The tortue test Festool did (and put on their site somewhere) was much harder on the drill, I'm sure...

I would consider a Festool drill if they had a hammer action. There is no way I'm spending 500 notes on something that isn't that versatile. That's why I'm considering the Protool PDC 18-4, many have said on here that it is probably the best cordless 18v drill on the market. Could anyone expand on that as I'm close to taking the plunge?

I thought it was only 1.9kg with a battery which doesn't rate as heavy for me as my 18v Dewalt is 3kgs. I never use it now as I do everything with my 10.8v Bosch drills and drivers and a Milwaukee corded SDS. I would still like a good 18v cordless to fill the gap.

you need to use a t15 or 18 to be sold on one and it is night and day better than any other drill on the market

Williaty,

Buy a Festool drill or I'll find you!

Are you sold yet?

P.S.  Buy me another one!

Sales through intimidation has been found to be effective 92.8% of the time.  The other 7.2% have yet to be heard from.

Yes but he is also comparing  the old Hilti drills..
 I have the newer hilt drills and would not swap for Festool..

John..

It is a little unfair to compare older battery technology against li-ion but it wasn't just the batteries that let me down on the TDK. My brother also had the TDK and encountered similar problems despite only really driving small self tappers.

I used to regularly drive large numbers of coarse thread self drilling tec screws into steel sheeting rails, the Festool really didn't like this and I'd end up hiring a proper corded tec gun. It never proved to be a problem for the Hilti, despite the slightly lower voltage.

I've had my fair share of cordless drills and I've also had experience of many others through workmates but I've yet to see anything as rugged and long lasting as the Hilti. I haven't used any of the Protool drills which seem more site oriented but tbh I'll be replacing this with the next generation of Hilti's when needed.

One thing to add though is its certainly horses for courses. If all I did was fit kitchens for example or light assembly work the Hilti would probably be a bit overkill and the versatility and compact size of the Festool would be a big plus.

Before i got the C12 I was using Hilti (SF120-A) 12V drill.It was a "workhorse"!!
Just could not kill it.And i still have it!But the batteries are not holding any more juice.I can maybe get 25 minutes if that.It is 12 years old.
But as a cabinet installer/kitchen fitter i do like the Festool better.Feels better in my hand,lighter,more accesories like the RAD.
Both drills have the 3.0 ah NiMh batteries.

Wow that's disappointing. Looked at my SFH 18 and the battery says made in Poland but the drill is in fact made in China. This was purchased from a Hilti dealer, so I'd say the Depot is getting the same product.

For well over thirty years, I was always a Milwaukee man.  Being a mason contractor working mostly outside, I found early on that to buy anything less than a Milwaukee spelled disaster.  When I started buying tools for my WW hobby, i stuck with my old standby, Milwaukee.  One day, i accidentally discovered Festoys, a happening I have duly recorded elsewhere on The FOG and other sites.  Those toys not only worked much better in the shop where i worked off of benches instead of horses and other temporary props out in the wide open spaces, but they seemed to fit my hands, as well for my needs, so much better than those old monster Milwaukee's of my past.  Oh, i have no doubt the Festoys would not stand up to the punishments the Milwaukee's had been subjected to, but on the other hand, I find i can work faster in the more controlled surroundings of my WW shop.  It might be the same of comparing Festool drills against the Hilties.

I have a couple of my old Milwaukee corded drills to go along with a Makita and a Hitachi, both cordless, drills.  When i got my first look at the old (new at the time) CDD 12, I was looking for something to get into a very tight set of corners.   I was looking for a small Milwaukee with an angle chuck.  I alraedy had their 1/2" Hole Hawg monster that there is no way, as long as I can find a use for drillng, I will ever part with.  the only person I will loan that to is my son. He has found that I will hound him unmercifully until it is returned.  He thus hates to borrow it.  I discovered the CDD 12 and found it had three chucks for the various purposes that have been identified with this discussion.  When I found the price and figured the cost to keep three good drills on hand would be about the same, (to say nothing of the extra space needed for storage) I reached for, and held the toy in my hand.  That was bad news.  I could not leave the store without it.

Later, much later, I happened to walk into the same toystore and noticed the CDX sitting on the display counter.  It was sporting a great big smile.  I could not resist, and against my better judgement, I picked it up.  My fingers immediately cramped into an unbreakable hold around that devilish tool and I was absolutely forced to buy it.  And, to make a long story just a tad shorter than it might get, my poor CDD has been relegated to the dust collection shelf.  Oh, it is still my go to drill >>> whenever I need a second drill.  Whenever I find two are better than one.  It puts my Milwaukee’s just a little further down on the food chain.

If I were to go back to my old trade, (which of course would NEVER HAPPEN) I would probably still look to the much heavier Milwaukee’s.  But these Festoys are so much more fun to work with.  When I was looking for a larger Router than my OF 1000 (My GO TO ROUTER), I looked at the OF 1400 and the Milwaukee comparable.  I opted for the 1400 as it seemed so much more comfortable in my grasp than the Milwaukees I looked at.  I don’t think the 1400 would stand up to the punishment I could subject the M’s to.  They are built like tanks.  But, I do not need that much “beef” any more. 

I am sure the guys who swear by their Hilti’s are in situations where they actually need a heavier tool.  Others are opting for a bit more comfort and ease of use. 

Qualification:  I have never bought a Hilti or even tried one.  My only comparison with heavy tools has been with Milwaukee.  The Hilti’s were around, but I had already been introduced to the value of the tools I was using, and continue with my one sided outlook. The difference now is the Festoys are now on my front burners.
Tinker

It has been said somewhere in the annals of history: "Cheap ain't cheap."   
Tinker