used were pz2 so I ground 2 of them into slotted bits work quite well. Luke

Guys, let's stay on topic and not get into personal attacks. I think the question of Peter's acquisition of the products he reviews has been answered. I would expect any member of the forum to have the courtesy of disclosing if they were given a product for review. I know that any time I send a Festool product to someone I ask that they include that disclosure in their review, whether it be written or video.

Any additional posts that seem to be personal attacks will be removed without warning. Thank you.

Now... back to bashing the driver bits. 

Just after I got my protool drill (the pdc 18-4, which was my first drill with the centrotec system) I was looking into which centrotec systainer I would get for my drill, the protool version, with the trays that would fit the  (then new) systainer attic-lid. or the soon to be introduced festool centrotec 2008 set, which came with an adapter to use the centrotec stuff with a non-centrotec drill aswell. (needless to say I ended up getting both sets )

When I asked about the protool set only having the 55 mm centrotec bits instead of the longer ones, which were in the festool version, the protool rep said that was because the longer bits weren't suited for the high torque of the protool drill.

Sofar I have broken three of the longer centrotec bits, they were all of the flat kind, trying to remove painted over old hinge screws.

Since I was warned about the long bits being less strong I'm probably a bit more carefull using them, but I do use them regularly, often in conjunction with the long bitholder. But I wouldn't call them rubbish, in some cases they're very handy.

(For the regular short bits I prefer the wera diamant bits, I used quite a lot of different ones: witte, wekador, wiha, kwb,festool, dewalt,... but I settled on the wera diamant (some of the kwb bits were actually rebranded wera diamant bits))

I was not being personal just opening a debate which i thought was a reasonable thing to do.

G.L (also having an early night due to an early start as i am oiling a 4m oak hall table)

I had the #2 phillips head version break on me the very first time I used it.  The screws were not painted over, however they were fairly firmly in place.  I lost grip, and as soon as I could release the trigger, I stopped and looked at the bit.  Sure enough, it was jacked.  I'll grab a pic of it later on.  I was on the fence about buying the centrotec kit, but figured I'd go ahead and grab it since I got a new drill, but after having that happen, I'm not planning on ever buying another festool centrotec bit.

Hi Timtool

I may be wrong but I think that there might be a 3td Torx variant, normal, security plus a new one - I might be thinking of something else.

Peter

I mistakenly bought a spax bitset once thinking it were regular torx, on regular torxscrews the bits don't work too well, because the little round end prevents them to seat at the bottom of the screwhead, thus are more likely to strip the screwhead.

I mostly use hecofix or spax screws, but mainly with pozidrive heads, but not so long ago we got a few boxes of the longer reisser screws from our lumberyard, and we like them a lot, and they were cheaper too.

At least you know now what caused your bit to wear prematurely, the combination of the softer steel and the spax screws that only use the very tip of a regular torx bit.

/edit: removed double quote

hi peter , never mind about winning the lottery you have just found the cure for insomnia, [ just kidding ] the bit issue will carry on no doubt but in my own experience i have found wera to be a very good choice although not without faults though , last year whilst replacing a garage roof i was using an impact drill with the wera bits all new with the appropriate screws, first three bits sheered off and after a quick call to the supplier i was put in contact with a wera rep who was very concerned about the bits breaking , i was then asked to send the offending bits and the holder back to wera u.k. and i was told the offending bits would be sent back to germany for testing, a few days later i received a whole set of wera impact bits and the holders x 2 . very happy with them so far, now wera have just brought out another version of the bits and holders impactor i believe, any how i am just putting the message out there that the good tool companys such as festool etc will always be looking to improve on their products for the good of all of us the end users, love the videos buy the way , if you would care to pm me i shall be more than happy to send you one of the sets i received  the least i can do after all the information you put out there for us.

Those maxxfast screws do look tidy, i want some decent priced screws in the uk that are good other than spax or reisser. The ultimate screws have changed and are rubbish now

Come to think of it the fruldser vbu screws that warren sells are the same

You only need the slot if you need to take it out you daft aussie